#OneUKforAll: How to Plan Events With Food Allergies in Mind

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2021) — At the University of Kentucky, we are one community — a family comprised of many individuals whose differences should be celebrated and understood.

While UK is determined to continue building upon our missions of teaching, service, research and healing, we can only accomplish our goals when we take care of our people.

This new UKNow series, “Many People Creating One Accessible Community,” — is a call to action. Over the coming weeks and months, we will highlight ways we can step up to ensure our campus is welcoming and accessible for all.

Together — and only together — can we be the University of, for and with Kentucky.

This week we will focus on event planning with food allergies with the help of Jessica Carter, UK Dining registered dietitian

UKNow: Sometimes we take accessibility for granted — what barriers are we creating by not taking food allergies into consideration?

Carter: College is an especially dangerous time for a student with a food allergy. For some of these students, food is being prepared by others, potentially for the first time in the student’s life; they are in effect leaving a protected environment for what seems like a riskier setting. In an effort to blend in or to not feel like they are a burden, some students will also resort to hiding their allergy or will attempt to diminish the severity. While there are a lot of things for a student to worry about, where to eat shouldn’t be one of them. By breaking down these barriers we can help to ensure students can focus on what is important: their academic career. 

UKNow: What methods does the university have in place to help with food allergies in dining situations?

Carter: True Balance, our made-without-allergens and gluten-free station, aims to make mealtime simple for those with food allergies/intolerances by offering chef-curated and dietitian approved recipes that exclude wheat/gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, milk, fish and shellfish. Have a different allergy or intolerance? Just register with the Disability Resource Center and even more allergies and intolerances can be accommodated with a specially prepared meal just for you. True Balance is for everyone.

Even though food-allergic students aren’t required to reach out to the UK Dining dietitian, it is highly recommended (Remember: all students are required to notify UK Dining of any special dietary needs before the semester begins). While all menus are posted in advance, diners can also utilize the nutrition information and ingredient binders located at each local station to help make decisions regarding their allergy management. If a student does contact the UK Dining dietitian, they will gain access to a living document that is maintained with the most recent nutrition and allergy information for each vendor. Please note: due to widespread supply chain issues within the food industry, ingredient substitutions are common, so always ask questions.

UKNow: Can you list a few ways that people can plan an inclusive event for people with food allergies?

1. Ask for any food allergies to be reported prior to event (especially if there will be food). Communicate any reported allergies to those preparing the food.
2. Set up food to keep common allergens set away — if possible, try to not have items with food allergies. Be cognizant of set up and spillage between foods, no shared utensils. Common allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, wheat/gluten, eggs and soy.
3. Hang on to labels from food packages so that you can physically show them a label if they have questions
4. Eliminate self-service, have someone oversee food stations to watch out for cross contamination
5. Inform those serving the food of potential allergens and how they should answer questions if asked. The most uncomfortable thing for someone with an allergen is getting an answer from someone who doesn’t seem to be taking them seriously or answering the questions without confidence.
6. Add signage for allergens, e.g., may contain nuts.
7. Know what steps to take if someone has an allergic reaction.

UKNow: How will following these guidelines make UK more accessible for all?

Carter: Food allergies impact an ever increasing 32 million Americans. Following these guidelines helps to not only make life a little easier for food-allergic students, but also ensures that everyone feels welcome on our campus.