Allergy management in childcare kitchens
The kitchen records that support each child’s risk minimisation plan, from the dietary record to the check before service.
Regulation 90 requires a medical conditions policy with a risk minimisation plan for each child with an allergy, developed with their family. The kitchen’s part is practical: a current dietary record for each child, a menu that shows allergens in every dish, separate preparation and labelling, and a check before every meal is served, all written down. This article covers those kitchen records, not medical care.
Where allergy information breaks down
Allergy information usually reaches the office first: at enrolment, or when a family updates a plan. The risk is the gap between the office and the kitchen. If the cook is working from last month’s list, or a relief cook doesn’t know where the list is, the plan on paper doesn’t protect the child.
Good kitchen records close that gap. They make the current information easy to find, and they show it was checked.
The kitchen records that support each plan
Dietary record per child
Allergies and diet needs from the family’s plan, updated the same day it changes, with who changed it and when.
Menu with allergens
Every dish on the weekly menu with its allergens listed, so substitutions are planned, not improvised.
Ingredients and suppliers
Product information and supplier details, so you know when a recipe or product changes.
Separate preparation
Allergy-safe meals prepared, stored and labelled separately, with the child’s name and the allergen it avoids.
Check before service
Each allergy-safe meal checked against the child’s record before it leaves the kitchen, and recorded.
Staff training
Every cook and educator who serves food knows the process, including relief and casual staff.
Handling changes safely
- New enrolments and plan updates go to the kitchen the same day, with a record of who passed them on.
- Menu changes are checked against every dietary record before the new dish is served.
- Product changes from suppliers are checked: a new brand can mean new allergens.
- Excursions and celebrations follow the same checks as everyday meals.
What kitchen records don’t replace
Records support your medical conditions policy and each child’s plans. They don’t replace them, and they aren’t medical advice. For what to do if a child has a reaction, follow the child’s plans, your policy and advice from health professionals.
Dietary records the kitchen can trust
EthicalHub keeps a dietary record for each child with allergens and a change log, your weekly menus with allergens per dish, and records of checks and staff training. Your cook sees the current information on a phone or tablet, and you can show what was checked on any day.
See it with your centre’s menus
A free 20-minute walkthrough. Plans from $69 a month per site.
Childcare allergy management: common questions
What does regulation 90 require for allergies?
What is the kitchen’s role in allergy management?
What kitchen records support a risk minimisation plan?
Is this article medical advice?
The right meal, every child.
Dietary records, menus and checks the kitchen can trust.