Medical and Nutrition Disclaimer
Please do not diagnose a food allergy on your own or take medical advice from an unlicensed professional. Suspected food allergies and dietary intolerances should always be evaluated, diagnosed and treated by a medical professional. The information in this packet is for educational purposes only. This is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical needs, and all information could be subject to change at any given point. For the most up-to-date information, please reach out to the campus registered dietitian.
Food Allergies Disclaimer
If you have a food allergy, please speak to a manager, chef, or supervisor at the time of service.
Please note that all nine major allergens (sesame, egg, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, peanut, and tree nuts) and other potential allergens are present in our cafe in various forms. Products may also change without our knowledge. We ask that you consult with your chef or manager to discuss ingredients and/or food preparation methods. We continually strive to avoid cross-contact; however, all our menu offerings are prepared and cooked in a shared environment where there is a risk of cross-contact or exposure.
Food Allergies & Avoiding Gluten
It is highly recommended to create a profile with Healthie to let the dietitian know about your food allergies, dietary intolerances, or special needs!
Eat Well at SBU believes that the best nutrition practice is customization. Every food allergy or dietary intolerance should not and cannot be treated the same.
We support students and faculty who have food allergies and dietary intolerances. As a team, we will make a collaborative effort to ensure you have an opportunity to dine on campus. With reasonable customization and strategic planning, we can create delicious meal plans that coincide with each person’s special dietary needs.
Safety is our number-one priority when it comes to food allergies and dietary intolerances. Our goal is to provide everyone with a great opportunity to dine with us on campus, along with a safe and supportive dining environment.
Allergen-Safe-T Kits & Purple Utensils
SBU Eats dining locations offer Allergen-Safe-T-Kits. These “purple kits” offer an opportunity for students to receive a customized meal on separate cooking smallwares. We expanded these kits to have separate cooking vessels such as pots, pans, spoons, baking sheets, and more to help a student receive a customized and allergen-sensitive experience. The purple-colored utensils are only used when handling meals for food allergies and dietary intolerances. Please ask for a manager wearing a red shirt to request that they use this kit to prepare your meal if you have a food allergy or dietary intolerance.
Avoiding Gluten Program
The Avoiding Gluten program is a labeling system for recipes that were made without gluten and/or gluten-containing ingredients. Icons will reflect these recipes in our menu line-up. We are not a gluten-free facility, and our dining halls contain items that contain gluten or have been in contact with gluten. As stated, the Avoiding Gluten icon will appear on recipes that were made without gluten. The recipes that are chosen to be a part of the Avoiding Gluten Program have been manually selected. If the recipe is not labeled for Avoiding Gluten, please reach out to the campus registered dietitian to inquire about the recipe.
West Side Dining (Nut-Sensitive Facility)
West Side Dining is a nut-sensitive facility. We do not intentionally prepare our menus with any nuts or tree nuts as ingredients. However, products and ingredients may change and may be processed in facilities that contain or handle peanuts and tree nuts, both without our knowledge. West Side Dining does handle and prepare foods with the remaining top allergens (sesame, egg, wheat, milk, shellfish, fish, and soy) along with other potential allergens, all in various forms. We ask that you consult with your chef or manager to discuss ingredients and/or food preparation methods.
Key Points for Navigating Food Allergies, Special Diets and Dietary Intolerances
Get into the habit of checking menus prior to entering the dining halls. This way, if you have any questions about the menus, available options, or need to place a customized order, there is time to make sure you have a successful trip to your desired dining location.
View Menus on NutrisliceMake an appointment with the RD if you have questions. Please complete the Food Allergy and Special Dietary Needs Request Form ideally 24-48 hours before your desired pick-up to avoid any delays or wait time.
Always speak with the executive chefs and managers to review cooking procedures, menus, available options within the dining hall, product information, package labels, and recipes, and ask any questions you may have.
Always ask the dining employees to change their gloves, change cooking utensils, offer a new or untouched pan if you are uncomfortable, or ask a manager to communicate your needs to the dining employee.
Always ask about the hidden ingredients, like fry oil for deep-fried foods, bases for soup, gravies, or sauces, local products such as desserts, breads or wraps, breakfast danishes, muffins or rolls, ice cream, and/or coatings for fries and vegan or vegetarian burgers.