Food Allergies & Avoiding Gluten

Eat Well at SBU believes that the best nutrition practice is customization. Every food allergy or dietary intolerance should not and cannot be treated the same.

We support students and faculty who have food allergies and dietary intolerances. As a team, we will make a collaborative effort to ensure you have an opportunity to dine on campus. With reasonable customization and strategic planning, we can create delicious meal plans that coincide with each person’s special dietary needs.

Safety is our number one priority when it comes to food allergies and dietary intolerances. Our goal is to provide everyone with a great opportunity to dine with us on campus along with a safe and supportive dining environment.

Allergen-Safe-T Kits & Purple Utensils

Allergen Saf-T Zone Kit In Fall 2022, We rolled out the Allergen-Safe-T-Kits into our dining locations around campus. These are also known as the “purple kits” and offer an opportunity for a student to receive a customized meal on separate cooking smallwares. We expanded these kits to have separate cooking vessels like pots, pans, spoons, baking sheets and more to help a student receive a customized and allergen-sensitive experience. We have designated the purple colored utensils to handle all food allergen and dietary intolerance concerns only. It is best to speak with the campus RD to ensure your meal is completed in a timely manner!

Food Allergy Guide Coming Soon!

Connect with Laura

It is highly recommended to create a profile with Healthie to let Laura know about your food allergies, dietary intolerances or special needs!

Key Points for Navigating Food Allergies, Special Diets and Dietary Intolerances

Get into the habit of checking menus prior to entering the dining halls. This way if you have any questions about the menus, available options or need to place a customized order, there is time to make sure you have a successful trip to your desired dining location.

View Menus on Nutrislice
Continue to collaborate with the RD if you have questions and utilize the Healthie Portal to complete the Food Allergy and Special Dietary Needs Request Form ideally 24-48 hours before your desired pick up to avoid any delays or wait time.

Always speak with the executive chefs and managers to review cooking procedures, menus, available options within the dining hall, product information and package labels, recipes and ask any questions you may have.

Always ask for the dining employees to change their gloves, change cooking utensils, offer a new/untouched pan if you are uncomfortable or ask a manager to communicate your needs to the dining employee.

Always ask about the hidden ingredients like fry oil for deep-fried foods, bases for soup, gravies or sauces, local products such as desserts, breads/wraps, breakfast danishes, muffins or rolls, ice cream, and/or coatings for fries and vegan/veggie burgers.

DISCLAIMER

FOOD ALLERGIES? IF YOU HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY, PLEASE SPEAK TO A MANAGER, CHEF OR SUPERVISOR AT TIME OF SERVICE

Please note that all of the 9 major allergens (sesame, egg, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, peanut and tree nuts), and other potential allergens are present in our cafe in various forms. Products may also change without our knowledge. We ask that you consult with your chef or manager to discuss ingredients and/or food preparation methods. We continually strive to avoid cross-contact, however, all our menu offerings are prepared and cooked in a shared environment where there is a risk of cross-contact/exposure.

Avoiding Gluten? Program

The Avoiding Gluten? program is a new labeling system for recipes that were made without gluten and/or gluten-containing ingredients. Icons will reflect these recipes in our menu line-up. We are not a gluten-free facility, and our dining halls contain items that contain gluten or have been in contact with gluten. As stated, the Avoiding Gluten? Icon will appear on recipes that were MADE without gluten. The recipes that are chosen to be a part of the Avoiding Gluten? Program have been manually selected. If the recipe is not labeled for Avoiding Gluten? please reach out to the campus registered dietitian to inquire about the recipe.

West Side Dining (Nut-Sensitive Facility)

West Side Dining is a nut-sensitive facility. We do not intentionally prepare our menus with any nuts or tree nuts ingredients. However, products and ingredients may change and may be processed in facilities that contain/handle peanuts and tree nuts, both without our knowledge. West Side Dining does handle and prepare foods with the remaining top allergens (sesame, egg, wheat, milk, shellfish, fish, and soy) along with other potential allergens, all in various forms. We ask that you consult with your chef or manager to discuss ingredients and/or food preparation methods.

Medical and Nutrition Disclaimer

Please do not diagnose a food allergy on our own or take medical advice from an unlicensed professional. Suspected food allergies and dietary intolerances should always be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated by a medical professional. The information in this packet is for educational purposes only. This is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical needs and all information could be subject to change at any given point. For most up to date information, please reach out to the campus registered dietitian.

Campus Wellness