The University at Albany

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
[No]
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
[No]
Full ingredients, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]

 
Top 8 Allergens
Full Ingredients

Specific areas

All made-to-order stations have ingredient information available upon request.

Additional Information

We always welcome a conversation with our Chef and cooks about how we are doing and how we can improve our service.

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
[No]
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
[No]
Full ingredients, available on request in the dining hall
[Yes]

 
Top 8 Allergens
Full Ingredients

Specific areas

All our self serve stations post the Top 8 allergens on their point of sale materials. We post item descriptors at our condiment stations.

Additional Information

We always welcome a conversation with our Chef and cooks about how we are doing and how we can improve our service.

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]
Additional information

We have trained staff on cleaning and replenishing to avoid cross-contact. We have sneeze guards in place at all food stations. We always encourage our students to speak with us if they have any questions or concerns regarding ingredient information and our processes for delivering safe food.

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]
Additional Information

All our self-serve areas have sneeze guards, separate tongs and serving utensils. We have dedicated servers manning the self-serve stations to continuously clean and replenish foods.

We also always welcome a conversation about what are doing well and how we can improve.

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

Students wishing to pre-order meals that are allergen-safe can call or stop by the dining room manager's office to set up an individual meal. Or students can set up an Individual Special Dietary Meal Plan with the dietitian for more than one meal.

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
Shellfish
Eggs
Wheat
Soy
Milk
Gluten
We serve whole pieces of fish at this station, however, no other fish ingredients are used in any foods at this station. We only serve whole pieces of fish as another protein option.
Additional Information

Our award winning Simple Servings station provides safe and appetizing food for students with food allergies and for those who prefer simple eating. We store, prep, cook and serve this food separately. It is currently open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast for those who have food allergies can be pre-arranged with the dietitian. 

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?
At least once a year
Which course(s) are used?
AllerTrain courses by MenuTrinfo
We developed our own food allergy training.
What topics are covered?

Our food allergy trainings cover the Top 8 food allergens as defined by the FDA. We train on Celiac Disease and gluten regularly. We train on reducing cross-contact and contamination, how to recognize food allergic reactions, what to do in case of an emergency and how to administer an Epi Pen. We also train on Sodexo and University policies around food safety and food allergies and how to provide safe food to our guests.

Additional information

We always welcome a conversation on how we are doing and what we can do to improve.

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?

The university does a food allergy awareness training with RAs.

9. We train our RA's.

Inclusive Resident Life Programs Including Food
Inclusive resident life programs involving food?
[Yes]
How can students access safe foods for resident life programs?

It is preferred that students contact the dietitian for assistance providing food at residential life programs, events and functions. Students may also contact any manager in our dining operation for assistance for getting safe food for residential life programs, events and functions. 

Additional information

We always welcome a conversation on how we are doing providing safe meal options to students participating in residential life programs, events and functions, as well as how we can improve our support.

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.

Accommodations for Roommate Assignments
ROLLUP - Accommodations for roommate assignments
[Yes]
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
Does the housing office process requests?
Yes
Where can students get more information?
Residential Life
@ResLifeUAlbany on Twitter
518-442-5875
Additional information

We encourage students with food allergies to contact res life for accommodations as early as possilbe so they can get housing on the main campus for easier access to allergy-safe foods.

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?

Students can contact our Department of Residential Life to make accommodation request for housing. http://www.albany.edu/housing/index.shtml

How can students submit an accommodations request?

Students need to contact the Department of Residential Life to receive instructions on how to make a request for special accommodations in housing. http://www.albany.edu/housing/index.shtml

Additional Information

UAlbany has an exceptional disability resource center. The director and staff are wonderful to work with!

12. Our disability office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests.

Health Services
What health services are offered?
Our health services refers food allergy services to UAlbany dining's dietitian for management and training.

See what health services we offer >

Emergency Response
Stock, Undesignated Epinephrine Available for Emergency Response
Stock, undesignated epinephrine for emergencies
[Yes]
Where?
Our on campus EMT services keep Epi Pens in their ambulances
Additional information

We will always work within the boundaries of our policies and do our best to accommodate the needs of our guests whenever possible. Students with an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) prescription should carry their prescribed EAI with them at all times, and we strongly encourage them to do so.

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
Additional information

Direct line to Five Quad EMT Service: 518-442-3131.

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
Additional Information

We always welcome a conversation on how we are doing and how we can improve our processes and trainings. 

See what our emergency response policy allows for >

Contact Info
Dining Services Staff Contact
Disability Staff Contact
Disability Access and Inclusion Student Services (DAISS)
518-442-5501
Last updated on:
September 3, 2021
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