Michigan 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
[Yes]
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
Other
The guests can contact the registered dietitian at any time.
Specific areas

We have 10 dining halls and all of the venues in those halls have the ingredient information available.

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
[Yes]
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
Other
Guests can contact the dietitian at any point for this information.
Specific areas

Salad dressings, sauces/condiments, bagels/breads from the MSU Bakery

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]
Specific areas

All chefs and staff preparing meals have been trained and certified in AllerTrain’s food allergy management course. They follow procedures to ensure meal safety for students with dietary restrictions. There are posters in the venues as visual reminders of allergens and cross contact. Barriers are used on prep/cooking surfaces, separate tongs are available, guests can request for back up product.

Additional information

All chefs and staff preparing meals have been trained and certified in a MenuTrinfo food allergy training course. They follow procedures to ensure meal safety for students with dietary restrictions. There are posters in the venues as visual reminders of allergens and cross-contact. Barriers are used on prep areas/cooking surfaces, separate utensils are used, and the option is available to request an item that hasn’t been on the serving line yet.

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]
Specific areas

Some of the 10 dining halls on campus have shelves or storage areas labeled to keep storage areas organized and consistent, where allergy-friendly items are stocked, they are stored separately from items containing the allergens they do not contain, items at high risk of becoming airborne are stored on low shelves and away from open items, prepared sauces and other items at high risk for spilling are stored on lower shelves or stored above like-allergen-containing items, prepared food items are stored with like-allergen-containing items, storage containers are covered, Chefs/managers are trained in food allergy management and they ensure the staff is handling food appropriately, barriers are created when preparing foods, meals are prepared separately, staff wash their hands and change their gloves between menu items, surfaces are cleaned and sanitized between menu items along with using clean utensils, guests can ask for product from a back up container, separate utensils are used for each item in self-serve areas, menu signs show which items have the top 8 allergies, full ingredient information is available online, self service areas are properly maintained and cleaned.

Additional Information

Self-service areas are arranged to reduce the risk of cross-contact by putting barriers between allergen-containing items and allergen-free items. On a serving line, allergen-containing items will be found after allergen-free items. Self-serve areas are also properly maintained and frequently cleaned.

Allergen conscious areas contain individually packaged condiments, as well as other pre-packaged items to reduce the risk of cross contact.  

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

Mobile ordering is available Holden Dining Hall, Holmes Dining Hall and Brody Square. This allows you to pre-order a customized meal for pick up at open residential dining halls and pay with an on-campus dining plan. On the app, all the items available have allergen information, including the Major 9 Allergens, plus alcohol, beef, coconut, and pork listed. There are many customizable options. When you check out, there is also the option to self-report food allergies. These will print on the ticket for our staff and our team members will follow proper cross-contact prevention techniques when preparing your food.

For more information: https://eatatstate.msu.edu/mobilemenu

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

Thrive, which is a dining hall that is certified from the Major 9 allergens plus gluten. Thrive is located inside Owen Graduate Hall in the RiverTrail neighborhood. We perform allergen protein swab testing in the back of the house for all Major 9 allergens plus gluten and report to a 3rd party auditor.

For more information: https://eatatstate.msu.edu/nutrition

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, all staff]
How often?
Other (please specify)
The chefs, managers, full time cooks, Culinary's leadership team, and student supervisors have a 5 year certification with their training. All employees will receive information on it upon their hire, as well as yearly with their manditory annual complia
Which course(s) are used?
AllerTrain courses by MenuTrinfo
What topics are covered?

The big 8 of allergens, celiac disease, intolerances, prevention of cross contact in both the front and back of the house, and what to do in the case of a reaction along with the administering of epinephrine.

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
[Yes]
What training?
University-developed training
What topics are covered?

Food allergies, symptoms of anaphylaxis, emergency procedures, and college student life with food allergies.

9. We train our RA's.
Inclusive Residence Life Programs Including Food
Inclusive residence life programs involving food?
[Yes]
How can students access safe foods for residence life programs?

We ask students to share any dietary needs with their Resident Assistant in writing at the first floor meeting at the beginning of the year. Students can speak with hall staff prior to or at any event to ensure safe food options.

Additional information

Information regarding allergies and reactions are given to the RA's each fall.

10. We have inclusive residence life programs* including food. *Inclusive residence life programs - Programs in the resident halls often include food. Inclusive residence 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?
Trying to match students with food allergies for room assignments upon request
Facilitating roommate agreements involving food allergies upon request
Working with students to change roommate assignments if it becomes necessary
Students have the ability to sign up for a preference to live near Thrive when signing up for housing.
Does the housing office process requests?
Yes
Where can students get more information?
Housing Assignments Office (anyone can offer assistance)
517-884-5483
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
[Yes]
Other departments a student should contact?

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) frequently and collaboratively consults with the University’s Dietitians, Kelsey Patterson. After considering all of the resources available through the University’s Culinary Services, many students find more than satisfactory ways to participate within the dining hall/meal plan experience, while safely avoiding known triggers and maintaining desired access to a full array of nutritional options. In less accommodable cases, a meal plan exemption can be granted, but this is rarely done and seen as a last resort after other options have failed or been ruled out.

How can students submit an accommodations request?

Students can begin by visiting the RCPD’s website to learn about who they are and what they do. Then, if a student wishes to self-identify as a person with a disability, s/he then creates a MyProfile at https://login.msu.edu/?App=RCPD_Profile. This begins the registration process. The next step is for the student to submit a comprehensive written documentation of their disability. This must come from a licensed medical professional, most often the student’s diagnosing or treating physician, and include a diagnosis, scope or degree of involvement, summary of related functional limitations, and period of time services will be needed. Any professional completing this form must have first-hand knowledge of the condition. Diagnoses and documentation of chronic health disabilities by family members, relatives, or friends of the family are unacceptable. To help facilitate this process for students, RCPD often sends along best practices forms that allow for the efficient procurement of such substantive information. For instance, Chronic Health Specialists send the Chronic Health Disabilities Documentation form (CHF) to students every day. This eliminates much of the guesswork surrounding what’s needed to obtain accommodations through RCPD. This document is also available at www.rcpd.msu.edu/Services/ChronicHealth. Students, parents, or health care providers can print this form either from the document index or from the Chronic Health Disabilities page. The information from physicians aids RCPD in determining eligibility for appropriate accommodations. Once these forms are completed, treating physicians are asked to mail or fax it back to the RCPD with attention to the assigned specialist. RCPD cannot proceed unless all parts of the form are completed as thoroughly as possible. Incomplete information and illegible handwriting delay the registration process, requiring follow-up with the physician to fully understand a given student’s chronic health condition and its impacts

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
Seasonal allergy shots
We have an allergy clinic on campus
Health services refers guests to the local allergists for any allergy testing.
See what health services we offer >
Emergency Response
Stock, Undesignated Epinephrine Available for Emergency Response
Stock, undesignated epinephrine for emergencies
[Yes]
Where?
Healthcare facilities
Emergency vehicles
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
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
Dining Services Staff Contact
Disability Staff Contact
Last Updated on:
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