Penn 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
[No]
Top 8 allergens, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, a list is posted in the dining hall
[No]
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

Specific areas

Ingredient information is available for all made-to-order stations in our residential dining facilities. If not already available online, students can request ingredient information from a manager or contact our registered dietitians. 

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
[No]
Top 8 allergens, a list is posted in the dining hall
[Yes]
Full ingredients, a list is posted in the dining hall
[No]
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

Specific areas

Salad Dressings, Sauces, Penn State Bakery items and Berkey Creamery ice cream stations will include labeling for the Top 8 allergens, sesame and gluten. Students can also request ingredient information for any self service areas by approaching a manager or contacting our registered dietitians. 

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]
Additional information

Chefs, management and full-time dining employees have received training through AllerTrain by MenuTrinfo. Students are encouraged to disclose their allergy to the employee working at the station. Managing Chefs can prepare meal requests in the back of the house for students working with our registered dietitians. 

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]
Additional Information

Dining staff make every effort to keep self service areas clean and maintained throughout meal service, but we cannot guarantee that any item is free from allergen cross-contact. Students can request items from backup product for any self serve areas in our residential dining facilities. 

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?
[Yes]
Additional information

Students should contact our registered dietitians to learn more about pre-order allergy meals. Each residential dining facility has a managing chef who can work with students on preparing safe, allergy-friendly menu selections. 

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
Sesame
Additional Information

Our allergy-friendly station is called Pure, and is located in East Food District (East Halls). Menu items are free of the Top 8 allergens, gluten and sesame- but coconut is allowed in the station. The food is also kosher-certified and under supervision of a mashgiach with Star K, is produced on dedicated allergen-free equipment isolated from the main dining hall kitchen, and is served by employees (no self-service) to prevent cross-contact. Pure is closed during Jewish holidays, but food will be prepared in advance to closing, packaged and either sold in the campus market or offered in the main buffet area. 

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, some staff]
Who?
Managers
Chefs
Registered dietitian
Hourly staff
How often?
At least once a year
Our chefs, dietitians, management, full-time dining employees and allergy services student employees have received training through AllerTrain by MenuTrinfo. Annual in-house training is given by our registered dietitians.
Which course(s) are used?
AllerTrain courses by MenuTrinfo
ServSafe Allergen by National Restaurant Association
We developed our own food allergy training.
Our chefs, dietitians, management, full-time dining employees and allergy services student employees have received training through AllerTrain by MenuTrinfo. Annual in-house training is given by our registered dietitians.
What topics are covered?

Food Allergies, Celiac Disease, Food Intolerances/Sensitivities, Signs & Symptoms, Anaphylaxis & Emergency Procedures, How to Administer Epinephrine, How to Prevent Cross Contact in both Front and Back of House, Label Reading, Cleaning and Sanitizing. 

Additional information

New full-time hires will receive training through AllerTrain by MenuTrinfo. All dining staff receive ongoing training and periodic reminders emphasizing the best practices in managing food allergies, Celiac Disease and food intolerances in foodservice. All student employees will soon be required to take a food allergy course upon hire. 

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?
[Yes]

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?
Working with students to change roommate assignments if it becomes necessary
Does the housing office process requests?
Yes

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
[No]
Additional Information

From the Student Disability Resources website, we refer prospective students and parents to Housing and Food Services for accomodations, see: http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/penn-state-resources. Student Disability Resources is available to assist students with accomodations in the classroom, including food labs. 

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
We have an allergy clinic on campus
Allergy clinic is available for patients who are already under the care of an allergist, and have established care with a University Health Services clinician.

See what health services we offer >

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

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
[Yes]
Who are the emergency responders?
On-campus emergency responders
City emergency responders

14. Our campus emergency responders carry epinephrine.

Emergency Response Policy
What does the policy allow for?
Designated, trained staff to help administer a student’s epinephrine or stock, undesignated epinephrine in an emergency
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
Last updated on:
January 11, 2018
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