Frequently Asked Questions

My child does not like some of the dishes on the special menu, can I ask for the menu to be amended?

We are unable to accommodate personal preferences since this can cause confusion and increase the risk of error.

My child is only allergic to wheat not all gluten?

We produce over 30 different menus for children requiring special diets for medical reasons. Unfortunately we are unable to split this down any further since it would become unmanageable in our kitchens.

My child can have egg baked as an ingredient but not raw or whole?

We produce over 30 different menus for children requiring special diets for medical reasons. Unfortunately we are unable to split this down any further since it would become unmanageable in our kitchens.

Can I provide my own products?

We believe that our menus meet the requirements for most allergen free diets, however if it is considered appropriate for a specific dietary need to supply products from home then HCL will accept items that do not require temperature control. Any item that requires either fridge or freezer storage will not be accepted.

Is the meat in my child's school Halal?

HCL does not use Halal meat as standard. If there is a majority requirement in a school we can change to Halal only provision, but this will only be if instructed to do so by the school and if all parents are informed.

My child only wants lunch on a special promotional/theme day, what should I do?

HCL has a stringent allergen process that we follow for pupils who regularly have a school lunch. Unfortunately we are unable to provide individual allergen menus for children who only have the occasional meal. For each theme day we produce an allergen sheet so the Cook Manager will be able to pass this information to parents on request, allowing the parent to make an informed decision as to whether the menu is appropriate for their child. We will not be able to guarantee a specific meal. The only exception to this is Christmas Lunch where a form can be completed in advance stating a child's needs and we will attempt to accommodate.

My child regularly has an allergen free school lunch, what happens on theme/promotional days?

The Cook at your child's school will either ensure that the promotional menu is appropriate or serve your child a dish that is on their pre-agreed menu.

Why do I have to have medical evidence?

Withdrawing a food group from a child's diet should always be monitored by a health professional. Doctors should be aware of relatively minor intolerances because they could be indicative of other intolerances. HCL needs to be fully aware of potential symptoms and if necessary carry out a risk assessment. Medical evidence also ensures that we provide special menus for those who really need it and not to accommodate personal preferences.