District 622 will accommodate special dietary requests for students with food allergies and other dietary restrictions. In accordance with the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, the Special Diet Statement form must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian as well as the student's licensed physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner. This completed form must be received before any accommodations are able to be made.

Parents or Guardians may request lactose free milk by requesting, in writing, an alternative:

• Lactose reduced milk, or
• Milk fortified with lactose in liquid, tablet, granular, and other form, or
• Milk to which lactobacillus acidophilus has been added.

Juice, almond, or soy milk cannot replace milk in the National School Lunch Program.

If you have any questions, please contact your school's nutrition services site manager.

What is a Special Diet Statement?

The Special Diet Statement form is used to provide information about the student and the disability for which their diet must be modified. The form indicates which food must be omitted and substituted and is signed by a licensed physician, physician's assistant or advanced practice nurse/nurse practitioner.

An example of a special dietary need is a food allergy that results in a life-threatening or anaphylactic reaction.

Is a Special Diet Statement needed for a student without a disability that has special dietary needs?

If a student does not have a disability, substitutions will be made on a case-by-case basis when supported by the Special Diet Statement.

Generally, a student with a food allergy or food intolerance that does not result in a life-threatening (anaphylactic) reaction, is not considered to be a person with a disability.

In most cases, the special dietary needs of a person who does not have a disability may be managed within the normal meal program by avoiding certain foods and choosing other items. The special diet statement is needed only if a food substitution is requested.

Does a new Special Diet Statement need to be completed each year?

No. If there are no dietary changes a new form is not needed. However, a new form is needed whenever there are any updates or changes to the Special Diet Statement form on file, even during the school year.

How long does it take for the Special Diet request to start?

It may take up to 5 days to receive special diet orders. Please provide meals and/or snacks for your student until the special dietary needs begin.

Where should I submit the Special Diet Statement form?

The completed Special Diet Statement form should be returned to District 622 Nutrition Services at 2520 E 12th Avenue, North St. Paul, MN, 55109. The district nutrition services coordinator will forward the form to the nutrition services site manager and school nurse at your student's school.