Managing food sensitivities is a constant issue for schools. With growing pressure to improve nutritional standards, schools must balance the demand for healthy school meals with the risks from sensitivities.
Children have a right to be safe in school. But creating a safe dietary environment requires constant vigilance, adherence to strict culinary standards, and a thoughtful approach to meal planning. Many schools strike the right balance. However, the current guidance from the Department of Education remains generic and vague, and schools do not always follow their own food allergy policies.
Indeed, two disastrous cases involved the deaths of Mohammad Ismaeel Ashraf and Karanbir Cheema due to anaphylaxis. The inquest noted a lack of staff training, resulting in “delayed and incorrect administration of adrenaline.”
So, why are schools behind on managing food sensitivities? And what can be done to solve the problem?
The Current Food Sensitivity Situation
Parents are increasingly alarmed by many schools’ inability to manage their child’s allergy safely. In fact, one petition created by two mothers was signed by over 10,000 people – highlighting the widespread concern about the situation.
This isn’t just a parental overreaction. Approximately 17% of fatal food-anaphylaxis reactions in school-aged children occur in schools. That doesn’t account for the numerous other allergic reactions and food sensitivity symptoms caused by school inaction or lax rules.
Presently, under section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014, schools have a duty to support pupils with their medical conditions. The Food Information Regulations 2014 specifies that all food businesses (including schools) must list the allergen ingredients information of all the food they serve.
Regardless of the statutory requirements, something is going wrong. What’s the problem?
Why Schools are Behind on Managing Food Sensitivities
Were schools always struggling with managing food sensitivities and allergies? Or has something changed?
It could be the latter. According to the latest evidence, food sensitivities and allergies are on the rise. In England, between 2013 and 2019, hospital admissions due to anaphylaxis rose 72% in children. Meanwhile, a large-scale review of hospital admissions data in the US, Australia, and Europe confirmed that anaphylaxis cases are on the rise.
Even relatively minor conditions are increasing, such as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Indeed, the hype behind gluten-free foods isn’t a fad; it’s a response to changing reactions.
Schools, previously dealing with much lower levels of reactions, now face a deluge of potential food sensitivities, intolerances, and allergies. Where a school might once have had one or two children with a food sensitivity, it’s now commonplace.
Nonetheless, the educational sector has adapted slowly. Routine training for staff, clear food labelling, and an increased awareness of food risks have not kept pace with the change.
Potential Solutions to Reduce Food Reactions in Schools
Reducing food reactions in school should be a priority for parents and teachers. While teenagers can be trusted (somewhat) to understand and manage their condition, allergy labelling, and other current interventions are wholly inadequate for younger children (or young people with learning difficulties).
So, what should be done? Here are some potential solutions to address this issue:
- Implement Strict Food Allergy Policies: Schools should establish and enforce strict policies regarding food allergies, including restrictions on bringing certain allergenic foods into school.
- Education and Training: Educate staff, students, and parents about food allergies, symptoms of allergic reactions, and emergency response procedures. Regular training sessions can help ensure everyone is prepared to respond appropriately.
- Allergy-Safe Zones: Create designated areas that are free from common allergens, providing a safe space for students to eat without fear of exposure.
- Food Labelling: Ensure all foods provided by the school, including in the cafeteria and vending machines, are clearly labelled with potential allergens.
- Personalised Meal Plans: Offer students with food allergies the option to have meal plans tailored to avoid their specific allergens, prepared with cross-contamination precautions in place.
- Emergency Medication Accessibility: Ensure that life-saving medications, such as adrenaline auto-injectors, are readily available in multiple, easily accessible locations throughout the school.
Managing Food Sensitivities: How to Identify a Sensitivity
Schools can only manage a sensitivity they’re aware of. Considering that around 20% of anaphylaxis reactions in school occur without any prior history of food allergy, you can see the scale of the problem.
Food sensitivities are much less severe than a full-blown allergy. Nonetheless, rigorous testing is required to identify potential sensitivities and aid in managing the condition.
Sensitivity Check’s Individual Ultimate Test screens for 975 items, including foods and other environmental factors. It provides a percentage likelihood for a sensitivity for each item. Simply send us a hair sample using the kit, and we’ll send you your results within the week.
Managing your child’s food sensitivities begins with this test. Buy your test kit today!
