Our 2025 School Meals Report, in partnership with LACA—the school food people, surveyed over 236,000 parents on all things school meals.
An entire section of this research is dedicated to allergens and special diets. After all, keeping the estimated 5%-8% of children in the UK living with a food allergy safe in school requires careful management, especially considering that the consequences of exposure to food allergens can be life-threatening for many children.
The research uncovered several key findings relating to food allergies in schools, including awareness of allergy management policies, common food allergens, and trust in schools to keep affected children safe.
It also highlighted several practical solutions for schools to ensure all pupils feel included and safe at school. Recommendations shared by Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, from the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, include appropriate training for staff on how to respond in the event of an emergency and keeping spare adrenaline auto-injectors available.
And while our research revealed that 14.3% of children with a food allergy have experienced an allergic reaction after having a school meal containing a known allergen (with reactions ranging from mild to severe), we know one instance of a child consuming a known allergen in school is one instance too many.
That’s why we’ve designed our systems to help schools deliver robust food allergy management.
Here are three ways we do this…
1. Pre-booking school meals safely
Natasha’s Law requires food suppliers to display allergens on packaged products, resulting in menus that are accommodating for different diets.
Our systems provide a virtual space where pupils and parents can see what ingredients are in the meals they are ordering.
2. Bridging the gap between home and school
Clear, timely communication about allergy management helps parents feel informed, valued, and confident in your ability to keep their children safe.
Working closely with parents not only supports inclusive menu planning but builds trust and partnership—turning them into advocates within the school community, which can boost uptake of school meals.
Regular dialogue also ensures allergy and dietary information is kept up-to-date.
In 2026, our parental engagement solution will allow caterers to communicate directly with parents who opt in to receive information.
3. A safety net
All schools are committed to managing food allergies and safeguarding, but sometimes human error can creep into the process and introduce risk.
Our Meal Selection functionality provides schools and caterers with the ability to automate and streamline the meal selection process, which reduces human error and the risk of allergen exposure.
Our powerful meal ordering software can even prevent parents from selecting dangerous or unsuitable choices for children with allergies and special dietary requirements.
For in-depth data and analysis on allergy management in schools, check out our 2025 School Meals Report.
Download your free copy of the 2025 School Meals Report
What parents really think. Insights from 236,000+ families across the UK—on the subjects that matter most—meal uptake, free school meals, allergens, school meals vs packed lunches, with expert commentary from LACA, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, and Juniper Ventures.
