Washington State University
Verified1. 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.
Information for salad bars and sandwich stations is available online via NetNutrition.wsu.edu. In units, signage for specialty salads or sandwich fillings with a combination of ingredients (tuna salad, chickpea salad, etc.) with Top 9 allergens is posted. Single-ingredient salad and sandwich bar items such as chickpeas, chicken, sliced vegetables do not have information posted in unit.
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.
Our Natural Station, available in all three dining centers, is an area where only items made without the Top 9 allergens are served.
Staff at the grill stations are trained to wash their hands, change their gloves, and pull ingredients from a fresh, designated allergen-free bag whenever a customer requests a gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, or egg-free burger. Rather than being cooked directly on the grill, clean pans are used for any dietary restriction requests.
The made-to-order pizza station at Northside Cafe offers dairy-free cheese and gluten-free crust options. The gluten-free pizzas are made in a separate oven.
In many other instances, student employees are instructed to grab a professional staff member, typically the executive chef or sous chef, when an accommodation is requested. This staff member will work one on one with the customer and prepare the customers food in a manner that is safe for them.
3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.
Students with celiac have access to a gluten-free toaster that is otherwise locked. Students can request fresh items from the salad bar or sandwich station if desired.
4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.
Students can connect with our chefs and call ahead if a time-consuming item, such as a gluten-free pizza, is desired. Our grill station is currently mobile order and pay only and has a section for students to declare any dietary restrictions.
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.
Natural Station, in all three dining centers
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.
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.
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.
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.
Housing and Residence Life for any housing accommodations: https://housing.wsu.edu/
Email the dietitian for dining accommodations and/or submit a form through the access center for housing or academic requests.
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.