Special Diets Meal Accommodations
Fresno Unified School District’s Food Services department strives to accommodate the special dietary needs of our students. To request a special diet accommodation, the student’s parent/guardian must submit a medical statement request form signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner to Food Services through the school site cafeteria leader. You can find the Medical Statement Form in the documents listed at the bottom of this page (title: 1- Medical Statement Form).
Special diet meal accommodations will be accepted for all requests that fall under the “Main 8” food allergen categories: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish. Special diet meal accommodations that are not a part of the “Main 8” food allergen categories must rise to the level of disability (section 8 of Medical Statement Form) to be accommodated.
All Medical Statement Forms must be completely filled out. Lines answered with “N/A” or lines left blank will be required to be sent back to the doctor for completion prior to being accommodated.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Special Diets team at Food Services by phone: (559) 457-6250.
Milk Substitutions: Lactaid, Soy Milk or Juice
Food Services offers three milk substitution options: lactaid, soy milk, or juice.
Regulations require that a fluid milk substitute (not juice) that meets the nutrient standards set forth by the USDA be served as part of a school meal to those students without a disability who request a milk substitute. Milk substitutes nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk in accordance with USDA guidelines include lactose free milk (lactaid) or soy milk. For lactaid or soy milk substitutions, a Milk Substitution Form must be filled out by the parent/guardian and submitted to Food Services through the school site cafeteria leader. You can find the Milk Substitution Form in the documents listed at the bottom of this page (title: 2- Milk Substitution Form ).
Current regulations prohibit the substitution of juice for milk as part of a school meal to students without a disability. Regulations continue to allow the substitution of juice for milk as part of a school meal for students with a disability. For juice substitutions, a Medical Statement Form signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner must be submitted to Food Services through the school site cafeteria leader. You can find the Medical Statement Form in the documents listed at the bottom of this page (title: 1- Medical Statement Form).