University of Florida
VerifiedThe made-to-order stations with ingredient information available include the Omelet, Vegan, Sauté, Grill, and World Stations.
On our core stations such as Grill and Omelet where the menu hardly changes, all ingredients are listed and readily available for our guests. This also includes calorie counts and allergen information.
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.
The self-serve stations with ingredient information available include the Salad Bar, Bakery, and Pizza station.
With current COVID precautions, all self-serve stations have been suspended, and students are served all food.
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.
There are cleaning/sanitation and food handling procedures in place should a student bring an allergy to the attention of the dining hall. Students are able to visit the True Balance allergy station or notify appropriate staff who will review the foods available with the student based on their dietary needs.
3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.
Self-serve areas such as the salad bar have their own tongs/utensils, with an established procedure for the layout of these areas. Cleaning and sanitation procedures are also in place for these stations. However, with current COVID precautions, all self-serve areas are suspended.
4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.
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.
We have an allergen-friendly station available at one of our dining halls, The Fresh Food Company. The station is called True Balance.
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.
Topics covered in the training include: food allergy 101, anaphylaxis, avoiding cross-contact, food handling procedures, and emergency procedures.
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.
Foods are labeled, placed in distinct areas, and all of our kitchens designed in the past ten years are culturally relevant with at least two countertops, refrigerators, ovens, stoves, and sinks.
Resident life is inclusive with all types of food restrictions related to students’ allergies, other health issues, religious and cultural needs, and preferences. Students do not need to identify these needs ahead of time; we provide options for all dietary needs.
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.
The Disability Resource Center facilitates all housing accommodation requests. We meet with the student, discuss their diagnosis, they send in specific documentation, and then we inform housing of our recommendations for housing accommodations. Housing accommodations are not guaranteed on our campus, due to the fact we don't have a live on requirement. Our housing department does a fantastic job to ensure everyone's needs are met, when possible.
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.
Visiting the DRC website to begin the accommodations process
The DRC meets with students and works with them on accommodations based on the student, the severity, and the barriers they experience in the classroom due to their food allergy.
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 >