New Bill Mandates Food Allergy Training for School Cafeteria Staff

This bill, titled the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act of 2025, aims to make school meal times safer for kids with food allergies. It works by updating an existing law, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, to require that the training already given to local school food service personnel must now include specific information on food allergies.

Kitchen Confidential: What Staff Will Learn

So, what does this training actually cover? The bill specifies three key areas: prevention of allergic reactions (think cross-contamination awareness, reading labels), recognition of symptoms (knowing what an allergic reaction looks like), and the appropriate response (what steps to take immediately if a reaction occurs). Essentially, it's about equipping the folks handling school meals with the know-how to manage food allergies effectively day-to-day, integrating this crucial knowledge into their standard training modules.

Why This Matters at Lunchtime

For parents of kids with food allergies, this could offer some peace of mind when sending their children to school. It means the people serving lunch are getting standardized training, mandated by updates to Section 7(g) of the Child Nutrition Act, on how to handle potential allergens and react in an emergency. For school staff, it provides clear guidelines and knowledge, potentially reducing uncertainty and improving safety protocols. While it's a targeted change on paper – adding a module to existing training – the goal is a tangible increase in safety for a vulnerable group of students navigating the school cafeteria.