School Lunchโฃ Menus Adapt toโฃ Rising Student Allergies, New Regulations
Vigo, Spain – School lunch programs in Vigo and surrounding areas are undergoing adjustments to accommodateโข a growing numberโฃ of student allergiesโข and a new food service decree, according to Pilar Ramos, a technicianโ overseeing โฃschool dining halls โคmanaged by Foanpas. The changes range from eliminating specific โฃingredients like kiwi due to severe โคreactions โฃto increased scrutinyโ ofโข food sourcing and planning.
The need for adaptation stems from a documented rise in childhoodโ allergies, โคprompting schools โขto prioritize student safety alongside nutritional needs. While parents have varying levels of โconcern regarding dietary restrictions, โฃschools are focused on providingโ balanced meals that adhere to legalโ standards and offer โsuggestions for complementary home dinners. Theseโค adjustments โฃcome asโฃ Foanpas prepares to re-bid contracts for schoolโ catering services, aligningโ with theโ requirementsโ of a recently updated food serviceโค decree.
Ramos explained โthat in some cases,โค ingredients have been removed entirely to prevent โขcross-contamination. โค “There was aโ child with โa very strongโ allergy and theโ mere โฃpresenceโ of this fruit affected โขhim,so โwe chose another,” she stated,highlighting the โฃseverity ofโข some reactions.
Beyond ingredient selection, Foanpas conducts monthly โinspections of cateringโ companies, verifying product quality and transportationโฃ methods. The focus is shifting towards โincorporating more fresh, seasonal โขproduce,โค fish, and meat-a move that, while โขbeneficial, increases costs. “Nowโ we seekโฃ to โoffer fresh andโ seasonal products, more fish, โคmore meat and all without losing quality. This makesโฃ the menus more expensive, of course, so we have to review everything carefully to comply with foodโ law without prices rising too much,” Ramos said.
The upcoming tender for catering contracts will reflect the โคnew โdecree, though Ramos notesโค that foanpas was already largely compliant with existing regulations.โข the changesโค aim to ensure all 26 schools inโ the Vigo area provide safe, nutritious meals โคfor students with diverse dietary โคneeds.