Allergy and Special Nutrition Needs Information

In accordance with USDA regulations, School Food Authorities (SFAs) must ensure children with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). SFAs are to make reasonable modifications to accommodate children with disabilities. This includes providing special meals at no extra charge to children with a disability, which restricts their diet. A disability is defined as:

1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such an individual.

2. A record of such an impairment;

3. or Being regarded as having such an impairment

SFAs are required to make substitutions to meals for children with a disability that restricts the child's diet and only when supported by a written medical statement from a State licensed healthcare professional. In Georgia, this includes a medical professional licensed to prescribe medication, such as a Physician (Medical or Osteopathic Physician), Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.

Special Dietary Needs

A special dietary need is one that requires medical documentation by filling out the form "Medical Statement for Accommodating Disabilities" linked in the files below. Some examples of special dietary needs are gluten-free, specific food allergies, texture modifications, etc. 
The form "Medical Statement for Accommodating Disabilities" must be filled out by a healthcare provider and returned to ICSS School Nutrition AND their school nurse. We must receive this completed paperwork before we can begin to make accommodations for any student.

In the past, students with food allergies or special dietary needs were handled more so by individual nurses and schools. As we move forward, we want to have documentation come to the School Nutrition Department so that we can ensure that we're tracking all of our students in the best way possible. The paperwork linked on this page is the standard paperwork given by the Georgia Department of Education.  

Medical Statement For Accommodating Disabilities

When a request for a modified menu is made, the medical statement form must be forwarded to the Nutrition Supervisor and the School Nurse. The school nurse does not send a copy of the documentation to the school nutrition department. This task must be completed by the parent. The Nutrition Supervisor will develop a menu for the students, based on their disability, and share the menu with the Cafeteria staff and the parents. When menu modifications or substitutions do not meet the meal pattern, a written medical statement is required in order for the meal to be eligible for reimbursement. 

We must receive this completed paperwork before we can begin to make menu accommodations. Emailing our department without paperwork is not sufficient documentation. Having all the food allergy/special diet documentation through the School Nutrition Department helps us keep our children safe!

Peanut Allergy Information

All K-12 schools offer individually packaged Whole-Grain PB&J Uncrustable sandwiches as a meal choice. Otherwise, all menu items for breakfast and lunch will not contain nuts as an ingredient. We serve pre-packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to further help prevent allergen contamination in our kitchens. 

 It is important to note that while we do not use peanuts as an ingredient, some of our products may be manufactured in a processing facility alongside peanuts/tree nuts or any of the big 9 allergens. We want to make students and families aware that this is a reality of living with food allergies or special dietary needs, and a child's biggest advocate is themselves. We recommend teaching them to ask about their allergen or special diet every time they are offered food, no matter the source.