Allergen Guide
We are committed to nourishing all guests by providing nutritious options that fit their needs, no matter where they dine on campus. We support students with food allergies by providing the knowledge and resources necessary for them to make informed food choices in our dining locations.
Your Safety is Our Priority
Our campus registered dietitian is a Certified AllerTrainer® through MenuTrinfo. Managers and supervisors are AllerTrain® certified. AllerTrain® is an ANAB-Accredited third-party allergy & celiac disease training program that prepares our dining team to:
- Identify the top 9 food allergens including hidden or uncommon sources.
- Understand how the increase in food allergies impacts our roles within dining.
- Express their commitment to an inclusive environment that allows students with allergies to dine safely alongside the campus community through shared meals.
- Train employees about allergens, including reducing the risk of cross-contact and handling special meal requests.
- Recognize common symptoms of a food allergy reaction and respond appropriately.
Our Commitment
How We Can Help You
Meet
Contact our dining team to discuss your allergy, gather information on managing them, and learn about navigating campus dining. We will accommodate your individual needs and help you find safe food options on campus.
Support
We can provide additional support after the initial meeting. This includes meeting the culinary team who can address any allergy-related questions and concerns. It’s an opportunity for us to thoroughly review available food options.
Monitor
Throughout the year, our team is available to assist you. Feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns. If we do not hear from you, we assume you are doing well.
We rely on our vendors’ allergy warnings and ingredient listings. Because we operate a commercial kitchen where ingredient substitutions, recipe revisions and cross-contact with allergens is possible, We cannot guarantee that any food item will be completely free of allergens.
Your Management
You are the most important advocate for your own health. Please review your responsibilities when managing a food allergy in the campus dining locations:
Schedule a meeting with our Dining Team to develop a plan.
Learn how to navigate our dining locations safely.
Consult disability/accessibility services or student health services for additional accommodations if necessary.
Other campus services may provide additional guidance for accommodating special dietary needs, such as appliance requests in dorm rooms to reduce risk of cross-contact with roommates.
In case of exposure, ALWAYS carry your medication (e.g., EpiPen, Benadryl, etc.).
Consider informing friends you normally dine with about your medical needs in case of an emergency. Public Safety may also have emergency medication.
Be proficient in the self-management of your food allergy(ies).
Always notify dining services staff of your food allergy(ies). Avoid foods to which you are allergic. Recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Know how and when to tell someone you might be having an allergy-related problem. Carry emergency contact information with you. Carefully read the menus and recipe description information available to you.
We make every effort to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions while dining on campus. However, the possibility for a reaction does exist.
Ways To Reduce the Risk of Cross Contact
Ask a dining employee to change their gloves, use new utensils or a fresh pan at made-to-order stations.
Speak to a dining manager/supervisor if you need access to allergy-friendly designated equipment.
Items from self-serve stations, such as the salad bar, can be offered from behind the serving line if requested.
Take extra precautions at all stations where cross contact may be more likely to occur, such as the bakery, salad bar, and grill.
In Case of a Reaction
If you are exhibiting symptoms of an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, please follow these steps:
Administer Medication
Administer Your Epi Pen or take an antihistamine as soon as possible.
Get Help Immediately
Call or have someone else immediately call for help.
Lincoln Center: Dial 911
Rose Hill: Contact FUEMS at 718-817-2222
Notify a Team Member
Notify a dining staff member as soon as possible about your experience so they can address your concerns.
Dietary Icons
Look for these in our All You Care to Enjoy dining halls!
Vegan
Foods that do not contain any animal-derived products at all including honey, eggs, or dairy.
Vegetarian
Foods that do not contain meat, fish, or poultry.
Made Without Gluten
Selections made with ingredients that do not contain gluten.
Important to Know
Foods prepared without gluten containing ingredients may not be “gluten-free” since recipes are prepared in open kitchens where cross contact is possible. Ram Hospitality relies on its manufacturers’ ingredient listings in determining whether an ingredient contains gluten.
