The Education Standards Board (ESB) has shut down the Edge Early Learning centre in Gawler East, north of Adelaide, after a child suffered an allergic reaction to meatballs purchased from a new supplier. The centre, which should have been bustling with children at 8am, was instead closed, leaving parents urgently seeking alternative care.
Second Closure This Year
This is the second closure of an Edge Early Learning centre in 2025, raising serious concerns about the provider's ability to manage allergens. ESB director Benn Gramola expressed doubt about the service's recovery. “This matter is very serious and I have serious concerns about the ability for this service to manage allergens going forward,” he told 7NEWS.
Details of the Incident
Edge managing director and CEO Chris Chambers explained that the mistake stemmed from a change in food supplier. “It was meatballs… which were bought from a different supplier than usual,” he said. “The ingredients were unfortunately not reviewed before being served.” The child affected was taken to hospital as a precaution and is recovering well.
Centre Closure Extended
Parents received a letter on Friday notifying them of a sudden two-week closure, but Edge wants to shut the centre until October to overhaul its procedures. “We felt that was the appropriate thing to do for the betterment of the entire centre,” Chambers said. The ESB will make a formal decision on whether the closure will extend to October, with families expected to learn the outcome within weeks.
Parent Concerns
Mother Jessica, whose son Ollie has a dairy intolerance, pulled him out of the centre last year due to mismanagement of his condition. “We’re just blessed that he’s [only] an intolerance, but there’s kids that are full-blown anaphylactic risks,” she told 7NEWS. The incident has heightened fears among parents of children with severe allergies.
Staff Response
Edge says it is supporting the chef involved, who is devastated by the situation. She has been temporarily stood down pending an investigation. “We’re taking the appropriate steps to understand what happened but also support the person involved,” Chambers said.
