New food and allergies guidance

[sarah707]

From Dec 13th 2014 all food providers will have to inform customers what is in their food! This is nothing to do with Ofsted or DfE – it’s from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in conjunction with DEFRA.

While some Ofsted inspectors might check you are doing it, the legislative body is the Food Standards Authority – your Local Environmental Health Dept.

I have written the following guidance to help you prepare for the changes.

If you have any questions please ask!

NEW food allergy legislation.pdf

[Kiddleywinks]

I actually think this is a good idea!

I know we check ingredients when we know a child has allergies, but being more concious of what actually goes in our food may surprise a lot of people

[sarah707]

We have been answering a lot of questions from our members on our Independent Childminders Facebook group about this new legislation so I have written a question and answer document to help everyone...

NEW food allergen legislation - Q & A.pdf

I hope you find it useful

[sarah707]

I actually think this is a good idea!

I know we check ingredients when we know a child has allergies, but being more concious of what actually goes in our food may surprise a lot of people

I totally agree!

If the woman who sold my child a piece of carrot cake full of peanuts had listed her ingredients clearly he wouldn't have been blue lighted to hospital and it would have saved a heck of a lot of pain and panic

If it makes us all more aware of what is in the food we eat it can only be a good thing x

[Ripeberry]

I usually have a few 'dishes' that I prepare regularly but don't put down as a menu as we could have any of them on different days. Would it be OK, to list the 'dish' and what allergens it contains and send that to the parents, or is it best to have it on a noticeboard?

[moggy]

I usually have a few 'dishes' that I prepare regularly but don't put down as a menu as we could have any of them on different days. Would it be OK, to list the 'dish' and what allergens it contains and send that to the parents, or is it best to have it on a noticeboard?

You do not need to list the allergens or have it on a notice board- you just need to be able to tell parents what food child has eaten and what allergens were contained IF ASKED. So as long as you know what you put in a dish then that is fine, check labels yourself, keep food receipts so you know what you have used etc.

I fear a lot of people are going to make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves believing it is what they have to do.

As Sarah says in her info sheet, page 3, about 'verbally sharing info' and 'back up in writing if requested'.

I am adding to my Food and Drink Policy that if asked I can tell them what of the 14 allergens have been given in the child's food/drink.

Anyway, you might write it on a notice board as part of a day's menu but the child doesn't like it and eats a bit of bread instead!

[Kiddleywinks]

I agree with Moggy, you have to be able to produce a list if asked.

I'm spending the next month or so, every day actually listing the ingredients for all meals provided to put in a folder (Recipes: food allergens and ingredients)
As I do a 4 week menu all I need to do is add any allergens to the list that goes on the parents board each week - not that any of them seem to look at it

Things that have variable ingredients, so bolognese for example, week 1 I might use Dolmio, the next week Asda extra special, etc I plan to list the ingredients for each make of sauce I use, as I use it, note the allergens on the ingredient list

so my list will look something like this:

Meal : Bolognese

Ingredients:

100% Durum Wheat Pasta
Onion
Carrot
100% Beef mince

Sauce: Dolmio Sauce: Asda ES Tomato and Basil Sauce: Lloyd Grossman Tomato and Basil
List of the ingredients on the jar label for each make used underneath for each

Allergens:
Lloyd Grossman: Wheat/May contain nuts
Dolmio: Wheat/Celery
Asda ES : Wheat/Celery/Fish stock

By starting the ingredients list now, I have 3 months to get it done and hopefully each meal shouldn't take more than a few minutes

[sarah707]

You do not need to list the allergens or have it on a notice board- you just need to be able to tell parents what food child has eaten and what allergens were contained IF ASKED. So as long as you know what you put in a dish then that is fine, check labels yourself, keep food receipts so you know what you have used etc.

I fear a lot of people are going to make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves believing it is what they have to do.

As Sarah says in her info sheet, page 3, about 'verbally sharing info' and 'back up in writing if requested'.

I am adding to my Food and Drink Policy that if asked I can tell them what of the 14 allergens have been given in the child's food/drink.

Anyway, you might write it on a notice board as part of a day's menu but the child doesn't like it and eats a bit of bread instead!

So many cms are panicking and saying they are stopping providing food As you rightly say Moggy it's not necessary ... x

[loocyloo]

But you already do that- EYFS 2014 Section 3.47 ('...must obtain information about any ... food allergies that the child has...')
Don't make work for yourself, we do this already.

Oh yes!!!
Oh well, I'll still send a form home!

[Simona]

I am now puzzled by this...
For the last 21 years my contract has requested parents to list any allergies...not just the child's... but the parents too under 'family medical history'
If none present when a child starts then they get added to this form as and when necessary if they develop ...a bit like immunisations which get updated

Health Visitors have always said that a child can develop an allergy that is family related...or passed through the genes

Armed with all these details...which are confidential...I can then cook and avoid allergens and also cook individually for that child...I rarely follow receipes and cook from fresh so this is going to be hard and an awful lot of added paperwork

I can't decide if this latest change is bureaucracy gone mad or just common sense?...I am sure the discussions that will follow will be interesting to say the least

I also wonder what schools will do now on their 'cake sale' day...will children come out of the class holding an ingredients card? and will parents who bake cakes for the school hand their card of allergens to the teacher?
what about the sweets and chocolate children are given at school for birthdays?

[moggy]

I am now puzzled by this...
For the last 21 years my contract has requested parents to list any allergies...not just the child's... but the parents too under 'family medical history'
If none present when a child starts then they get added to this form as and when necessary if they develop ...a bit like immunisations which get updated

Health Visitors have always said that a child can develop an allergy that is family related...or passed through the genes

Armed with all these details...which are confidential...I can then cook and avoid allergens and also cook individually for that child...I rarely follow receipes and cook from fresh so this is going to be hard and an awful lot of added paperwork

I can't decide if this latest change is bureaucracy gone mad or just common sense?...I am sure the discussions that will follow will be interesting to say the least

I also wonder what schools will do now on their 'cake sale' day...will children come out of the class holding an ingredients card? and will parents who bake cakes for the school hand their card of allergens to the teacher?
what about the sweets and chocolate children are given at school for birthdays?

The leaflet in this thread makes it all look a lot simpler as shows there is no new paperwork needed:

Food Standards leaflet about new ALLERGENS LEGISLATION

This is the link:
Providing allergen information for non pre-packed foods | food.gov.uk

You are quite right, we are already cooking specifically for our children's needs, which is why this legislation is not really directed at us- if the public were walking in for dinner that would be a different matter. We are already able to fulfil the legislation without doing much more than we already do.

[Simona]

The leaflet in this thread makes it all look a lot simpler as shows there is no new paperwork needed:

Food Standards leaflet about new ALLERGENS LEGISLATION

This is the link:
Providing allergen information for non pre-packed foods | food.gov.uk

You are quite right, we are already cooking specifically for our children's needs, which is why this legislation is not really directed at us- if the public were walking in for dinner that would be a different matter. We are already able to fulfil the legislation without doing much more than we already do.

Thanks Moggy and AgentTink for this link which is posted on the other thread too

I have printed the leaflet but what it does not mention is food such as kiwi...strawberries and tomatoes which some children are allergic to...even lemon and honey are ingredients I have to avoid in my food due to allergy...so yes we still need parents to keep us fully informed on what they want us to avoid

Thanks everyone

[gwm]

Thanks Moggy and AgentTink for this link which is posted on the other thread too

I have printed the leaflet but what it does not mention is food such as kiwi...strawberries and tomatoes which some children are allergic to...even lemon and honey are ingredients I have to avoid in my food due to allergy...so yes we still need parents to keep us fully informed on what they want us to avoid

Thanks everyone

Turmeric is another ingredient which is not commonly known is causing allergic reaction/sensitivity to. Apparently, it is found in many foods and sauces...not just curries.

[Simona]

Turmeric is another ingredient which is not commonly known is causing allergic reaction/sensitivity to. Apparently, it is found in many foods and sauces...not just curries.

Thanks for that gwm...

I had a think about this yesterday after discussing it with an EYPS

The allergens poster is now in the Parents Info pack and under the EYFS 'health' requirement
I have also added a line in my contract 'requesting' parents to provide a list of any allergens I should avoid and those I avoid anyway
I have also added a line on the child's 'medical history/dietary needs' etc

Can't think of anything else to do...any suggestions anyone?

[MessybutHappy]

I'm not going to get in a tizzy over this, I'm fairly sure it's a storm in an allergen rich (cows milk! ) tea cup and a few months from now will be another thing we're so used to doing we'll have forgotten we never used to!

[natlou82]

I've done the training, it was quite interesting and didn't take too long. The change I've decided to make is to provide a weekly menu that lists and of the 14 allergens underneath for each day tbh I can't see it being too difficult to do each week. I'm certainly not going to panic about it :-) thanks again Sarah for the excellent information :-)

[rickysmiths]

From Dec 13th 2014 all food providers will have to inform customers what is in their food! This is nothing to do with Ofsted or DfE – it’s from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in conjunction with DEFRA.

While some Ofsted inspectors might check you are doing it, the legislative body is the Food Standards Authority – your Local Environmental Health Dept.

I have written the following guidance to help you prepare for the changes.

If you have any questions please ask!

NEW food allergy legislation.pdf

Sarah my understanding is that this is Voluntary as far as childminders are concerned? If it isn't and it is Compulsory could you please give a link to the legislation and the official guidelines from whichever agency has made it compulsory please.

[Tazmin68]

I've tweaked my food policy to be somewhat like Sarah has put on the downloads section. I am in the process of doing an a4 grid listing with 15 columns one for type of food and then the 14 allergens and as and when I am putting together meals I'm tick boxing the relevant allergens and then by December should a parent request it I can email or print off for them. It's not hard and if by adding approx 5 foods a week by December will be sorted on then need to ad here and there no problem.

[sarah707]

It is an EU directive for all food providers ... and we are food providers!

I understand Pacey are making further enquiries but for now we are simply sharing the information and it's up to members what they do with it.

It's important that we share information to help members who are worrying about new legislation - and our message is to carry on doing what we are doing and not worry unnecessarily.

It is good practice to know what is in food - and this legislation will make it easier for us!