FORT COLLINS, Colo.—When Poudre School District starts back next week, kids will still have their chicken patty sandwiches, but parents will also have their chicken, chicken broth and sodium phosphates on a whole grain bun.
In addition to being able to see the specific nutrition facts of cafeteria food, now parents can access a database containing the ingredient makeup and allergens.
"It's really exciting to see this kind of thing," said Virginia Clark, wellness dietician with University of Colorado Health. "I hadn't seen anything this extensive before (in a school system)."
PSD's child nutrition program previously offered parents a database of their food's nutritional content. Last school year, some parents charged the district with the task of also including ingredient and allergen information.
The resulting Recipe Builder and Ingredient Database was launched in May with 43 breakfast recipes, 134 lunch recipes, 228 ingredients and a glossary of 67 additives, enzymes and supplements.