Allergens and food safety at school - What's in your child's lunch?

Serious allergic reactions to food often happen without warning and can quickly become life threatening for some children.

Product safety

Because of the potential seriousness of allergic reactions, many schools have policies in place to stop students from bringing certain items in their lunches. It's very important for you to follow the school's food allergen policy closely, even if your child does not have allergies. Make sure your child is aware that it is not safe to trade or share food with other children, in case they have allergies. Here are some specific tips to follow if your child does have food allergies: If your child has food allergies, your doctor may prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector such as an EpiPen®. Always carry an EpiPen® and know how to use it. If it is your family members who are affected, teach them how to use it and stress the importance of always having it with them. At the cottage or on a trip, be sure to keep one or more EpiPens® on hand. If your child is subject to severe allergic reactions, train him or her to read labels and ask questions before eating foods. If your child is allergic to a certain food, make sure the school knows about the allergy. Work with school staff to come up with a strategy to keep your child safe. Remind your child that it is not safe to trade or share food.