To the Editor:

Nutrition Inc. has been providing the East Penn School District with their cafeteria food for as long as I can remember.

One of the concepts I believe that they should focus on more would definitely be offering various kinds of choices for students who have food allergies.

Having a milk allergy myself, I know how difficult it can be to find a lunch without it containing some sort of dairy, wheat, egg or even soy. For most students, nachos, panini, pizza sticks and macaroni and cheese are not a problem to eat for lunch everyday. Those select few, on the other hand, could find the search for their specific allergen free food to be a struggle.

Nutrition Inc. does a great job at showing which foods contain which allergens. Almost all of the food products provided have a corresponding label reading either S (soy), W (wheat), E (egg) or M (milk) which represents the allergens they contain. This is a great help to the students who suffer from food allergies.

Through these labels, I've learned that even the boxed wraps, salads and chicken patties all contain milk in some way. With most of the main entrees usually containing dairy as well, this does not lead to many more choices.

Throughout the years I've learned it is easiest just to pack lunch, although it gets old after a while. Our students are very lucky to be provided with such great quality food. Not having choices for the students with food allergies is one of the only complaints I will ever be able to agree on.

Victoria Nielsen

Emmaus High School