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Table 2 School Food Allergy Policies

From: Parent perspectives on school food allergy policy

Policy

Yes

No

Unsure

 

N = 289

School is a generally safe environment

210 (72.7)

54 (18.7)

25 (8.7)

Epinephrine Policies

 Emergency (stock) epinephrine is available

155 (53.7)

64 (22.2)

70 (24.2)

  Policy is Helpful (if responded “Yes”)/Needed (if responded “No”)

146 (94.2)

59 (92.2)

 

 Children are able to carry their medications

167 (57.8)

86 (29.8)

36 (12.5)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

156 (93.4)

47 (54.7)

 

 Child’s epinephrine is readily available in the classroom

145 (50.2)

129 (44.6)

15 (5.2)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

 

 Emergency (stock) epinephrine available on all school field trips (N = 287)

104 (36.3)

101 (35.2)

82 (28.6)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

95 (91.4)

82 (81.2)

 

  Who carries epinephrine on field trips (if responded “Yes”)

   Teacher

60 (58.3)

  

   School-appointed chaperone

15 (14.6)

  

   School nurse

8 (7.8)

  

   Unsure

6 (5.8)

  

   Other

14 (13.6)

  

 Emergency (stock) epinephrine available for after-school activities

30 (10.4)

136 (47.1)

123 (42.6)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

29 (96.7)

119 (88.8)

 

  Who carries epinephrine during after-school activities (if responded “Yes”)

   Athletic trainer

1 (3.3)

  

   School nurse

3 (10.0)

  

   School staff

7 (23.3)

  

   Other

19 (63.3)

  

 Emergency (stock) epinephrine travels with every group

33 (11.4)

99 (34.3)

157 (54.3)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

29 (87.9)

82 (82.8)

 

  Who carries epinephrine during after-school activities (if responded “Yes”)

   Athletic trainer

1 (3.0)

  

   School nurse

4 (12.1)

  

   School staff

10 (30.3)

  

   Coach/teacher

9 (27.3)

  

   Other

11 (33.3)

  

Lunchroom Policies

 Designated lunch areas for students with food allergies

184 (63.4)

78 (27)

27 (9.3)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

128 (69.6)

25 (32.1)

 

 School lunch menus with allergen information available

100 (34.6)

128 (44.3)

61 (21.1)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

93 (93)

110 (85.9)

 

 Food items are labeled with allergen information

36 (12.5)

144 (49.8)

109 (37.7)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

33 (91.7)

116 (80.6)

 

 Clear cleaning procedures in the lunchroom

160 (55.4)

34 (11.8)

95 (32.9)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

152 (95)

31 (91.2)

 

Classroom Policies

 Snack policy in the classroom

178 (61.6)

98 (33.9)

13 (4.5)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

159 (89.3)

63 (64.3)

 

 Strict food guidelines for celebrations (holidays and birthdays) (N = 287)

153 (53.3)

120 (41.9)

14 (4.9)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

138 (90.2)

96 (80)

 

  What are the recommendations (if responded “Yes”)

   Food with a clear ingredient label is allowed

59 (38.6)

  

   No food is allowed

48 (31.4)

  

   Unsure

4 (2.6)

  

   Other

42 (27.5)

  

Field Trip & After-School Policies

 When food is not provided by the school for field trips, all parents are provided with food guidelines

74 (25.6)

154 (53.3)

61 (21.1)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

58 (78.4)

104 (69.3)

 

 Strict food policies for after-school activities

23 (8.0)

161 (55.7)

105 (36.3)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

22 (95.7)

120 (74.5)

 

 Concessions are clearly labeled for food allergens

18 (6.2)

152 (52.6)

119 (41.2)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

18 (100)

133 (87.5)

 

Food Allergy Education Policies

 Training and education for students

31 (10.7)

207 (71.6)

51 (17.7)

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

28 (90.3)

177 (85.5)

 

 Educational materials in the lunchroom relating to food allergy

18 (6.2)

176 (60.9)

95 (32.9)

 Policy is Helpful/Needed

14 (77.8)

136 (77.3)

 

 Educational materials in the classroom relating to food allergy (N = 287)

16 (5.6)

210 (73.2)

 

  Policy is Helpful/Needed

13 (81.3)

161 (76.7)

61 (21.3)

Transportation Policies

 Children take the school bus to/from school

129 (44.6)

155 (53.6)

5 (1.7)

  Adult on school bus to/from school is trained on allergic reactions (if responded “Yes”)

48 (37.2)

33 (25.6)

48 (37.2)