Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    School’s Gluten-Free and Halal Meal Policies Drawing Fire 

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    A UK school is facing criticism from angry parents, after banning packed lunches, and offering to gluten-free, vegetarian, and halal options to the children.

    School’s Gluten-Free and Halal Meal Policies Drawing Fire  - Image: CC--meesh
    Caption: Image: CC--meesh

    Celiac.com 06/30/2018 - It seems there’s a bit of a gluten-free and halal food controversy going on across the pond. For those who don’t know, ‘Halal’ is the Muslim equivalent of what Jewish folks call ‘Kosher.’ Basically, it means food prepared to certain standards and blessed for consumption.

    The Aureus School in Didcot, Oxfordshire, England is being decried by angry parents as “like a dictatorship” after the school banned packed lunches and began serving pupils gluten-free options, including halal meat, water and salad. The ruckus began when the school recently banned students from bringing lunches and snacks from home, and began a program to make sure that “all students have access to a daily nutritious home-cooked family meal.”

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    This is fine in principal, say angry parents, but in practice has become “draconian.” One father, who asked not to be named, said that he and his wife were “thinking of taking [their daughter] out of the school, adding that the situation was “getting silly and more like a dictatorship. Their views are quite extreme.”

    The dad said that "It's about choice. It's supposed to be an inclusive school but they are only catering for one particular religion.” He added that he had tried unsuccessfully to get the policies changed since September.

    So, whereas in days past, lunch might mean whatever mom saw fit to pack, these days at Aureus School lunch means the choice of a hot halal meat meal, hot gluten-free vegetarian meal, a jacket potato, a salad, a pasta pot or a baguette. The school insists that only water be drunk on site because “hydrated brains learn better”.

    The school states that their Halal kitchen policy is simply a move to “celebrate the diversity of our country’s culture,” in addition to providing nutritious food for the children.

    What do you think? A gluten-free and Halal lunch bridge too far, or a good meal for the kids?



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Guest Jen

    If this were my daughter's school, I'd be torn between being thrilled that they constantly had a gluten-free option available, being terrified that they'd put a tiny bit of butter on that gluten-free meal (she's also allergic to milk proteins), and being annoyed that she'd be stuck with meatless meals constantly since we couldn't send alternatives and it sounds like they wouldn't be swapping the Halal meat between gluten-free and non-gluten-free options.  But choosing to only offer Halal meat seems like not such a big deal to me.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Kosher vs Halal

    Posted

    Muslims can eat Kosher meat, but Jews cannot eat Halal meats, as they are not produced the same way. So it would seem in the purpose of to “celebrate the diversity of our country’s culture,” providing Kosher meat would be more appropriate; and for the muslims, providing a good falafel, tahini and mixed salad plate would be appreciated. Plus other students would enjoy this option also.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Ging

    Not okay.  It's one thing to offer healthy meals to the school population - it's another entirely to force your opinion of healthy food and/or dictate to parents their care of their children and basically imply that they are incapable or inept.  I don't go to paranoid extremes, but I do think it's a bad idea to let an organization take choices out of your hands because of 'good intentions', etc.  Such a bad precedent.  Offer it!  Give the choice, but make it a 'choice'.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Laura

    Posted

    When oh when will schools learn that gluten-free is not Celiac safe!  Does the vegetarian offering contain egg, yeast or dairy gluten cross-reactors?

    There is zero protein in the "vegetarian" gluten-free option.

    This type of "diversity" thinking is "exclusive" to people with certain dietary health restrictions.  Furthermore, public schools cannot violate the "Establishment Clause" commonly known as "Separation of Church & State".  It steps "flat" on the "Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Correction

    Posted

    "When oh when will schools learn that gluten-free is not Celiac safe!  Does the vegetarian offering contain egg, yeast or dairy gluten cross-reactors?"

    What? Plenty of Celiacs do just fine with egg, yeast (as long as it wasn't brewing yeast contaminated with barley malt), and Dairy. Gluten Free means just that, free of gluten. 

    " Furthermore, public schools cannot violate the "Establishment Clause" commonly known as "Separation of Church & State".  It steps "flat" on the "Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution!""

    I'm not sure this school in the UK has to abide by the US Constitution but the First Amendment only applies to the federal government and not private businesses (such as this private school) anyway. I doubt your kids lunch is considered "free speech". A stronger argument in the US would be the Americans with Disabilities Act which comes a lot closer to providing legal protection for a child with a medical diagnosis. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 09/14/2011 - There is a bit of a dust-up over the cost of gluten-free bread to UK taxpayers. It seems that either UK's National Health Service (NHS) is being gouged, or that the conservative party had released inaccurate statistics about the cost of gluten-free bread to UK taxpayers.
    In the UK, those diagnosed with celiac disease are given a doctor's prescription that allows them to purchase gluten-free bread from stores or pharmacies at cost that is partly subsidized by the taxpayer.
    The dust-up began when press reports stated that each loaf of gluten-free bread cost the NHS in Wales £32 (over $40), once the costs of diagnosis and prescription were factored in.
    This prompted a reply by major gluten-free bread-maker Genius Foods noting that Genius supplies the bread ...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 01/25/2012 - Perhaps due to a combination of public information efforts and higher diagnosis rates, but awareness of celiac disease, gluten-free and other food sensitivities is slowly spreading to schools across the nation. This reality, coupled with general student interest in a greater variety of healthier food options is driving a change in both vocabulary and offerings at campuses around the country.
    Go to many schools today, and you may hear terms like 'gluten-free,' 'celiac-friendly,' or 'allergen-free' thrown around liberally with more common standbys like 'kosher,' 'organic,' 'vegetarian,' and 'vegan.'
    Students are "becoming more sophisticated customers," says Joe Wojtowicz, general manager of Sodexo, Inc.'s Crossroads dining room at Concordia University Chicago...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 03/23/2012 - Most parents of gluten-free children can attest to the challenges of making certain that the food the kids are eating is, in fact, gluten-free.
    Many of those parents can also be comforted by the fact that more public schools are recognizing the need for gluten-free lunches for certain children, and are making an effort to provide nutritious gluten-free alternatives for those children.
    Well, in a development that may interest all parents of gluten-free children, the Open Original Shared Link that schools in Northamptonshire, UK, have been to ordered to discontinue two particular "gluten-free" meals after the meals were found to contain unacceptable levels of gluten. Gluten from wheat, rye or barley triggers an immune reaction in certain people, requiring them...


    Jefferson Adams
    UK Cuts Gluten-Free Food Prescriptions
    Celiac.com 07/20/2017 - In the face of budget cuts, and in a move that may offer a glimpse of things to come, doctors with the the UK's National Health Service are eliminating gluten-free food prescriptions for adults, beginning in parts of Devon.
    As of July 1, the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) responsible for planning and buying the majority of healthcare services for local people have recommended limiting gluten free foods including bread, pasta, flour and multipurpose mixes, to under 18 years of age.
    That means that approximately 3,400 adults in Devon will no longer receive gluten free food prescriptions, a move calculated to save tax payers around £350,000 per year.
    The CCG says the action is part of a plan to encourage people to purchase ...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - Brianne03 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Daughter recently diagnosed with Celiac and I am questioning my results...

    2. - Brianne03 replied to Brianne03's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      4

      Chapstick, gum, cough drops, medications...HELP!

    3. - Scott Adams replied to sh00148's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Poo changes after 2 weeks

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Neurological/Nervous System Symptoms

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Brianne03's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      4

      Chapstick, gum, cough drops, medications...HELP!


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,003
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    CaroleM
    Newest Member
    CaroleM
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.1k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Brianne03
    • Bindi
      38
    • gregoryC
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...