University of Florida
VerifiedThe made-to-order stations with ingredient information available include the Omelet, Vegan, Sauté, Grill, and World Stations.
Our website and app display ingredients for all menu items. Students with food allergies or Celiac Disease are encouraged to speak with the ingredient expert (manager or chef) for verification. We can provide ingredient, recipe, and preparation information upon request to help students make informed decisions.
The self-serve stations with ingredient information available include the Salad Bar, Bakery, and Pizza station. Our website and app display ingredients for all menu items. Students with food allergies or Celiac Disease are encouraged to speak with the Ingredient Expert (manager or chef) for verification. We can provide ingredient, recipe, and preparation information upon request to help students make informed decisions.
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.
All of our resident dining team members go through yearly allergen trainings with our campus dietitian. There are food handling, cleaning, and sanitation procedures in place should a student bring an allergy to the attention of the dining staff. If students have a question about an ingredient or allergen they can notify a staff member and will be directed to the executive chef and/or dining hall director to review the information and answer any other questions they may have.
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.
Self-serve areas such as the salad bar have their own tongs/utensils, with an established procedure for the layout of these areas. Associates are also monitoring these areas and will intervene if any cross contact occurs.
Students with diagnosed food allergies are encouraged to meet with the campus dietitian to go over a static alternate menu available for allergen students. With this system, students are able to order their meal ahead of time, have it prepared by the executive chef, and delivered to them upon arrival to the dining hall.
Both of our resident dining locations have a dedicated station, Delicious Without, that avoids the top nine allergens as well as gluten. This station has dedicated equipment (lined in purple to emphasize designation) as well as a dedicated prep area. Associates who work in this station have also completed FARE check allergen training.
All dining team members are trained on food allergies at least once a year.
Trainings cover: Understanding food allergies, the top allergens, allergic reaction
signs and symptoms, peanuts and tree nuts, food allergy emergencies, celiac
disease & gluten intolerance, and mitigating risk for cross contact.
- FARECheck Certified Food Allergies & Celiac Disease Training
- Weekly pre-service allergen training (CHATS)
While UF is a voluntary campus, where students can select if they would like to have a meal plan or not, they can also select if they would like to live on campus or not. Because of this, we do work separately from the housing department, but are always happy to help out and assist in any way that we can.
Our inclusive resident life programs offer students with food allergies the opportunity to request safe food alternatives for events. Our dining program hosts inclusive events such as tabling events, teaching kitchens, etc
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.
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.
We do not keep epinephrine in dining areas or train our associates to use. However, our campus Health Services office and Emergency
services carry epinephrine.