Newsletter Question: Cooking Class for a Student with Food Allergies
Q: My child has allergies to milk, nuts and shellfish. Next year she has cooking class at school. The recipes currently used are filled with her allergens. How should I address this in her 504 plan? Even if they change the recipes, I’m not sure that they would prepare them safely. Should I just take her out of school on days she has class?
A: This is a complex issue as the school kitchen may be used by many classes during the day and
different foods may be cooked together in the same space. You would need to have a discussion
with the instructor to find out more information about how the class operates and to discuss specific, individual precautions necessary to keep your daughter safe. Here are a few
options:
1. You could ask that your daughter’s class only prepare allergen-‐free dishes. This
would be a great opportunity for the school to weave some food allergy education into
the curriculum and to discuss topics such as cross-‐contact and label reading.
Meet with the instructor and discuss the precautions that would be necessary in order for your daughter to be safe. If you are still concerned, you could choose to have your daughter cook,
but not eat, the food she makes while at school.
2. Your daughter could cook a separate, but similar dish, allergen-‐free dish. This would allow
her to learn how to modify recipes for her allergens. What concerns me about this option is
your daughter potentially being isolated from her peers by virtue of the fact that her food
would need be separate. I also would be concerned about accidental cross-contact or ingestion
of the wrong food.
These issues would need to be discussed with the instructor to ensure your daughter’s safety
and inclusion. Perhaps, you could use color-‐coded utensils, pots, and pans to ensure your
daughter’s food is kept separate.
3. If you are not comfortable with your daughter preparing food a school, you
could also ask to opt out of that class and allow your daughter to choose another
elective that she would enjoy.
Additional considerations: As with any 504 plan, accommodations should be
individualized to allow the student equal access to the educational setting. Approach the school with your concerns and brainstorm ideas together. There may be a class size that is smaller
that would allow for more supervision, or a time of day that is better (first
class). I feel confident that you can come up with an accommodation that would
meet your daughter’s needs.
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Disclaimer: The answers to questions are not to be substituted for individual consulting advice. The answers are general in nature and intended to be a starting point for more specific advice. The information provided in this newsletter is not intended to be used as medical or legal advice, nor is it intended to diagnose health problems, to act as a substitute for a doctor, or to act as a substitute for a lawyer. Nothing in this newsletter can replace the independent judgment of a licensed physician or lawyer. If you, or a member of your family, has or is suspected to have a medical condition, please consult your health care provider. This newsletter is provided on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including those of title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose. The user assumes all responsibility and risk for the use of this newsletter and its contents.
