Special Dietary Needs
Physician’s Statement for Children with
Disabilities and Special Dietary Needs
USDA regulations 7 CFR Part 15b require substitutions or special
dietary accommodations 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 statement
signed by a licensed physician. The physician’s statement must identify:
- Child’s disability
- Major life activity affected by the disability
- Food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet
- Food or foods that must be substituted
The MPS SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS:
EATING AND FEEDING EVALUATION form is adapted from the USDA
guidance: Accommodating
Children with Special Needs: Guidance for School Food Service Staff,
and may be used to obtain the required information from the physician
and/or medical authority (see reference below).
Managing Severe/Life Threatening
Food Allergies with Anaphylactic Reactions
If the physician’s assessment indicates that the food allergy may
result in severe, lifethreatening (anaphylactic) reactions, the child’s
condition would meet the definition of a “disability.” In such cases,
the prescribed substitutions by the licensed physician must be made. In
addition, a licensed physician must then sign the MPS SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS: EATING AND
FEEDING EVALUATION form (yellow section).
Managing (Non-severe) Food Allergies
and/or Food Intolerances
The school food service authority is
not required to make food substitutions for children with non-severe
food allergies or food intolerances, who do not have a disability as
defined under either Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or Part B of
IDEA.
The school food service authority may choose to 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. Determinations are made on a case-by-case
basis. This provision covers those children who have food intolerances
or allergies but do not have lifethreatening reactions. In this case, a
Medical Authority (other than a licensed Physician) can complete and
sign the MPS SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS:
EATING AND FEEDING EVALUATION form. The completed and signed
form must be sent to the School Nutrition Services department.
Other Special Dietary Needs
(Religious Restrictions)
If there is no known allergy, food intolerance or disability, but the
parent requests that a specific food be eliminated for religious
reasons, the school food service authority may choose, at their
discretion, to make a food substitution, but is not required to provide
a substitution. In this case, the parent may complete, sign and return
the form to the food service manager.
*Reference: Accommodating Children with Special Needs: Guidance for
School Foods Service Staff, United States Department of Food and
Nutrition Service, Fall 2001. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/default.htm
