Prevent Allergen Contamination In Schools With Extractor Deep Cleans

Schools have a huge responsibility to their pupils to prevent the spread of allergens on their premises, as this could seriously harm someone with a severe allergy. 

Typically, they take a ‘whole-school approach’, which involves training staff, understanding the child’s needs, having emergency medication on hand, encouraging handwashing to avoid cross-contamination, and good management of food preparation areas. 

It is essential that schools adhere to the government’s guidelines on how to protect pupils and staff with allergies, which include:

- Check food labels carefully

There could be ingredient changes in food products you use regularly, so it is imperative that catering staff check these each time a delivery is received. 

They should also clearly label all food items with the allergen information for others to see.

- Prepare and serve first

Children with allergies should have their meals prepared and served first to avoid cross-contamination with other ingredients. 

They should also be given different utensils and plates to easily identify their dish and to protect against any trace of the allergens being left on the crockery. 

- Store separately

Allergen-free foods should be stored separately from other ingredients, and their containers need to be labelled carefully. 

- Thorough cleaning

Thorough cleaning also needs to be carried out to reduce the risk of one of the 14 allergens coming into contact with the utensils, pots, chopping boards, plates or food used by the children or staff with allergies. 

Using hot soapy water or commercial sprays is deemed effective at removing allergens from surfaces, while hands need to be regularly washed with soap and warm water. 

- Extraction fan cleaning

Schools should also have regular kitchen extract cleaning to remove the build-up of food particles in the ventilation system. 

Over time, these can trap grease, as well as small fragments of food, including allergens. These can then be circulated in the air, increasing the risk of contamination to allergen-free dishes. 

If the extractor fans are not thoroughly cleaned, this could potentially lead to allergens spreading around the kitchen, putting children or employees with serious allergies at risk.