A curated list of official templates, school guidelines, and everyday labeling practices for parents, teachers, and school nurses.
Managing a child's food allergy means the same information has to survive a dozen handoffs — parent to teacher, teacher to substitute, sitter to grandparent. This page collects the official templates, school guidelines, and everyday labeling practices that make those handoffs safer.
Everything below is free to use and links to the original source. We update this page when the sources move.
On this page:
- Start here: the 4-step food allergy setup
- Food allergy action plan templates
- Food allergy checklist for school and daycare
- How to label allergens at home and on lunchboxes
- EpiPen reminders
- Trusted food allergy organizations
- Free training for teachers, sitters, and relatives
- Copy-paste allergy note
- FAQ
Start here: the 4-step food allergy setup
If you do only four things, do these:
- Get a written emergency care plan signed by your child's clinician (templates below).
- Give copies everywhere food happens — school, daycare, sitters, grandparents, coaches.
- Keep epinephrine visible and reachable — same spot every day, and other adults know where.
- Label allergens and safe foods so nobody has to rely on memory or a verbal handoff.
Steps 1–3 come from your doctor and the official resources below. Step 4 is what our stickers are for.
Food allergy action plan templates (free, official)
A food allergy action plan (also called an emergency care plan) is the one-page document that tells any adult what your child is allergic to, what a reaction looks like, and exactly what to do. Ask your allergist which form your school prefers, fill it in together, and add a current photo.
FARE Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. The most widely recognized template in U.S. schools — many districts ask for it by name. Covers allergens, symptoms, and step-by-step response.
AAFA / Kids With Food Allergies care plans. Separate versions for children under 3 and ages 3+, available in several languages — useful for bilingual households and caregivers.
AAAAI Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan. A one-page fillable PDF from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Practical tip: print at least three copies — backpack, school nurse, home fridge. The plan only works if it's physically there when a reaction starts.
Food allergy checklist for school and daycare
Official guidelines worth bookmarking
- FARE Food Allergy Management in Schools (FAMS) recommendations — the most practical K–12 guidance for administrators, staff, and parents.
- CDC Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools — the federal baseline many districts still build on.
- CDC Food Allergies in Schools toolkit — role-specific sheets for nurses, teachers, nutrition staff, and bus drivers.
- U.S. Dept. of Education: Section 504 and food allergies (PDF) — explains when a food allergy can qualify as a disability and what accommodations (a 504 plan) may look like.
Parent toolkits and advocacy
- AAAAI Back-to-School food allergy resources
- Kids With Food Allergies School Zone
- FAACT — Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team — school advocacy, 504 explainers, and college transition planning.
- AAAAI Food Allergy Stages handouts — age-by-age guides from baby to young adult, with Spanish versions.
The Monday-morning school checklist
Run this once a week — it takes two minutes:
- Emergency plan and medications are current and not expired
- Nurse, teacher, and after-care each have a copy of the plan
- Lunch and snacks are labeled so a substitute teacher could tell safe from unsafe
- At least one adult at school knows where epinephrine is stored — and your child knows who that adult is
How to label allergens at home and on lunchboxes
The goal: a tired adult — or a sitter seeing your kitchen for the first time — should understand any container in one glance.
What to label
- Allergen warnings on lunchboxes, water bottles, and shared-kitchen shelves: what this child cannot have. ("Contains peanuts" travels with the food; a verbal warning doesn't.)
- Safe marks on prepped food that is cleared to eat, so siblings and sitters don't have to guess.
- A one-page note for babysitters: allergens, where the medication is, who to call (template at the bottom of this page).
Label-reading resources
- Kids With Food Allergies common allergen guides — how major allergens hide in ingredient lists.
- Kids With Food Allergies Safe Eats® recipes — community-tested allergy-friendly recipes.
- FDA Food Allergies — how the major allergens must be declared on U.S. packaged food labels.
- Open Food Facts — crowdsourced ingredient and allergen data for packaged foods. Useful for checking products; not a medical device.
Labeling habits that actually stick
- Put the label where a hand reaches first — lid, bottle, or bag zipper — not on the bottom.
- Use the same plain words schools use: Peanut, Tree Nut, Milk, Egg, Wheat, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, Sesame.
- Mark safe leftovers in the fridge the same day you pack them.
- Replace faded or peeling labels — a half-readable warning is not a warning.
Our tools for this: food allergy label stickers for lunchboxes, bottles and containers and allergy safe marks for cleared-to-eat food — water-resistant vinyl that survives the dishwasher.
EpiPen reminders: never leave without epinephrine
Epinephrine only helps if someone can find it in time. Two things make that likely: training, and making the "did we bring it?" check automatic.
Learn the device you actually carry. Follow the instructions that come with your prescribed device — brands differ, and official how-to pages change. Use the insert in the box and the training your clinician gives you. Good starting points:
- AAAAI anaphylaxis overview
- AAAAI Anaphylaxis Interactive Learning Guide
- AAFA epinephrine options handout
Make the leaving-home check automatic
- Same pocket or pouch, every day — no exceptions.
- A visual reminder on the door, backpack, or key hook — not just in your head. This is exactly what our EPI reminder stickers are for: a last-second visual check where you actually walk out.
- Show a second adult how to use the device before you ever need them to.
Trusted food allergy organizations
These are the groups we point families to first. We don't speak for them — use their materials as published.
| Organization | Best for |
|---|---|
| FARE — Food Allergy Research & Education | Emergency plans, school recommendations, education |
| Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) / AAFA | Parent community, recipes, action plans, school zone |
| Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) | Allergy + asthma advocacy, multilingual plans |
| AAAAI | Clinician-backed public tools and school forms |
| FAACT | School advocacy, 504 plans, college transition |
| Allergy & Asthma Network | Patient education and awareness |
| ACAAI | Find an allergist, condition guides |
| HealthyChildren.org (AAP) | Parent-facing pediatric guidance |
Need a specialist? Find a board-certified allergist (AAAAI directory).
Free training for teachers, sitters, and relatives
Share these with the adults who say "just tell me what to do":
- FARE Keeping Students Safe and Included — free school-oriented training on FARE's FAMS page.
- FAACT staff education for schools
- CDC toolkit organized by school role — nurse, teacher, cafeteria, bus driver.
Training supports the plan — it never replaces the child's own written plan and prescribed medication.
Copy-paste allergy note for sitters and teachers
Paste this into an email, or print it on one page and tape it inside a cabinet:
Child: ________
Allergic to: ________
Emergency plan is in: ________
Epinephrine is in: ________
If you suspect a serious reaction: follow the written plan and call 911.
Parent/caregiver phone: ________
Allergist / backup adult: ________
Then put the same facts on the lunchbox and the bag, so nobody has to hunt for the email. (Allergy stickers made for exactly this.)
FAQ
What should a food allergy action plan include?
The child's allergens, a current photo, symptoms of mild and severe reactions, step-by-step instructions for giving epinephrine and calling 911, and emergency contacts. Use an official template from FARE, AAFA, or AAAAI and have your allergist sign it.
Is a food allergy covered by a 504 plan?
It can be. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a food allergy may qualify as a disability when it substantially limits a major life activity such as eating or breathing. The U.S. Department of Education's fact sheet (linked above) explains how accommodations work; FAACT and FARE also publish plain-language 504 explainers.
How do I label my child's lunchbox for a peanut allergy?
Put a clear "peanut allergy" label on the lid — where hands and eyes land first — plus your child's name. Use plain wording that matches what the school uses, and choose water-resistant labels so the warning survives washing. Our food allergy label stickers are dishwasher-safe vinyl designed for exactly this.
Where should I keep an EpiPen at school?
Wherever your child's written plan says — typically the nurse's office or a classroom cabinet, unlocked and clearly marked. The key is that multiple adults know the location and can reach it within minutes. Check expiration dates monthly.
What are the 9 major food allergens in the U.S.?
Milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame (sesame was added in 2023 under the FASTER Act). The FDA page linked above explains how each must appear on packaged food labels.
How do I remind myself to bring the EpiPen every day?
Attach the check to something you already do: a sticker on the front door, the backpack zipper, or the key hook. A visible cue in the exit path works better than a mental note — that's why we make EPI reminder stickers.
Can I share this page with my school or parent group?
Yes — link to it freely. If a link on this page breaks or a source moves, email support@tagmyallergy.com and we'll fix it.
How to use the stickers in different situations?
Want to know how to use the stickers in different situations? See this guide: How to use stickers.
This article is a curated list of official templates and labeling practices, not medicine. Nothing here is medical, dietary, or legal advice. Questions about your allergy, reaction plan, or medication belong with your allergist. One more note on our own products: labels and stickers are communication aids. They do not replace a written allergy action plan, they do not replace clinical guidance from your allergist, and no sticker can claim to prevent an allergic reaction.
Sources: FARE — Emergency Care Plan · FARE — FAMS Expert Recommendations · CDC — Food Allergies in Schools · U.S. Department of Education — Section 504 and food allergies · AAAAI — School Tools and Anaphylaxis Action Plan · AAFA / Kids With Food Allergies — Allergy plans and School Zone · FAACT — School and advocacy resources · FDA — Food Allergies
Written by the TagMyAllergy team — a brand run by allergy families, for allergy families.