For parents of children with food allergies, school catering is a source of persistent, low-level anxiety. Your child eats at school five days a week — sometimes for thirteen years. You cannot be there. You are trusting a system, and the people running it, to keep your child safe from something that could kill them in under fifteen minutes if mismanaged. Knowing what good allergen management looks like — and knowing your rights when it falls short — is essential knowledge for every parent in this position.
The Scale of the Problem
Approximately 7–8% of UK children have a food allergy — in a school of 300 pupils, that's 21–24 children. Anaphylaxis hospital admissions in the UK have increased by 72% over the past decade, with the steepest rise in children aged 0–14. Food allergies are now the most common trigger for anaphylaxis in children. Every school in the UK is managing this challenge, to varying degrees of competence and commitment.
The stakes are not theoretical. The death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016 — from a sesame allergy triggered by a Pret baguette that did not disclose its ingredients — led to the landmark legislation that now bears her name. The death of Karanbir Cheema in 2017, from a dairy allergy triggered by cheese placed in his mouth by a classmate at a West London school, demonstrated that school environments require active safety management, not passive label-reading.
What Schools Are Legally Required to Do
Schools have legal obligations under several pieces of legislation. Under the Equality Act 2010, food allergies that substantially affect daily activities are classed as disabilities, and schools must make reasonable adjustments to avoid discrimination — including ensuring that children with allergies can access school meals safely. Under UK food information law, schools are required to declare the 14 major allergens in any food they serve, either on menus or through other means. Schools are also required under the Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions guidance (Statutory Guidance, 2017) to have a healthcare plan for any child with a diagnosed medical condition that affects their safety at school, including food allergies.
In practice, compliance varies significantly. A survey by the Anaphylaxis Campaign found that one in five parents of allergic children had experienced an incident at school where allergen information was incorrect or absent.
What Good Allergen Management Looks Like in Practice
A school that takes allergen management seriously has several observable characteristics. Menus are available in advance with full allergen information for each dish. Kitchen staff are trained in allergen management, cross-contamination prevention, and the recognition and treatment of allergic reactions. Individual healthcare plans for allergic children are current, accessible to all relevant staff (including supply teachers and lunchtime supervisors), and reviewed at least annually. Prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) are stored accessibly and staff are trained in their use. Incidents are recorded and investigated.
Beyond compliance, genuinely good allergen management means that an allergic child never feels singled out, embarrassed, or forced to eat different food because of their allergy. The best provision makes safe food indistinguishable from mainstream food — delicious, appropriate, and offered without fuss.
What Parents Should Ask and Expect
For allergen-aware catering across London, see our allergen matrix or order directly from our catering shop.
At the start of each school year — and whenever a new allergy is diagnosed — parents should request a meeting with the school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and the school catering manager. Ask specifically: How are allergens communicated to kitchen staff? How is cross-contamination prevented? Who is responsible for checking my child's meal? Where is my child's EpiPen kept, and who is trained to use it? What is the procedure if my child has a reaction?
Request a written healthcare plan. This should detail the allergen, the severity of the reaction, the symptoms to watch for, the treatment required, and the emergency contact information. It should be shared with all staff who have contact with your child, not just the school nurse.
Parents have the right to provide packed lunches if school catering cannot adequately manage their child's allergy. This is not ideal — it can stigmatise the child and places the burden on the family — but it is sometimes the safer option in schools where allergen management is insufficient.
When Catering for Allergic Children at External Events
School trips, sports days, end-of-year parties, and external events require the same allergen management rigour as daily school catering, but the disruption to routine makes failures more likely. Parents should ask specifically about allergen management at any event where food is provided away from the school kitchen. For birthday celebrations and parties catering for mixed groups of children with varying allergies, choosing a caterer operating from a dedicated allergen-controlled kitchen removes the most significant risks. Vanda's Kitchen's completely nut-free environment makes it a reliable choice for events where nut allergy management cannot be left to chance.
Trusted Resources
Related: Nut Allergy in Schools: The Complete Safety Guide for Parents and Staff · Free-From Catering London: Allergen-Safe Food for Every Dietary Requirement