University of California, Berkeley
VerifiedShort-order menu is processed at the unit level. Ingredient information is available upon request by consulting with chef or manager on duty at the location.
1. We provide access to ingredient information for made-to-order* items. *Made-to-order - Meals that are prepared on request and to your specification in the dining hall. Examples include a sandwich station, omelet station, burrito station, etc.
Big-8 food allergens (peanut, tree nut, shellfish, fish, milk, egg, soy, wheat), sesame, gluten, pork and alcohol are disclosed for all menu items served in the dining halls and campus restaurants operated by Cal Dining.
To help our customers with food allergy and/or intolerance to browse and choose safely, the Big-8 allergens are listed on the menu signage in units and the online menu. In addition, we also list sesame, gluten, pork and alcohol.
Our menu signage in the dining commons and campus restaurants, as well as ingredients listed on product packages at our retail locations are resources for you to identify these allergens. Please take the time to read the allergen signage at our locations and on our website. Note that the advisory labeling (i.e., precautionary statements such as “may contain,” “processed in a facility that also processes,” or “made on equipment with”) by manufacturers is not being considered for the labeling of allergens on our menus.
Prospective students with food allergies are strongly advised to visit Cal Dining website dining.berkeley.edu, and to reach out to our dietitian at dietitian@berkeley.edu for additional assistance.
2. We provide access to ingredient information for self-serve* items. *Self-serve - Meals that are served buffet-style in a dining hall. These are typically high risk for cross-contact and are best avoided by diners with food allergies.
Each dining location has an allergy cooking kit that can be used for short orders. Although all chefs in residential dining are happy to help a student with a special dietary request, there is no standard procedure for short order placement. Bear Fit station inside Crossroads is the designated allergen friendly platform and is the best choice for short order placement.
Bear Fit station inside Crossroads is the designated allergen-friendly platform that is open for lunch and dinner daily. Please check out Bear Fit menu on our website before placing short order.
3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.
Residential dining halls, Bear Fit inside Crossroads in particular
4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.
Pre-order meals are available for students on residential meal plan with medically-necessitated dietary restrictions that can not be accommodated by existing menu items. Students wishing to place pre-order meals should contact Cal Dining dietitian first.
5. We have pre-order meals* available. *Pre-order meals - Custom meals that can be ordered in advance by a diner so they are ready for pick up at a specific time. Typically these can be ordered online or by phone/text.
In addition to Bear Fit - the allergen friendly station inside Crossroads, Café 3 is the plant-forward dining hall serving Kosher certified meats, and does not serve shell fish and pork as of February 2017.
6. We have an allergy-friendly station*. *Allergy-friendly station - A food station where specific ingredients are banned, typically including many or all items in the Top 8 allergens and gluten.
Food allergy and Celiac disease 101, anaphylaxis and emergency response, avoiding cross-contact, menu labeling practice at Cal Dining
Cal Dining does not stock undesignated epinepharine, and Cal Dining staff are not trained to administer epinephrine injection
7. We train dining services staff members.
8. We have a registered dietitian* on staff. *Registered dietitian - Registered dietitians are food and nutrition experts who are often tasked with helping students with food allergies navigate the dining halls.
9. We train our RA's.
• Encourage students to self-identify their restrictions in advance • Always provide alternative meals (i.e. vegan, vegetarian)
10. We have inclusive resident life programs* including food. *Inclusive resident life programs - Programs in the resident halls often include food. Inclusive resident life programs will offer students with food allergies the opportunity to request safe food alternatives for events they attend in the dorms.
Advocate for yourself and find a community of support
11. We offer accommodations for roommate assignments. *Every accommodation request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A housing accommodation cannot be guaranteed prior to an individual evaluation.
Cal Dining and Cal Housing
Submit online via webpage: http://dsp.berkeley.edu/students/new-students
12. Our disability office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests.
See what health services we offer >
13. We have stock, undesignated epinephrine* available for emergency response. *Stock, undesignated epinephrine - Epinephrine that is prescribed to a college or university rather than to a particular student. This epinephrine is kept on hand to use for any student that experiences anaphylaxis.
14. Our campus emergency responders carry epinephrine.
See what our emergency response policy allows for >