4. Special dietary needs remain in the spotlight
Students with special dietary needs have more choice in their meal options. Just fewer than half of the respondents (49%) say they offer gluten-free options, up from 44.5% two years ago. Additionally, 39.5% offer lactose-free milk (up from 34.1% in 2016) and 45.5% provide online access to nutrition and allergen information.
Some survey respondents have also banned certain foods due to allergy concerns. Nearly 18% say peanuts have been banned districtwide, and an additional 20.3% say that certain foods have been banned in some schools, with peanuts being the most popular banned food, followed by tree nuts.