This policy describes the accommodations for special dietary needs of children with food allergies, food intolerances, and food preferences in the meals and snacks provided by the CCSA Food Services Program.

• Food allergies are an immune-mediated reaction to food. The most common food allergens are milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish, and shellfish. Food allergens must be strictly avoided. Even a minuscule amount of the food allergen can cause a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis) in a child. Strict procedures must prevent cross-contamination between foods.

• Children with celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) have an autoimmune reaction to gluten, a protein that is found in all forms of wheat, as well as rye, barley, triticale, and sometimes oats. While celiac disease is not an allergy, these foods must be strictly avoided in the same manner as food allergens.

• Food intolerances are a reaction to food that does not involve the immune system. For example, children with lactose intolerance have trouble digesting lactose. Food intolerances may cause uncomfortable symptoms but are not life-threatening.

• Food preferences are food choices made by the child or the child’s family, usually for religious or health reasons. For example, a family may be vegetarian, or wish to avoid pork products.

CCSA will make every reasonable effort to accommodate food allergies, food intolerances, and food preferences. Equivalent or similar food substitutions and menu variety will be maintained whenever possible, subject to limitations of the special diets. 

In order to provide safe and acceptable foods for children with food allergies and other special dietary needs, CCSA adheres to specific procedures to prevent cross-contamination between foods. In addition to proper food preparation technique, these procedures include having trained food service workers prepare the food for children on a special diet separately from the rest of the food, regularly monitoring food ingredient labels and recipes for restricted foods, and packaging the “special diet” food in labeled, single-serve containers.

Special Diets Classification

For the purpose of classification and billing, the different dietary needs detailed above are

Class I: All food allergies, intolerances, and celiac disease

Class II: All food preferences*

*A modest fee will be assessed for Class II meals

 

Request Form

It is the responsibility of the Center to provide CCSA with documentation of any request for special dietary accommodations through the Program. Any addition, deletion, change or update to the child’s diet must be documented and re-submitted using a new CCSA Special Diet Request Form. CCSA will keep these forms on file, and special diets will be accommodated according to the most recent documentation received.

A doctor’s note is required and must be submitted with this form for any child being

medically monitored for allergies or other conditions requiring a special diet. For special requests for religious or other personal reasons, a note from the family must be attached.

This policy is intended to reduce the risk that children with food allergies or other special dietary needs will experience a food-related health problem. However, this policy is not a guarantee that a child will never experience a food-related allergic reaction or other food-related health problem.

CCSA is committed to working together with child care centers to provide food for children with special dietary needs, and thus maximize the health and safety of children that are served.

 

References

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network www.foodallergy.com

Celiac Disease Foundation www.celiac.org

A doctor's note for medical conditions or a family note for preferences MUST also be submitted via email to nbutters@whiteplainschildrenscenter.

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