Special diets for children and young people
Notifying us of special dietary requirements
A valid healthcare assessment for a special diet is required for the following diets when eating at a nursery, school or educational institution:
| Diet | Author of the special dietary requirements report |
|---|---|
| Food allergy | A doctor or a dietitian |
| Gluten-free | A doctor or a dietitian |
| Other diets intended for the treatment of illness | A doctor or a dietitian |
| Vegan vegetarian food for under-18s | A health visitor, a dietitian or a doctor |
| Emergency food | Dietitian |
No special dietary assessment is required for a lactose-free diet, diabetes or a vegetarian diet. Vegetarian meals containing dairy products and eggs are available daily for everyone. The meals are lactose-free, and lactose-free milk and gluten-free oat drink are also available.
If necessary, a child with diabetes can collect an extra snack from the kitchen. The snack consists of bread, milk or fruit, depending on what is available in the kitchen. In the event of a sudden drop in blood sugar, the nursery or school can purchase juice or glucose products (Siripiri®) from Voimia’s product range.
Who reports it and how?
A healthcare professional completes the online special dietary requirements form available on the City of Tampere’s website during a consultation. The information is automatically forwarded to the kitchens of those nurseries and schools where Voimia provides meals. Adults who follow a vegan diet can notify the school kitchen of their dietary requirements by email. The contact details for the kitchens can be found on Voimia’s menu pages.
The parent or guardian should ensure that the staff at the nursery or school receive the necessary information, for example by asking for a copy of the special dietary requirements form during the initial consultation.
If your special diet changes
If new restrictions are imposed on a special diet, the parent or carer or the student should request an updated report from the healthcare service. If a special diet is no longer required, the parent or guardian or the student must notify the kitchen at the nursery, school or educational institution by email. The kitchens’ contact details can be found on the Voimia menu page.
When changing nursery or school
If a special diet is in place, the guardian must use the form below to notify Voimiala of the name of the new nursery or school. This notification method applies only to those places that can be selected from the form’s drop-down menu.
Absences lasting more than a week
A parent or student must notify the kitchen of any absences lasting more than a week. If a special diet meal remains untouched on the serving line for two weeks without notification of absence, the preparation of that special diet meal will be suspended. Preparation will only resume following notification from a parent or guardian or the student. The kitchens’ contact details can be found on the Voimia menu page.
The most common special diets
Food allergy
On an allergy diet, you should avoid foods that are listed as prohibited in the special dietary requirements form. In the case of allergenic foodstuffs, foods labelled ‘may contain’ should also be avoided. Unsuitable pulses – namely peas, beans, lentils and soya – must be specified separately. A report is also required for temporary food exclusions, such as those lasting one month.
If a child has a list of permitted foods, only these specific foods are to be noted in the report. Sugar, salt, starches and additives are not listed separately, nor are they considered to be allergenic foods.
A particular brand will not be stocked if the range already includes a product with similar content.
New foods are tried at home. Parents or carers should notify the nursery or school kitchen by email when introducing a new food. The kitchens’ contact details can be found on the Voimia menu page.
Gluten-free
Gluten-free food is provided for people with coeliac disease. The diet excludes wheat, barley and rye. Ingredients containing gluten-free oats and gluten-free wheat starch are used, unless specifically prohibited.
Food for children under one year old
Food for children under one year of age is prepared in a puréed form, without salt or milk. Fermented milk products may be offered from the age of 10 months, for example as snacks, but these are provided by the nursery staff. A weaning formula from the range is provided as a drink with meals, unless the child drinks ordinary milk. Special formulae and other milk drinks for children are to be purchased by the parent or carer and brought to the nursery.
Emergency food
A safety diet may be provided if a child has a long-standing, extremely fussy eating pattern which, as a result, leads to, for example, stunted growth. A safety diet requires a temporary special dietary assessment carried out by a dietitian. The comfort food provided consists of familiar dishes from the menu that the child is used to.
Vegan food
A vegetarian diet consisting solely of plant-based foods. Oat drink is available to drink with the meal.
Any other business
Specialised products for mealtimes
A carer should provide any special products, such as nutritional supplements or powders, to the nursery or school if these are to be used during the nursery or school day.
Packed lunch
If there is a valid reason for bringing a child’s own packed lunch, the parent or carer should agree on the practical arrangements with the early years or primary school staff. The kitchen is not responsible for storing or reheating packed lunches.
Additives
Many foods naturally contain the same substances that are used as food additives, such as acetic acid, ascorbic acid and citric acid. In the food industry, additives are used, for example, to ensure shelf life or texture.
No additives are used in the preparation of the food.
Starches
The origin of starches containing allergens subject to statutory labelling requirements (wheat, barley, rye and oats) must be stated on the food’s packaging. As wheat starch contains wheat and gluten, it is not suitable for people with a wheat allergy or coeliac disease. Barley starch contains barley and gluten, so it is not suitable for people with coeliac disease or a barley allergy.
A food manufacturer may, if they wish, provide precise information on ingredients – that is, state the origin of the starch – but packaging legislation does not require the origin of all other starches to be stated. For example, maize or potato starch may be listed under the generic term ‘starch’.
The protein content of starch syrups and other modified starches, such as maltodextrin, is very low, and these proteins have not been shown to be allergenic. If a child’s records state that they are ‘allergic to maize/potato/rice starch’, no product whose packaging simply lists ‘starch’ as an ingredient should be used. The origin of the starches is not investigated unless it is specified in the product information.
