Food Allergies

Connecticut Requirements  |   Guidance  |   Reading Food Labels for Allergens
Laws for Allergen Labeling  |   Training

Connecticut Requirements for Managing Life-threatening Food Allergies in Public Schools 

These requirements apply to all public schools, including child care centers that operate in public schools.

• Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-212c: School District Plan for Life-threatening Food Allergies
• Guidelines for Managing Life-threatening Food Allergies in Connecticut Schools (CSDE)

Guidance

• Avoiding Cross Contact (FARE) Includes "How to Avoid Cross-Contact" in English and Spanish
• Family Child Care Food Allergy Fact Sheets (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Food Allergy Management in Schools (FAMS): Expert Recommendations for K-12 FARE)
• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
• Food Allergies (USDA)
• Food Allergies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Managing Food Allergies School Nutrition Directors Fact Sheet (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Managing Food Allergies School Nutrition Staff Fact Sheet (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Safe at School and Ready to Learn: A Comprehensive Policy Guide for Protecting Students with Life-Threatening Food Allergies (National School Boards Association)

Reading Food Labels for Allergens

• Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) (FDA)
• Food Labels: Read it before you eat it! (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)
• Have Food Allergies? Read the Label (FDA)
• How to Read a Food Label (FARE): Includes "Understanding Food Labels" in English and Spanish
• Tips for Avoiding Your Allergen: English and Spanish (FARE)
• USDA Foods Database: Vendor-specific nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information for direct delivery USDA Foods
• More resources: "Food Labels" in CSDE's Resource List for Dietary Guidance and Nutrition Information 

Laws for Allergen Labeling

• Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) (FDA)
• The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021 (FoodSafety.gov)

Training

• Food Allergies for the CACFP (ICN)
• Food Allergies: Keeping Students Safe and Included (Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) online training)
• Food Allergies in School Nutrition Programs (Institute of Child Nutrition online training)
  • Part 1: General Food Allergies 
  • Part 2: Reading Food Labels
  • Part 3: Avoiding Cross-Contact
  • Part 4: Accommodating Food Allergies in Schools
• Menu Strategies for Special Diets and Allergens (Institute of Child Nutrition online training)
• STAR: Food Allergy Prevention in Schools (Institute of Child Nutrition webinar)
• STAR: Strategies for Planning Inclusive and Safe School Meals (Institute of Child Nutrition webinar)
• STAR: Tips on Managing the Ninth Major Food Allergen, Sesame (Institute of Child Nutrition webinar)
• Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs (CDC)