Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Food Standards Agency on introducing allergen guidance for schools to help protect children with food allergies.

The Department works closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on all matters relating to school food.

Given the complexity and individual nature of allergies, the Department believes that head teachers, school governors, and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their allergy handling policies, which consider individual circumstances.

The Department already has statutory guidance for schools to support pupils with medical conditions, which makes clear that schools should ensure they are aware of any pupils with allergies and have processes in place to ensure these can be well managed. Parents should be fully consulted and engaged in any discussions in relation to their child’s allergies. This guidance can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

While the Department keeps these policies under review, and welcomes feedback on how to better support schools’ implementation of them, the Department feels that the existing mix of national requirements and local flexibility is appropriate for this complex issue.