WHAT THE FOOD SERVICE WORKER NEEDS TO KNOW

BYRACHEL MATHISEN

Food Allergies

What is a food allergy?

It is an immune response usually to one or more proteins in a food.

In a food allergy the child’s body identifies the protein in a food as foreign or invader and mounts a defense against that protein.

The body declares war on the invader by releasing chemicals like histamine and all sorts of symptoms can appear.

Unfortunately, it is the child who suffers

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance They are not the same!

An immune responseThe reaction occurs

each time the child is exposed to the food

Only a small dose is required

May cause life-threatening symptoms

Usually the symptoms appear quickly

Not an immune response

Symptoms may not occur every time the food is eaten

Usually takes a larger dose

Uncomfortable, but symptoms are usually not serious

Symptoms may take several hours to appear

Allergy

Intolerance

Food Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a prime example.

People with lactose intolerance can have some milk products with no side effects

But people with a true milk allergy must avoid all dairy products and all forms of cow’s milk or risk having an allergic response.

Food Allergy Symptoms

• Redness• Rashes, hives• Itchy eyes• Swelling• Asthma• Difficulty

Breathing• Vomiting, diarrhea,

stomach cramps• Anaphylaxis• Death

Eight Most Common Food Allergies

90% of food-related allergic reactions are caused by these 8 foods:

Peanuts Tree Nuts Milk Egg Fish Shellfish Soy Wheat

How much of a food does a child have to eat to cause an

allergic reaction?

It Varies From Person to Person!

It varies! Some people have only mild symptoms when they

eat small amounts of the food – itchy eyes, reddening of skin

Some people have a severe reaction if even smallest amount of the food touches their lips!

Some people cannot be in the same room with the food Most commonly seen with peanut and tree nut

allergies!

The scary thing about food allergies is that symptoms can become worse with every exposure to that food.

SYMPTOMS CAN BECOME WORSE!

A child may usually just get swollen lips, but may suddenly have his throat swell shut after an accidental exposure to the food!

Prevention and Treatment of Allergies

Preventing Allergic Reactions: The only way to prevent allergic reactions to a

food is to avoid contact with that food.

Treatment: Epinephrine Benadryl

Special Allergy Menus

For each child with a food allergy who eats school meals, the dietitian writes a special menu which lists the foods the child can safely eat on that day!

Special Allergy Menus

If a child in your school has a food allergy you will receive a weekly allergy menu for that child

Each allergy menu is written for a specific child

Do not make any substitutions – even if the foods seem similar!

Only give the condiments listed as okay on the menu—there is a reason if we say “no Ranch dressing or mayonnaise”

How could an accidental exposure occur?

Hidden or unexpected ingredients The dietitians read every product label

before giving the okay

Cross contaminationProduct substitution

Avoiding Cross-Contamination

Clean and sanitize all work surfaces and tools before beginning each task

If possible, designate a special area for preparing food for students with food allergies

Prepare foods containing offending ingredients last

Use a clean knife or spoon for each taskDo not use the same utensil to serve two different

foodsDon’t remove the food the child is allergic to from

a mixed product and call it allergen-free

What should you do if the supplier makes a substitution?

You notice that it is a different brand for the breaded chicken patties?

Or you’ve got nuggets not patties?Call one of the dietitians BEFORE you give a

child with a food allergy the new chicken patty!!!

If the child’s allergy menu specifies a breaded chicken patty as an entrée, but you’ve run out of them.

Can you substitute the spicy breaded chicken patty for the breaded chicken patty?

NO! Not without checking

with a dietitian!

Reading Labels

You can check the label and see that the allergen is present in the new food, but you shouldn’t decide that the food does not contain the allergen!

Reading Allergy Labels Can Be Tricky!

Allergy Labeling

By Law food manufacturers must label all foods that contain any of the 8 most common allergens: Egg, Wheat, Milk, Soy, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Fish, Shellfish

This sign is usually in bold letters at the bottom of the label—But Not Always.

Allergy Labeling

Or it may say: processed on equipment that also processes peanuts. If a child has a peanut allergy he can’t have this food.

Allergy Labeling

The label may have a long list of ingredients and somewhere towards the end have the term casein (milk) and you may not easily see it.

Allergy Labeling

Allergy Labeling

But sometimes they are NOT listed at the bottom, but are found within a long list of ingredients on the label – they may be hard to see!

And what if the child is allergic to corn?Could you recognize all the names used for

corn? Dextrose Maltodextrose Hominy And many more

Allergy Labeling

You are not expected to read the product labels

When a new product comes in, alert the dietitians to make sure they are aware of the product change.

Save a label of the new product for the dietitian to view.

Remember – Don’t make any substitutions without checking with the dietitian!!!

Prevention

Follow recipes and menus exactlyDo not make any substitutions without

checking with a dietitianProperly identify students – make sure you

are giving the right diet to the right student!

What if a child has a severe allergic reaction?

Get the teacher or principal or another person in charge.

Or if you really think it is an emergency and can’t wait (the child has stopped breathing)

Call 911!

The End

Any Questions?