9 replies to this topic

[JeremyW(FoodSafetyFirst)]

I have seen packages claiming to be "School safe" or "Safe for school." Does anyone have any understanding of what this means? Has there been any regulatory action (I am in US) in any country? I am searching google and not finding anything on this new language. 

 

Thank you all!

[wbourg]

https://www.fns.usda...foodsafeschools

 

This is a stretch, but maybe this? 

[MDaleDDF]

Ha, at school my kid is fed friggin pop tarts and candy bars for everything it seems....   I literally had to ask his teacher to stop giving him candy for a job well done.   She was handing out candy to these kids non stop!    So school safe must mean full of sugar around here!

[olenazh]

I think, what the schools have been always worried about is allergens, especially peanuts. Other stuff, like full-of-sugar trash - that's out of their concern as soon as it's not causing anaphylactic shock. 

[Scampi]

Products labeled school safe are allergen free

 

https://www.nutfree....-free-labeling/

 

6. Labeled "School Safe"

The School Safe label and classification system is used by companies to indicate a particular product of theirs is free from the eight most common food allergens. It classifies food based on what the FDA has identified as the 8 major foods allergens, but it isn’t a classification system or nut free labeling created by the FDA.

In fact, it’s a good idea to read what 8 allergens each company is claiming to be the top allergens. It mostly stays the same, but sometimes the ingredients, or the way the ingredients are classified differs. According to the FDA the eight major allergens include: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree-nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. These are the eight foods designated as “major food allergens’ by FALCPA.

School Safe products became popular to make shopping for food allergy classrooms easier. Unfortunately, the number of food allergic children is rising, and so are nut free or nut aware classrooms, and nut free or nut-aware schools. Most products using the phrase “School Safe” are created in dedicated nut free facilities, which is awesome! They’ll indicate so on the packaging. School Safe snacks are making classrooms safer for nut allergic kids as well as other food allergic kids.

Treasure Mills produces many School Safe snacks that are available in most grocery stores. To learn more about brands that are school safe and also made in dedicated nut free facilities, we recommend reading the Safe Snack Guide by SnackSafely.

Edited by Scampi, 19 May 2023 - 01:50 PM.

[JeremyW(FoodSafetyFirst)]

Hi Scampi,

 

Thank you for the reference nut I do not see any real authority commenting on this yet. This is just one persons opinion (in my opinion) about the phrase. I haven't seen any government or regulatory body or even a school district make a comment on this yet. I do appreciate your post!

 

Thank you

[GMO]

There are nutritional standards for uk school meals which are on here:

https://www.gov.uk/g...practical-guide

I’m wondering if it’s a multiple market product? Some schools in the uk have adopted an attitude of “policing” lunch boxes as well and banning certain items. It’s inconsistent though and I don’t think there are any proper guidelines around it. It all stemmed from the Jamie Oliver programmes in the late 90s / early 00s. Not that it’s really improved school dinner options. I give my son a packed lunch but on days my ex has him what he eats seems to be ultra processed crap.

[kfromNE]

The phrase is most likely a marketing ploy. So no real definition and all about selling their product. 

[JCB]

Does anyone have any insight to the legal requirement for this statement being used on packaging in the US? 

 

We are looking to add this to our packaging, we produce Gluten Free & Nut Free High Protein Snacks. 

 

Thanks in advance. 

[AltonBrownFanClub]

It looks like the phrase "School Safe" is now a registered trademark?

Treasure Mills markets a line of snacks under that name.

https://www.treasuremills.com/

 

@JCB, I think you would have a hard time getting this on your packaging.

Edited by AltonBrownFanClub, 09 January 2024 - 04:27 PM.