Iowa State University

Verified
Dining Services
Made-to-order items
Made-to-order items
[Yes, for all stations]
How are ingredients available?
Table: Ingredient Info Availability
Top 8 allergens, online database
[Yes]
Full ingredients, online database
[Yes]
Top 8 allergens, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Top 8 allergens, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]

 
Top 8 Allergens
Full Ingredients

Other
QR code available to expand ingredients including Top 8 allergens
Specific areas

The only made-to-order station within the Union Drive Marketplace Dining Hall is at the deli station. All ingredient information is available online, and with point of sale labels. 

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.

Self-Serve Items
Self-Serve Items
[Yes, for all stations]
How are ingredients available?
Table: Ingredient Info Availability
Top 8 allergens, online database
[Yes]
Full ingredients, online database
[Yes]
Top 8 allergens, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Top 8 allergens, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]

 
Top 8 Allergens
Full Ingredients

Other
QR codes available to expand ingredients
Specific areas

All self-serve venues have point of sale labels that include ingredient information, as well as any Top 8 allergens highlighted. The label includes basic ingredients, but using a free QR code scanner application a QR code can be scanned and the full ingredient listing will come up. This is the same listing that is available for all locations on our dining website. 

Additional Information

ISU Dining has policy in place with staff to minimize any possible cross-contact as possible. Due to not being able to control actions of students and other guests, we have our Special Diet Kitchen (SDK) that is a separate prep-area that is connected to the main dining hall in the Union Drive Marketplace Dining Hall. The Special Diet Kitchen is designed to be Top 8 Food Allergen free, and is a self-serve venue. All of our dry ingredients is stored in the SDK to minimize cross-contact. The registered dietitian assists with management of the SDK. Students wishing to eat in the SDK must verify medical need with Student Accessibility Services on campus; this is to keep the high integrity and effectiveness of the Special Diet Kitchen program. 

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.

Made-To-Order Areas
Made-to-order areas
[Yes, in all stations]

3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.

Self-Serve Areas
Self-Serve Areas
[Yes, in all areas]

4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.

Pre-Order Meals
Do students have access to pre-order meals free from their allergens?
[No]
Additional information

Students who have access to the  Special Diet Kitchen can take a "To Go" meal due to slightly limited options in other locations. They need to come into the dining hall, and the Special Diet Kitchen, and then fill up a to-go box and leave the dining hall in a side door. 

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.

Allergy-Friendly Station
Do students have access to an allergy-friendly station(s) that is free from specific allergens?
[Yes]
What is the station free from?
Peanut
Tree nut
Fish
Shellfish
Eggs
Wheat
Soy
Milk
Gluten
Additional Information

We offer a unique Special Diet Kitchen located within Union Drive Marketplace that is free from the top 8 allergens and can accommodate various other food restrictions for medical purposes. 

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.

Dining Services Staff Member Trained?
Dining services staff trained?
[Yes, all staff]
How often?
At least once a year
Which course(s) are used?
We developed our own food allergy training.
What topics are covered?

Food allergy 101, anaphylaxis, limiting cross-contact, label reading, and university policies related to assisting a student who potentially might have a reaction. The bulk of our training's is related to prevention of a reaction, but we have policy and procedures in place in the rare occasion a reaction does occur. 

7. We train dining services staff members.

Registered Dietitian on Staff?
Do you have a registered dietitian on staff?
[Yes]

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.

Campus Life & Disabilities
RAs Trained
RA’s trained
[No]

9. We train our RA's.

Inclusive Resident Life Programs Including Food
Inclusive resident life programs involving food?
[No]
How can students access safe foods for resident life programs?

Department of Residence staff (including hall directors and community advisers) have the option of coming to an annual training with the registered dietitian during their training day. If resident life programs utilize ISU Dining food, then appropriate allergen accommodations can be made. 

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.

Accommodations for Roommate Assignments
ROLLUP - Accommodations for roommate assignments
 
How does the school provide accommodations?
Trying to match students with food allergies for room assignments upon request
Facilitating roommate agreements involving food allergies upon request
Working with students to change roommate assignments if it becomes necessary
Does the housing office process requests?
Yes
Where can students get more information?
Leah Weeks
515-294-2773

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.

Disability Services Office Processes Food Allergy and Celiac Disease Accommodation Requests
Disability services office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests
[Yes]
Other departments a student should contact?

No; Dining and Student Accessibility Services collaborate with Department of Residence to ensure students who utilize the Special Diet Kitchen are placed in housing assignments on the same side of campus. This is only able to happen if students get Special Diet Kitchen approval prior to housing assignments being placed, but some additional accommodations are able to happen. 

How can students submit an accommodations request?

Detailed 1-3 steps are located on both the Dining website, as well as the Student Accessibility Services website links that are provided above. 

Additional Information

Timeliness is important for accommodations ensuring students utilizing the Special Diet Kitchen are placed in housing assignments on the same side of campus. Please aim to have the required paperwork completed by the end of May prior to starting at Iowa State University in the fall. If given enough time, we can coordinate with the Department of Housing to re-arrange housing assignments to be on the same side of campus if the original housing location is not near the Special Diet Kitchen. 

12. Our disability office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests.

Health Services
What health services are offered?
Food allergy management care
Prescriptions for epinephrine
Fulfill epinephrine prescriptions in our pharmacy
Seasonal allergy shots
Iowa State University has a full-service pharmacy right on campus within the Student Health Center, as well as a full-staff of primary care physicians. If additional medical attention is needed, there are CyRide bus routes (free to students) to Mary Greeley Medical Center in town.

See what health services we offer >

Emergency Response
Stock, Undesignated Epinephrine Available for Emergency Response
Stock, undesignated epinephrine for emergencies
[No]
Additional information

ISU Dining employees are unable to assist with administrating epinephrine. ISU and Ames police are able to assist. The registered dietitian encourages students with allergies to always eat with a friend who understand their allergen needs and are able to recognize a reaction. 

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.

Campus Emergency Responders Carry Epinephrine
Campus emergency responders carry epinephrine
[Some]
Who are the emergency responders?
On-campus emergency responders
City emergency responders
Dialing from a land line connects to ISU on-campus emergency responders. Dialing from a mobile device connects to Ames emergency responders.

14. Our campus emergency responders carry epinephrine.

Emergency Response Policy
What does the policy allow for?
Staff is trained to recognize anaphylaxis and call emergency responders
On-campus emergency responders carry epinephrine for use in an emergency

See what our emergency response policy allows for >

Contact Info
Dining Services Staff Contact
Disability Staff Contact
Last updated on:
July 30, 2022
College profiles containing a purple checkmark under the university name are verified college users. All other profiles have been generated through publicly available information from college websites. Accommodations may be available that are not listed here.