appetito: Prioritising food safety

One hardly sees the nursery kitchen or dining room as a place of danger! But nevertheless, allergies, and intolerances are on the rise, so catering for diverse requirements is an important aspect of providing nutritious meals. In some cases, it's imperative to keeping young children safe. Nurseries will be very conscious of Natasha's Law, which came into effect in October 2021, following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.

Almost 5 to 8 per cent of children suffer from a food allergy in the UK and it's a figure that's increasing. There are 14 major food allergies recognised by EU Allergy Law which must legally be listed on food packaging, that is prepared, pre-packed and offered to consumers on the premises.

Common allergies among young children include peanuts and tree nuts, eggs, cereals containing gluten, and milk. However, children could have an allergy to anything (including those not listed within the 14 required by law).

It should be noted that there is a difference between ‘made without’ and ‘free from’. It's a very important distinction. Free-from meals are those that are free-from all 14 of the main allergens. ‘Made without’ cannot be considered ‘free-from’. They may be made at the same time – and in the same production kitchen as other meals, which may contain allergens.

To ensure the safety of meals, nurseries are increasingly turning to a pre-prepared meal service, which not only ensures consistency of cost and menus, but helps them manage free-from’ needs in a way that is simple.

Let us help you make your mealtimes easy with great tasting, nutritious meals that ensure your little ones can enjoy their meals in safety.

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