Waltham Forest schools pilot allergy-free meal days for pupils
Every Wednesday in 43 Waltham Forest primary schools, caterers cook delicious ‘free from the top 14 allergens’ dishes for all the children to enjoy. The 14 major allergens are celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soya and sulphur dioxide.
A spokesperson for the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation said: “Parents of children with food allergies will know what a huge deal this is.”
Following the tragic death of their 15-year-old daughter Natasha to anaphylaxis - a severe allergic reaction, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs established The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation in 2019 to fund vital medical research and to raise awareness with an ambitious and world-changing vision to make allergy history.
Councillor Kizzy Gardiner, Waltham Forest Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “On a personal note it was delicious today I had chicken with curry, chickpeas and rice. It was really tasty. I think it’s a really great way for our kids to be able to sit down together, regardless of allergies, and share a meal together.
“Kids with allergies will often feel a bit different and we provide an allergy free menu throughout the week for our kids because it is really important. For them to have a chance throughout ours schools once a week to sit down together to share food regardless of their allergies is really important.”