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East Valley School District No.90

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Food Allergies-Special Dietary Needs

 

 

⚠️ Food Allergy & Special Dietary Needs Information

At East Valley School District, we are committed to providing safe, nutritious meals to all students. We follow federal and state guidelines, including USDA regulations and OSPI recommendations, regarding food allergies and special dietary accommodations.

⚠️ Allergen Disclaimer

Some products served by East Valley School District may be processed in facilities that also handle: Peanuts, Tree nuts, Fish, Shellfish even though we try to avoid these allergens on our regular breakfast and lunch menus.

 

When available, allergen information from manufacturers is included in our online menu system ("My School Menus"). Please review this tool regularly for updated product details, including:

  • Ingredient lists

  • Allergen declarations

  • Carbohydrate counts

  • Calorie and nutrient data

  • Abbreviations found on the menu: dairy free (DF), whole grain rich (WGR)

⚠️ Ingredient and allergen information may change without notice. Manufacturers sometimes update product formulations. The safest meal for a child with food allergies is one packed from home.

🥛 Lactose-Free & Dairy-Free Options

Students who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies are able to receive accommodations through menu variety:

  • Lactose-free milk – Available daily 

  • Dairy-free entrée options – Marked (DF) on the online menu  

These options are available to all students without a formal accommodation request.

🥯 Sesame Allergy Notification

Beginning October 31, 2022, our bakery provider began using sesame flour in the following bread products:

Hamburger buns, Hot dog buns, Hoagie rolls, Dinner Rolls

 

If your child has a sesame allergy, please contact your school nurse immediately and complete a Special Dietary Accommodations Form (available at the bottom of this page).

🍴 Common Food Allergens

East Valley Food Service does not knowingly serve peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish in our school meals. However, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. Cross-contact may occur in food manufacturing, preparation, or transportation.

Our menu software identifies the top 8 most common allergens as defined by the FDA:

  • Milk

  • Eggs

  • Peanuts

  • Tree nuts

  • Fish

  • Shellfish

  • Wheat

  • Soy

Additionally, we identify sesame, which is required under the FASTER Act.

🤝 How We Support Students with Food Allergies

We work closely with families and medical providers to accommodate students with life-threatening food allergies or medically necessary dietary restrictions.

If your child has an allergy or dietary disability:

  1. Remind them to alert cafeteria staff daily.

  2. Our staff will assist them in selecting safe foods.

  3. If needed, a temporary on-the-spot accommodation will be made.

  4. We will notify the school nurse and follow up with the family for a formal accommodation plan.

Please note: We cannot accommodate personal food preferences.

📝 Requesting a Meal Modification

What Qualifies?

Meal accommodations are available only for students with a documented disability that affects their diet, including:

  • Severe food allergies

  • Celiac disease

  • Digestive conditions

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a disability is defined as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.”

What Does Not Qualify?

  • Vegetarian diets

  • Food dislikes

  • Religious food restrictions

  • Intolerance 

🧾 To Request a Special Diet:

Submit a Special Dietary Accommodations Form, signed by a State-recognized medical authority, to your child’s school office.

You may:

  • Download the form below

  • Request a copy from your school office

A Complete Request Must Include:

  • Student’s full name

  • List of food(s) to avoid

  • Description of how the food affects the student

  • Safe substitutions to be provided

  • Signature of one of the following providers:

    • Medical Doctor (MD)

    • Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

    • Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)

    • Physician Assistant (PA) with prescriptive authority

    • Naturopathic Doctor

🛠️ What Happens After Submission?

A. Complete Form Submitted

  • Office sends it to the school nurse

  • Nurse verifies information, contacts family if needed

  • Nurse notifies Food Service Office and kitchen staff

  • Food Service creates and implements a modified menu

  • Modifications are added to Skyward, and all cafeteria staff are alerted

  • K–5 students with accommodations are personally introduced to food service staff by a nurse or teacher

B. Incomplete Form Submitted

  • Diet is temporarily accommodated

  • Parents are notified that additional information is required

📣 Communication in Skyward

  • Students with life-threatening allergies will have alerts (wanding messages) in the Food Service tab of Skyward.

  • Students whose families choose to send meals from home due to food allergies will have a note in Skyward:
    "Life-threatening food allergy – student brings home meals"

📥 Download the Special Dietary Accommodations Form

Or request a paper copy from your child’s school.

📚 Learn More

For full USDA guidance on meal modifications:
🔗 USDA NSLP Requirements & Resources – OSPI

 

 

The process for resolving disputes about meal modifications impartially:

  • In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

  3. email:
    [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.