Allergies & Special Meal Accommodations

OHLSD food service workers receive training prior to the 2017-18 school year

Food Allergies

The Child Nutrition department takes great care to serve quality, great-tasting food items to our students each and every time they visit our cafeteria. We understand that each of our students has individual needs when eating or drinking outside their home, especially those with food allergies. We provide the most current ingredient information available from our food suppliers for the nine most common allergens as identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish and shellfish), so that students with food allergies can make informed food selections.

Food allergies are a potential life-threatening medical problem. Oak Hills Local School District staff will work with students and parents to provide a safe environment for students with a food allergy.  Parents are responsible for communicating any special needs of their child, including food allergies, to the district at the beginning of each school year or at the time of enrollment. 

However, we also want you to know that despite taking precautions, normal kitchen operations may involve some shared cooking and preparation areas, equipment and utensils, and the possibility exists for your food items to come in contact with other food products, including other allergens.

MEAL SUBSTITUTIONS FOR MEDICAL OR SPECIAL DIETARY REASONS

USDA Regulation 7 CFR Part 15b requires substitutions or modifications in school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets. A child with a disability must be provided substitutions in foods when that need is supported by a signed statement from a licensed physician.

Food Allergies

Generally, children with food allergies or intolerances do not have a disability as defined under either Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or Part B of IDEA, and the school food service may, but is not required to, make food substitutions for them.  However, when in the licensed physician’s assessment, food allergies may result in severe, life-threatening (anaphylactic) reactions, the child’s condition would meet the definition of “disability”, and the substitutions prescribed by the licensed physician must be made.

School food services may make food substitutions, at their discretion, for individual children who do not have a disability, but who are medically certified as having a special medical or dietary need.  Such determinations are only made on a case-by-case basis.  This provision covers those children who have food intolerances or allergies but do not have life-threatening reactions (anaphylactic reactions) when exposed to the food(s) to which they have problems.

Medical Statement for Children with Special Dietary Needs

Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement explaining the requested food substitution and must be signed by a recognized medical authority. The Medical Statement must include:

• An identification of the medical or other special dietary condition which restricts the child’s diet;
• The food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet; and
• The food or choice of foods to be substituted.

If we do not receive a medical statement from a recognized medical authority, your child will receive a regular lunch tray.  Medical statements completed by parents or guardians will not be accepted.

Special Diet and Food Allergy Accommodation Form

Forms that are completed and signed by the appropriate medical authority can be mailed, emailed, or returned to your school nurse or the Child Nutrition office.

Once forms are completed and processed, an alert will be placed on your child's meal account in the cafeteria. When your student types in their student ID#, an alert box will pop up on the account, making the cashier aware of the special diet/food allergy and modifications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Child Nutrition office at (513) 598-2959.

Students with Food Allergies?

You can now sort the online menus on My School Menus to omit any products with the top 9 allergen containing ingredients by following the instructions below: 

 Via Website:

1. Click the above button
2. Chose the name of the school, and select the menu that you would like to sort by allergens
3. On the right hand side of the menu, chose the "Filter Allergens" button. When prompted, read the user agreement and choose "apply" on the bottom of the popup box. 
4. Chose the allergen that you would like to avoid from the menu, then select "apply" on the bottom of the popup box.
5.  Scroll through the menu.  All items containing the allergen will be crossed off and should be avoided. 

Via Mobile App:

1. Download the My School Menus app from the app store or through google play-- a red apple will be the icon.
2. When asked the name of the district, type Oak Hills Local School District, and select "Go".
3. Chose the name of the school, and select menu that you would like to sort by allergens
4. To filter by allergens, choose the button in the top right corner with 3 lines on top of each other. Chose the "Filter Allergens" button. When prompted, read the user agreement and choose "apply" on the bottom of the popup box. 
5. Chose the allergen that you would like to avoid from the menu, then select "apply" on the bottom of the popup box.
6. Select the > arrow at the top of the screen to toggle the side menu away.  The menu can be viewed by scrolling down. All items that contain the selected allergen will be crossed off and should be avoided.