Grand Valley 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.
Ingredient information is available by request for students.
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.
True Balance, the allergen-friendly station made without the Top 9 allergens, offers made-to-order stir-fry and pasta. Associates utilize sanitized equipment for preparation of each MTO dish. At other locations, students may always request sanitized equipment for preparation of their MTO dish to minimize risk of cross contact.
3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.
Stations utilize separate utensils for each menu item. Students may ask for products in the BOH to minimize risk of cross-contact.
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.
The Allergen station (True Balance) is located at The Dish, inside Kleiner. True Balance offers rotating menu items, desserts, and a MTO pasta or stir-fry - all made without the Top 9 allergens. MyFresh Pantry in Fresh Food Co. offers many specialty allergen items - made-without-gluten breads, buns, and waffle mix, dairy alternatives, and allergen friendly desserts/granolas.
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.
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.