Nutrition Services Examining BSD Menus for Sesame Ingredients

In January 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin requiring food manufacturers to list a ninth (9th) major food allergen, sesame, on their ingredient labels. Upon learning of this upcoming change, Bellevue School District’s Nutrition Services Department began examining our products and recipes for sesame ingredients. During this process they received notice that beginning this fall, our bread distributor, Franz, planned to add a small amount of sesame flour to the hamburger buns, hot dog buns, hoagie and dinner rolls — which are used by our school lunch program. Items such as sliced breads, bagels and English muffins are not affected. Please note that while Franz has been forthcoming in sharing this information, we do anticipate that other food manufacturers will also update their processes to comply with the new requirements. Expected changes include manufacturers updating their ingredient labels to identify the presence or possible presence of sesame (E.g., by stating “may contain sesame”).

How Does BSD Mitigate Allergen Risks in Schools?

BSD Nutrition Services strives to ensure the safest possible environment for all students. It is not possible to eliminate all food allergens completely from the school meal program due to the volume of food sources that come into the schools. While we do our best to be mindful of common food allergens on our menus, there is always the potential for hidden ingredients, contamination of food through preparation, and for manufacturers to change their product ingredients without notice.

Methods already in place for monitoring allergens and meal accommodations in BSD schools include:

My School Menu

Nutrition Services provides students and families with access to the ingredients in the foods that are served through a digital menu called “My School Menu.” The digital menu offers a tool to filter out menu items by a specific allergen. Although it is not yet required, our Nutrition Services team has already added seeds as an option within this tool. The “seeds” filter screens ingredient statements for the presence of sunflower and/or sesame seeds.

From the My School Menus webpage, select your student’s school and the menu you wish to view. Use the options at the right to select “Filter Allergens,” and then follow the instructions. For example, if seeds are selected, the digital menu will cross out all menu choices that have seeds as an ingredient. A review of the ingredient statement will clarify the presence of sesame or sunflower seeds.

Allergen Signage at Schools

The Nutrition Services Department will continue to post signs indicating allergens in specific menu items in our elementary schools.

Documentation and Notification of Special Dietary Needs and Accommodations

Our district nurses collect information about students who have food allergies each school year and share that information with Nutrition Services. Kitchen staff do their best not to serve students any foods that they may be allergic to. However, it is essential that families also work with their students to help them understand how to avoid the food(s) as well.

Special dietary accommodation requests are reserved for students with disabilities, such as a life-threatening food allergy whose needs cannot be met successfully using the menu and allergen tools that are provided.  For help requesting special dietary accommodations, contact Nutrition Services at nutrition@bsd405.org or 425-456-4507.

Learn More

• BSD Nutrition Services
• Food Allergies & Special Dietary Needs
• Menus & Nutritional Information
• Nutrition Services Frequently Asked Questions