Students with Allergies and Food Safety
Some Da Vinci students have allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, other foods, environmental, etc.) that pose serious health risks if a reaction were to occur. The school works with families to keep students with allergies safe while at school, and to be prepared for what actions to take should a student become ill. The school provides guidelines for how the school and families should cooperate regarding allergy issues.
It is important for families of non-allergy students to be aware of these issues as well and to understand that they have a vital role to play in keeping all Da Vinci students safe (providing food or class treats from home, lunches, cleanliness and hygiene, etc). All families should review the school’s Food Safety Policy.
Food Safety Policy Highlights:
All food served to students in any school activity should be nut-free with the exception of designated tables in the cafeteria. Lunches provided from home to be consumed in the cafeteria may contain nuts, but students may only sit in the clearly designated areas in the cafeteria if their lunch is not nut-free. Restrictions on nuts include peanuts and tree nuts, since most nuts are manufactured and/or packaged on the same factory lines.
Please exercise special vigilance with donuts. Dunkin’ Donut shops specifically display the warning “Please be advised that any of our products may contain allergens, including peanuts” and should never be brought into school. Many donuts purchased from grocery stores are safe. Please check the product labeling.
Activities include, but are not limited to: before and after care, advisory treats and lunches, rewards for achievement, PA and school sponsored after school events, enrichment programs, and all after school classes and programs. Items with nuts should not be used or stored in offices that commonly admit students.
To check store-bought food for nut ingredients, the labels should be examined for peanuts and tree nuts, and for wording such as “may contain traces of nuts,” and “processed on equipment that handles nuts.” If any food product has a food warning of this type, this food should not be brought into school. Foods that contain warnings to the extent that they are “processed in a facility that also processes nuts” should be safe for school.
Information on Food Labeling and Examples
If you are a prospective parent considering Da Vinci Academy, please feel free to read the schools' guidelines and to talk with us about any allergy issues your child may have.