Council is first to go gluten free in schools
East Renfrewshire Council has become the first local authority in the UK to receive gluten free accreditation for its school catering service.
The accolade is awarded by Coeliac UK to organisations that can demonstrate their commitment to safely catering for those with the gluten-intolerance disease, or other medical conditions requiring a gluten free diet.
Councillor Paul O’Kane, convener for Education and Equalities at the council, said:“We recognise the importance to both pupils and parents of children with coeliac disease having access to safe gluten free options whilst at school.
“Receiving this accreditation from Coeliac UK will give extra reassurance that pupils with these specific dietary requirements are being well catered for across our schools.
“We are delighted to be the first council in the UK to demonstrate our commitment to catering gluten-free and achieve this accreditation.
“A huge well done must go to everyone involved.”
During the assessment process, Coeliac UK helped with staff training on supply chain controls, storage, preparation, cooking and hygiene. Unilever Food Solutions also helped fund the accreditation.
The council offers a number of gluten free meal options, which are freshly prepared each day in the central production unit.
The specialist meals are then delivered in packaging to individual schools to ensure there is no contamination with gluten containing meals.
Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
People diagnosed with coeliac disease must maintain a strict gluten free diet for the rest of their life if they are to avoid very serious complications, such as osteoporosis, infertility and small bowel cancer.