Welcome Gyanshree School

Food, Nutrition And Meal Facility

Academic Session: 2026-28

1. Purpose and Commitment

At Gyanshree School, the health, safety and well-being of every Shreeyan are central to the School’s philosophy. We believe that healthy eating habits formed during childhood and adolescence contribute significantly to physical growth, emotional balance, concentration, energy, immunity, social well-being and readiness to learn.

Food at School is not merely a matter of convenience. It is an important part of the child’s daily routine and an opportunity to develop life-long habits of mindful eating, hygiene, respect for food, moderation, sustainability and care for self and others.

This Policy sets out the School’s expectations and procedures regarding food served on campus, optional meal/canteen facilities, food brought from home, nutrition education, food hygiene, vendor compliance, allergies, dietary restrictions, emergency response, payment terms and parental consent.

The School recognises that parents are the first educators in matters of food, health and lifestyle. The School’s role is to provide a safe, supervised and health-conscious food environment, while working in partnership with parents and service providers to promote balanced nutrition and safe eating practices.

2. Guiding Principles

2.1 Child Health and Well-Being First

Every decision relating to food, beverages, meal service, canteen operations and food-related activities shall place the child’s health, safety, dignity and well-being at the centre.

2.2 Safe and Balanced Food

The School shall endeavour to ensure that food served or facilitated on campus is safe, hygienic, age-appropriate and nutritionally balanced.

2.3 Healthy Habits for Life

The School shall promote habits such as regular meal timings, hydration, mindful eating, respect for food, reduced food wastage, moderation in sugar, salt and fried foods, and appreciation of fresh, seasonal and wholesome food.

2.4 Partnership with Parents

Parents must provide accurate information about allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions and food-related concerns. They must also reinforce healthy eating habits at home.

2.5 Inclusion and Respect

The School shall encourage respect for diverse food practices, family preferences and individual dietary needs. No child should be mocked, pressured, shamed or excluded because of food choices, body type, eating pace or dietary restriction.

2.6 Compliance and Accountability

The School, food vendors, canteen operators, food handlers and all stakeholders involved in food service shall follow applicable food safety, hygiene and statutory requirements.

This Policy shall be read in conjunction with applicable laws, CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, CBSE Circulars, FSSAI Regulations, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and other applicable statutory requirements. In case of any inconsistency between this Policy and applicable law, the provisions of law shall prevail.

3. Scope and Applicability

This Policy applies to:

meals served or facilitated by Gyanshree School;
canteen or catering services available on campus;
food served during School events, celebrations, workshops, camps, trips and extended School programmes;
food brought from home by students;
food distributed during class activities, birthdays, festivals or special occasions;
food served by third-party vendors engaged or permitted by the School;
drinking water facilities on campus;
food-related health, allergy and emergency situations.

This Policy applies to students, parents, guardians, School staff, canteen staff, food handlers, vendors, external facilitators, event organisers and authorised representatives of the School.

4. Nature and Philosophy of the School Meal Facility

Gyanshree School currently runs its own in-house mess facility for students. The School may, if required in the future, facilitate meal, snack or canteen services through its own arrangements or through a licensed and reputable third-party food service provider, subject to applicable safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.

The meal/canteen facility is optional unless specifically notified otherwise for a particular programme, event, camp, extended-day arrangement or School activity. Parents who wish to avail the facility must apply through the prescribed School process, ordinarily through the School ERP or parent portal.

At Gyanshree, food is viewed not merely as nourishment for the body but also as an important influence on a child’s energy, concentration, emotional balance, discipline and overall well-being. The School believes in offering food that is simple, wholesome, balanced, hygienic and aligned with the values of mindful and healthy living.

The School’s meal philosophy is rooted in the belief that children benefit from sattvik food, food that is fresh, pure, balanced, light, nourishing and prepared with care. Accordingly, the regular School meal facility provides vegetarian sattvik food, prepared in a clean and hygienic environment, with the use of desi ghee as the preferred cooking medium wherever suitable. As a matter of School food philosophy and practice, the regular menu is prepared without the use of onion and tomato.

The School believes that sattvik food supports not only physical health but also calmness, clarity, moderation and positive food habits. The intent is to encourage children to appreciate simple, fresh and nutritious meals rather than develop dependence on highly processed, excessively spicy, fried or packaged foods.

The School meal facility shall ordinarily follow the menu and dietary philosophy notified by the School from time to time. Parents and students who opt for the meal facility are expected to respect the School’s vegetarian and sattvik food philosophy, including restrictions on certain ingredients and food categories.

While the School shall make reasonable efforts to provide balanced and age-appropriate meals, it may not be possible to meet highly individualised dietary preferences or specialised medical diets through the regular meal facility. Where a child has a medical condition, allergy, food intolerance or strict dietary requirement, parents must inform the School in writing and may be advised to send suitable food from home if the requirement cannot be safely managed within the School’s regular meal system.

The School may revise the nature, menu, ingredients, timing, availability, terms or operational arrangements of the meal/canteen facility from time to time in the interest of student health, hygiene, nutrition, operational feasibility, compliance, seasonal availability, student feedback or School policy.

5. Objectives of the Policy

Through this Policy, Gyanshree School seeks to:

promote safe and hygienic food practices on campus;
encourage balanced nutrition and age-appropriate food choices;
reduce the availability and consumption of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar and sodium;
ensure that food service providers comply with applicable FSSAI and statutory requirements;
create awareness among students about healthy eating, food labels, hydration, hygiene and sustainability;
support children with food allergies, dietary restrictions and medical needs through timely disclosure and reasonable precautions;
define parent responsibilities in relation to food brought from home, allergy disclosure and safe eating habits;
establish a clear response protocol in case of food allergy, choking, suspected food poisoning or food-related illness;
maintain appropriate records, inspections and communication systems relating to food safety;
promote a respectful food culture that avoids waste, food shaming and unhealthy comparisons.

6. Food and Nutrition Education

The School shall integrate nutrition awareness and food safety education into age-appropriate curricular, co-curricular and wellness initiatives.

Students may be guided to understand:

the value of balanced meals;
the importance of breakfast, hydration and regular meal timings;
the role of fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, millets, dairy and nuts, where appropriate;
the need to limit excessive sugar, salt, fried foods and ultra-processed snacks;
basic food hygiene and handwashing;
reading food labels and expiry dates;
respect for food and avoidance of wastage;
responsible eating during festivals, celebrations and social occasions;
respect for allergies, dietary restrictions and cultural food practices.

The School may conduct nutrition weeks, healthy tiffin initiatives, food safety activities, student discussions, poster campaigns, workshops, parent awareness sessions or Eat Right-aligned activities as part of its wellness programme.

7. School Meal Timings and Eating Environment

Students shall eat during designated break or meal times. Meal times shall be treated as important periods for nourishment, social interaction and rest.

The School shall endeavour to provide a positive, supervised and age-appropriate eating environment. Teachers and staff supervising students shall encourage calm, respectful and hygienic eating practices.

Students shall be encouraged to:

wash or sanitise hands before eating;
eat in the designated area or as instructed;
avoid wasting food;
avoid sharing food where allergy concerns exist;
clean their eating space after meals;
dispose of waste responsibly;
drink water regularly;
respect the food choices of peers.

Students shall not be forced to finish food in a manner that causes distress. However, they may be gently encouraged to avoid wastage and develop healthy eating habits.

8. Drinking Water

The School shall provide access to safe drinking water for students during School hours. Students are encouraged to carry clean personal water bottles and drink water regularly throughout the day.

Water bottles may be permitted in classrooms, subject to classroom rules and safety considerations. Students should not share water bottles unless permitted in exceptional circumstances.

The School shall endeavour to maintain safe drinking water systems, including appropriate cleaning, maintenance and periodic checks of water facilities as per School protocol.

Parents are encouraged to ensure that children carry clean bottles daily and understand the importance of hydration, particularly during summer, sports, outdoor activities and extended School hours.

9. Meal Facility Application and Payment Terms

Parents who wish to avail the School meal/canteen facility must apply through the prescribed process, ordinarily through the School ERP or parent portal.

If a parent opts for the meal facility in the middle of a month, the applicable charges may be payable for the full calendar month in which the facility is activated, unless the School notifies otherwise.

Meal charges, billing cycle, activation date, cancellation procedure, refund terms and payment timelines shall be governed by the School’s notified fee rules or meal facility terms.

Parents must ensure timely payment of meal/canteen charges. The School may suspend or deactivate the meal facility for non-payment, subject to prior communication where feasible.

Temporary absence from School, personal preference, partial usage or non-consumption of meals on a particular day shall not ordinarily entitle parents to refund or adjustment unless specifically provided under School policy.

10. Withdrawal or Change in Meal Facility

Parents who wish to discontinue or change the meal facility must submit a request through the prescribed School process.

The School may require advance notice for withdrawal or change, as meal planning, vendor commitments, procurement and staffing are arranged in advance.

Once a meal facility is activated, withdrawal or refund shall be handled in accordance with the School’s meal facility terms, fee rules, vendor commitments and administrative feasibility.

The School may also discontinue the facility for a student if the child has a medical or dietary condition that cannot reasonably be managed through the available meal service.

11. Food Safety and FSSAI Compliance

Where the School directly provides or facilitates food service on campus, it shall endeavour to ensure that the food service provider is registered or licensed as required under applicable food safety law.

Any third-party food business operator engaged to prepare, sell, supply or serve food on campus must maintain valid FSSAI registration/licence, as applicable. FSSAI’s school food regulations require schools contracting food business operators for school meals to ensure that such operators are duly registered or licensed and that the food served is safe and balanced.

The food service provider shall be expected to comply with applicable requirements relating to:

food safety and hygiene;
sanitary practices;
safe storage and preparation;
safe handling and serving;
pest control;
cleanliness of kitchen and serving areas;
safe drinking water and ice, where used;
staff hygiene and medical fitness;
Food Safety Supervisor requirements;
Food Safety Display Board requirements;
proper disposal of food waste;
temperature control, where applicable;
maintenance of records required under law.

Food handlers directly involved in preparation, storage, handling and serving of food shall follow appropriate hygiene practices, including clean clothing, head covering where required, hand hygiene and avoidance of food handling during contagious illness.

12. Vendor Selection and Accountability

Where the meal/canteen facility is provided through a third-party vendor, the School shall select vendors with due consideration to safety, hygiene, compliance, reputation, capacity and suitability for a school environment.

The vendor shall be responsible for:

maintaining valid statutory licences and registrations;
ensuring food safety and hygiene compliance;
employing trained and medically fit food handlers;
maintaining clean kitchen, storage and serving areas;
using safe ingredients and potable water;
following approved menus and food preparation protocols;
not serving unauthorised or prohibited items;
maintaining food quality and portion consistency;
cooperating with inspections and audits;
responding promptly to complaints;
bearing responsibility for lapses attributable to vendor operations, subject to the vendor agreement and applicable law.

The School may suspend, restrict or terminate vendor services if hygiene, safety, quality, conduct or compliance concerns are observed.

13. Food Safety Monitoring and Inspection

The School may establish an internal system for periodic monitoring of food safety and meal quality.

This may include:

inspection of kitchen, canteen and serving areas;
review of vendor licences and records;
checking cleanliness of utensils, equipment and storage;
review of raw material quality;
monitoring of food temperature, freshness and serving practices;
periodic menu review;
observation of food handler hygiene;
collection of feedback from students, staff and parents;
review of complaints and corrective actions;
vendor meetings and performance reviews.

The School may constitute a Food, Nutrition and Canteen Monitoring Committee or include food safety within the existing Health and Wellness Committee. CBSE has advised schools to constitute a canteen management committee including school representatives, parent(s), student(s) and canteen operator(s) to coordinate and monitor safe food availability in schools.

The Committee may include, as appropriate:

Director–Principal or nominee;
Administrative Head;
School nurse or health representative;
teacher representative;
parent representative;
student representative, where age-appropriate;
food vendor/canteen representative;
nutritionist or external advisor, where required.

14. Menu Planning

Menus shall be planned keeping in mind nutrition, safety, age-appropriateness, seasonal availability, cultural context, student acceptability and operational feasibility.

The School may consult nutritionists, dietitians, health advisors, parent representatives or food experts while reviewing menus. FSSAI’s school food regulations encourage schools to promote safe and balanced diets and allow engagement with nutritionists, dietitians, nutrition associations or parental support while drafting menus.

Menus may include a variety of foods across the week, such as cereals, millets, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk or milk products, nuts or seeds where appropriate, and freshly prepared snacks such as poha, upma, idli, cheela, dhokla, daliya or other suitable items.

Cooking oil and ghee shall be used in moderation. Re-heated oils and fats should be avoided. FSSAI’s guidance for school children emphasises meal times, safe drinking water, variety across the week, cereal-protein combinations, micronutrient-rich meals, seasonal produce and moderate use of oil/ghee.

15. Restriction on HFSS Foods and Unhealthy Food Promotion

The School shall endeavour to restrict the sale, supply, promotion or distribution of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium within the School campus.

Such items may include, depending on the product and preparation:

carbonated or aerated beverages;
energy drinks;
packaged sugary drinks;
deep-fried fast food;
chips and similar packaged snacks;
high-salt processed snacks;
sugar-heavy confectionery;
candies and chocolates as routine snacks;
high-sugar bakery items;
instant noodles and ultra-processed foods;
any item considered unsuitable under School or statutory guidelines.

No advertisement, sponsorship, incentive, free sample, reward system or promotional activity involving unhealthy food shall be permitted on campus without School approval. FSSAI regulations prohibit marketing, selling or offering foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium in school campuses and to school children within fifty metres from the school gate.

Parents are requested not to send such items regularly in tiffins or as treats for distribution.

16. Food Brought from Home

Students may bring food from home, subject to School rules and health expectations.

Parents are encouraged to send simple, fresh, nutritious and age-appropriate food that the child can eat independently and safely during the designated break.

Parents should avoid sending:

highly processed packaged snacks;
excessive fried food;
sugary drinks;
chewing gum;
energy drinks;
food with strong spillage risk;
glass containers;
food that may spoil quickly in heat;
food requiring reheating unless permitted by the School;
food that may create risk for known allergies in the class, if the School has issued specific instructions.

The School may issue grade-wise or situation-specific tiffin guidelines, especially for younger children, allergy-sensitive classrooms, field trips, sports days or long-duration events.

17. Sharing of Food

Students should not routinely share food, particularly where allergy concerns exist.

While sharing food is often seen as a gesture of friendship, it may create serious risk for children with allergies, intolerances, diabetes, dietary restrictions, religious food practices or medical conditions.

Parents are encouraged to teach children that refusing shared food for health or family reasons is acceptable and must be respected.

Teachers may restrict food sharing in classrooms where allergy or medical risk has been identified.

18. Birthdays, Celebrations and Food Distribution

Food distribution during birthdays, festivals, class parties or special occasions shall be subject to School guidelines.

Parents must not send cakes, sweets, chocolates, packaged snacks, beverages or treats for distribution without prior permission from the School.

Where celebrations are permitted, the School may specify acceptable items, quantity, packaging, timing and distribution method. The School may restrict outside food distribution in the interest of allergy safety, hygiene, equity, nutrition and class routine.

The School may encourage non-food celebrations, such as books, plants, stationery, gratitude cards or class activities, instead of food-based treats.

19. Outside Food Delivery and Food Ordering

Students are not permitted to order food from restaurants, food delivery platforms or external vendors during School hours or School activities unless specifically authorised by the School.

Parents must not send food delivery to the School gate, reception or classroom unless prior approval has been obtained for a medical, dietary or exceptional reason.

Unauthorised food delivery may be declined by the School in the interest of safety, hygiene, security and routine discipline.

20. Food Allergies and Medical Dietary Restrictions

Parents must inform the School in writing if their child has any food allergy, food intolerance, dietary restriction, medical condition affected by food, or risk of severe reaction.

This information must be provided at the time of admission and updated annually. It must also be updated immediately if any new allergy or dietary condition is diagnosed during the year.

Parents must provide:

name of allergen or restricted food;
type and severity of reaction;
symptoms to watch for;
medication required;
emergency response instructions;
doctor’s note, where applicable;
parent and emergency contact numbers;
whether the child may consume School meals;
whether the child must bring food from home.

Children with allergies must be educated at home, according to age and maturity, to identify unsafe foods, avoid sharing food, recognise symptoms and immediately approach a teacher, nurse or trusted adult if they feel unwell.

21. Allergen-Aware but Not Allergen-Free Environment

The School shall make reasonable efforts to support children with food allergies and dietary restrictions. However, parents must understand that the School cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment.

Possible allergen exposure may arise from:

food brought by other students;
shared spaces;
ingredients supplied by vendors;
packaged food labels;
festival or event food;
dust, insects or environmental triggers;
accidental contamination;
human error despite reasonable precautions.

Where a child has a severe allergy, parents must meet the School nurse, Grade Mentor, Headmistress or authorised School representative to discuss practical safeguards.

If the child’s dietary restriction is highly specialised or medically complex, the School may advise parents to send food from home instead of availing the School meal facility.

22. Special Diets

The School may not be able to provide highly individualised or medically specialised diets for every student.

Where a child requires strict dietary control due to allergy, diabetes, metabolic condition, digestive condition, medical treatment, religious requirement, sensory concern or any other reason, parents must inform the School in writing.

The School may, where feasible, provide reasonable support within the available meal system. However, if the required diet cannot be safely or practically provided, the School may decline to provide the meal facility to that student and may request parents to send suitable food from home.

Parents remain responsible for ensuring that the child’s dietary needs are safely met.

23. Emergency Response for Food Allergy, Choking or Food Reaction

In case of suspected food allergy, choking, food reaction or sudden food-related illness, the School shall act promptly in the best interest of the child.

The School may:

provide immediate first aid;
take the child to the infirmary;
contact the parent or emergency contact;
administer prescribed rescue medication where a valid medical plan and authorisation exist;
call emergency medical services;
arrange transfer to the nearest or most appropriate medical facility;
inform School leadership;
document the incident;
review the circumstances after the immediate concern is addressed.

Where the child has a known severe allergy, the School’s response shall be guided by the medical management plan submitted by the parent, to the extent practicable within School capacity.

Parents must ensure that emergency medication, such as an adrenaline auto-injector, inhaler, antihistamine or other prescribed medication, is provided where required, along with written medical instructions.

24. Suspected Food Poisoning or Foodborne Illness

If one or more students report symptoms that may indicate food poisoning or foodborne illness, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, severe stomach pain, fever, dizziness, allergic reaction or sudden illness after food consumption, the School shall treat the matter seriously.

The School may:

provide first aid and infirmary observation;
contact parents of affected students;
refer affected students for medical care where required;
inform the food vendor/canteen operator;
suspend serving of the suspected food item;
preserve available food samples where feasible;
check kitchen, storage and serving conditions;
record the names of affected students;
review the menu, timing and source of food consumed;
escalate the matter to School leadership;
report to authorities where legally required;
initiate corrective action with the vendor.

In case of a group food-related incident, the School shall prioritise medical care, parent communication, documentation, privacy and prevention of further exposure.

25. Food Incident Communication Protocol

In the event of a significant food-related concern, the School shall communicate with parents in a factual and responsible manner.

For individual cases, the parent of the affected student shall be contacted directly. The communication may include the child’s symptoms, immediate action taken, whether medical review is required and whether the child needs to be collected from School.

For group incidents, parents of affected students shall be contacted directly. A broader advisory may be issued if the matter affects a larger group or requires general awareness.

The School shall avoid speculation, blame or premature conclusions until the facts are reviewed. The School shall not disclose another child’s medical details, allergy status, health information or identity without appropriate basis.

26. Parent Responsibilities

Parents play a central role in supporting safe and healthy eating.

Parents are expected to:

provide complete and accurate information about food allergies, dietary restrictions and medical conditions;
update the School annually and whenever circumstances change;
provide written instructions and medication for known food-related medical risks;
teach the child not to share food where unsafe;
send age-appropriate, hygienic and balanced food from home;
avoid sending excessive junk food, sugary drinks or unsafe items;
ensure that food sent from home is fresh and safely packed;
label tiffin boxes and water bottles for younger children;
ensure that emergency contacts are reachable;
cooperate with the School in case of food-related illness or allergy;
respect School restrictions on food distribution and celebrations;
support the School’s healthy eating initiatives.

If parents fail to disclose an allergy, dietary restriction or medical concern, the School’s ability to respond appropriately may be affected. Parents shall remain responsible for consequences arising from non-disclosure or delayed disclosure, subject to applicable law.

27. Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to develop responsible eating habits appropriate to their age.

Students should:

wash hands before eating;
eat during designated meal times;
avoid wasting food;
avoid mocking or commenting on another child’s food;
avoid pressuring others to share food;
not consume food that is known to be unsafe for them;
report spoiled food, unusual smell, discomfort or allergic symptoms immediately;
inform a teacher or nurse if a peer appears unwell after eating;
dispose of waste responsibly;
respect the School’s food and nutrition guidelines.

Older students are expected to show greater responsibility in reading labels, avoiding unsafe foods and making informed food choices.

28. Staff and Teacher Responsibilities

Teachers and staff supervising students during meals shall encourage safe, respectful and hygienic eating practices.

Staff may:

remind students to wash hands;
supervise younger children during meal times;
discourage unsafe sharing of food;
watch for signs of choking, allergy or distress;
direct unwell students to the infirmary;
report repeated non-compliance or food safety concerns;
reinforce respectful behaviour around food;
support students with known dietary restrictions, where informed by the School.

Teachers are not expected to provide medical diagnosis or specialised dietary supervision, but they shall act responsibly in reporting concerns and following School protocols.

29. Food Hygiene and Safety Practices

The School and vendor shall endeavour to maintain high standards of food hygiene.

Food safety practices may include:

clean kitchen and serving areas;
safe storage of raw and cooked food;
separation of cleaning materials from food items;
regular pest control;
use of safe water;
hygienic utensils and serving equipment;
proper waste disposal;
handwashing facilities;
appropriate protective clothing for food handlers;
medical fitness of food handlers;
no handling of food by sick food handlers;
use of fresh ingredients;
avoidance of stale or contaminated food;
checking expiry dates of packaged items;
responsible management of leftovers;
periodic cleaning of equipment and storage areas.

The vendor shall not store hazardous, inflammable, intoxicating or unrelated materials in food preparation or service areas.

30. Food Brought for Events, Workshops and Special Programmes

Food served during School events, workshops, camps, competitions, parent sessions, staff programmes or student activities must comply with School safety and hygiene expectations.

External food may be allowed only with prior approval from the School. The source, menu, packaging, serving method, allergen risk and hygiene standards may be reviewed before approval.

Food served during special programmes must not compromise student safety, religious sensitivity, dietary restrictions or allergy precautions.

Where external vendors are used for events, they may be required to submit licence details, menu, ingredient information, staff details and other documents as requested by the School.

31. Sustainability and Food Waste

Gyanshree School encourages students to value food and reduce wastage.

The School may promote:

mindful serving portions;
avoidance of unnecessary food waste;
segregation of waste;
composting or responsible disposal, where feasible;
use of seasonal and local produce;
reduced use of single-use plastic;
awareness of food systems and sustainability;
gratitude and respect for food.

Students shall be guided to take only what they can reasonably consume and to avoid wasting food during meals and events.

32. Food Records and Documentation

The School may maintain records relating to food service and nutrition compliance.

These may include:

vendor licence/registration documents;
food safety certificates;
food handler records;
menu records;
inspection reports;
food complaint records;
corrective action records;
allergy and dietary restriction records;
parent consent records;
incident reports;
emergency response records;
audit or committee meeting records.

Food-related health information shall be treated confidentially and shared only on a need-to-know basis.

Food-related records shall be retained for such period as may be considered appropriate by the School or as required under applicable law, after which they may be securely archived or disposed of in accordance with the School's record management practices.

33. Confidentiality and Food-Related Health Data

Information relating to food allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions, medication and emergency protocols is sensitive and shall be treated with confidentiality.

The School may collect, store and process such information for student safety, food service planning, emergency response, legal compliance and child welfare. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 requires verifiable parental consent before processing children’s personal data, subject to prescribed rules and exceptions, and also restricts processing likely to cause a detrimental effect on the child’s well-being.

Relevant food allergy or health information may be shared with authorised personnel such as the nurse, class teacher, Grade Mentor, Headmistress, canteen coordinator, trip in-charge, counsellor, emergency responder or vendor representative only to the extent necessary to protect the child.

Parents must also respect confidentiality and must not circulate another child’s allergy, dietary, medical or health information.

34. Temporary Closure, Suspension or Modification of Meal Facility

The School may suspend, modify, curtail or temporarily discontinue the meal/canteen facility due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

Such circumstances may include:

natural disasters;
fire, flood, earthquake or severe weather;
public health emergency;
epidemic or pandemic;
disease outbreak;
government order;
court order;
change in law;
pollution-related closure;
civil unrest;
strike or agitation;
vendor disruption;
supply chain failure;
infrastructure breakdown;
safety or hygiene concern;
any other circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the School.

In such cases, the School may revise menus, change vendors, suspend service, provide alternate arrangements where feasible, or issue temporary instructions.

Refund or fee adjustment, if any, shall be governed by the School’s notified fee rules, vendor commitments, fixed costs, duration of disruption and administrative feasibility.

35. Complaints, Feedback and Corrective Action

Parents and students may report food-related concerns through the official School communication channels.

Concerns may relate to:

food quality;
hygiene;
taste;
portion size;
menu suitability;
allergy risk;
suspected contamination;
staff conduct;
billing or activation;
repeated non-availability of items;
food-related illness.

The School shall review concerns in a fair and practical manner. Depending on the nature of the concern, the School may speak with the vendor, inspect the facility, review records, seek medical input, modify the menu, issue corrective directions, suspend an item, or take other appropriate action.

Repeated or serious concerns may be placed before the Food, Nutrition and Canteen Monitoring Committee or School leadership.

36. Limitations of School Responsibility

The School shall take reasonable care to facilitate safe and hygienic food practices on campus. However, the School cannot guarantee that no food-related illness, allergy, intolerance, contamination, reaction or incident will ever occur.

The School shall not be responsible for consequences arising from:

undisclosed allergies or dietary restrictions;
inaccurate or incomplete information provided by parents;
food brought from home by the student;
food shared by students without permission;
food consumed outside School;
unauthorised food delivery;
failure of parents to update medical or dietary information;
child consuming food contrary to known restrictions;
vendor lapse beyond the School’s reasonable knowledge despite due precautions;
medical conditions not disclosed to the School.

Nothing in this Policy shall exclude liability arising from the School’s own proven negligence, wilful misconduct or breach of applicable law.

37. Indemnity and Parent Undertaking

Parents acknowledge that the School relies on information provided by them regarding the child’s health, allergies, dietary restrictions and medical needs.

Parents agree to indemnify and hold harmless the School, its Management, Director–Principal, employees and authorised representatives against claims, costs or consequences arising from inaccurate information, non-disclosure of allergies or dietary restrictions, failure to update records, food brought from home, unauthorised food sharing, or refusal to follow School food safety instructions.

This clause shall operate subject to applicable law and shall not protect any party from proven negligence, wilful misconduct or statutory liability.

38. Policy Review and Updates

Food safety, nutrition science, public health requirements and legal obligations continue to evolve. Gyanshree School reserves the right to review, amend, clarify or update this Policy from time to time.

Updates may be communicated through the School ERP, circular, website, email or any other official communication channel. Parents are expected to familiarise themselves with the latest version of the Policy.

The latest version issued by the School shall supersede all earlier versions.

This Policy shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts at Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, subject to applicable law.

Summary Of Key Parent Consents And Acceptance

By accepting this Policy, parents confirm that they understand and agree to the following:

The School promotes healthy, safe and hygienic food practices in the interest of student well-being.
The meal/canteen facility, where offered, is optional unless specifically notified otherwise.
Parents who opt for the meal facility shall follow the application, payment, withdrawal and fee terms notified by the School.
If the meal facility is activated mid-month, charges may be payable for the full calendar month, unless otherwise notified by the School.
The School may facilitate meal/canteen services through a third-party food service provider.
Parents must disclose all food allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions and emergency food-related instructions in writing.
Parents must update allergy and dietary information annually and whenever there is any change.
The School will make reasonable efforts to support children with allergies or dietary restrictions but cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment.
The School may decline to provide meal service where a child’s medical or dietary requirement cannot be safely managed through the available facility.
Parents must educate their child about safe eating, food allergies, food sharing and healthy habits.
Parents must not send unauthorised food for distribution during birthdays, festivals or class celebrations.
Students are not permitted to order food from external vendors or delivery platforms during School hours without permission.
In case of suspected food allergy, food reaction, choking, food poisoning or food-related illness, the School may provide first aid, contact parents, refer the child for medical care and take emergency action in the child’s interest.
Parents shall bear all medical costs arising from food-related illness, allergy, emergency care or hospitalisation, except where liability is legally established otherwise.
Parents agree to cooperate with the School in maintaining a safe, respectful and healthy food culture.

Privacy Statement

Food-related health information, including allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions and emergency instructions, shall be used only for legitimate School purposes, student safety, food service planning, emergency response, legal compliance and child welfare.

Such information shall be treated confidentially and shared only with authorised persons on a need-to-know basis, or where required for emergency care, safeguarding, legal compliance, court order, government direction or protection of the child or others.

Declaration By Parent / Guardian

I/We confirm that I/we have read and understood the Gyanshree School Food, Nutrition, Canteen and Healthy Eating Policy.

I/We undertake to provide accurate and updated information regarding my/our child’s food allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions and emergency food-related needs.

I/We understand that the School will take reasonable precautions to provide or facilitate safe and hygienic food practices but cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free or risk-free food environment.

I/We agree to cooperate with the School in promoting healthy eating habits, safe food practices, hygiene, respect for dietary differences and the well-being of all students.

Food, Nutrition and Meal Policy