Alpha Gal: School Nutrition Addresses an Endemic Health Concern
What is Alph-Gal Syndrome?
Academy students enjoy a variety of fresh meals each week at school with menu items ranging from pork tostadas to chicken curry.
Alpha Gal syndrome is a tick bite induced allergy in which a person becomes allergic to red meat and even red meat by products such as dairy, gelatin or lard. Tennessee is considered a high prevalence area for Alpha-Gal among several other states in the souther region of the United States. Symptoms can vary from anaphylactic shock to rashes and stomach aches.
How has our program addressed this allergy?
Though for Alpha-Gal syndrome has received more press in the recent years this is not a new allergy for our school nutrition program. Over the last 7 or so years our school nutrition program has addressed a high number of students in our population with the allergy and have tried a variety of ways to accommodate them. From serving seafood, to making our homemade locally sourced turkey burgers.
For 2 years we eliminated red/mammalian animal meat from our menu completely in order to better ensure everyone had a safe meal time. During this time we were the only school in Tennessee to have created a menu specifically catering to those with Alpha-Gal. Some reports show that after some time (up to 3 years) a person with Alpha Gal can have a decreased sensitivity to the allergen. After the two year period was over, we noticed a decrease in those with the allergy and were happy to reintroduce red meat products.
Because so many students and even staff had the allergy we had to learn the in’s and out’s of the allergy. We learned to carefully curate products, check for lard or meat fats and dairy in products, and even clarify with parents about what specific items and by products their students were allergic to. This process reflects our larger aim as a school—to remain aware, informed, and relevant in all that we do. Whether it’s in the classroom, through extra-curricular opportunities, or even around the table at meals, we strive to serve our families with diligence and discernment.
How do we continue to address Alpha-Gal?
Still during the 2025-2026 school year we have some students and staff with the allergy and have chicken, and turkey options available to them. As we move into the future we continue to keep tabs on how many students have Alpha-Gal syndrome and are vigilant in terms of what products we purchase to ensure everyone experiences a safe and delicious lunch time.
Sources:
https://alphagalinformation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AGSFactSheetv6.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm#:~:text=The highest prevalences of suspected,distinct from this contiguous region
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/
https://www.ccjm.org/content/92/5/311
School Lunch Hero Day!
It’s School Lunch Hero Day, and we’re proud to honor Mr. Reyes for his faithful service as part of the Academy meal program team!
On May 5th we celebrate School Lunch Hero Day! School Lunch Hero day was started in 2013 by the School Nutrition Association. It is a way to celebrate those who make meals possible to students all across America!
Every day at the Academy we have a host of different people involved in ensuring our meals take place. Lunch Hero Day is a special day to recognize those who are involved in this process. We also love to highlight that we have a wonderful staff that includes both parents and grandparents and siblings of Academy students. Our students love seeing familiar faces of their family members in the cafeteria and we think it makes meal time extra special!
For this Lunch Hero Day we are proud to honor Mr. Reyes who has been with the Academy meal program since 2017. He has 20+ years experience as both a chef and working in food service. Mr. Reyes manages the daily meal service and ensures all our workers and students have a fantastic experience. Even through the pandemic Mr. Reyes continued to work tirelessly, delivering meals to families in our neighborhood. He helped facilitate almost 6,000 meals to our community during that time. It was no small feat!
If you visit our cafeteria, you may even catch Mr. Reyes greeting students in Spanish and helping them work on their Spanish salutations. We are so thankful for the years Mr. Reyes has dedicated to meals for our students. He is not only a fantastic chef but he strives to ensure everyone has the best quality service possible!
May God bless you for your service, Señor Reyes. You are a true School Lunch Hero! ¡Muchas Gracias!
