At Dalhousie Food Services, we acknowledge that approximately 7.5% of the population is affected by at least one food allergy (Food Allergy Canada). We also acknowledge that approximately 1% of the population lives with celiac disease: an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine with the ingestion of gluten (Celiac Canada). We know that students living with food allergies or celiac disease can experience a limited diet and spend more time and effort managing their dietary needs.

We recommend that those living with allergies and celiac disease dine in Howe Hall. This is the location of the True Balance station. This station excludes any ingredients containing 9 out of 11 priority allergens, including wheat and gluten. Dietitians have reviewed menus and approved ingredient selection for this station to keep risk as low as possible and give students peace of mind. Learn more here.

In our dining halls, we do not use peanut or nut ingredients. However, we do not exclude products that have may contain statement for nuts or tree nuts. To learn more, inquire with our dietitian.
If you live with a food allergy or celiac disease, please reach out to our dietitian for more guidance. Book an Appointment

Roles and Responsibilities
At Dalhousie Food Services we strive to support our students living with celiac disease, allergies, and other dietary restrictions.

Your Role:
Your role is to self-identify as someone living with an allergy or celiac disease to our staff. We have an ask-before-you-eat policy. We encourage that you direct all questions related to managing your allergy or dietary restriction to a manager or supervisor. We ask you to work with this person to get all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your food choices.  We also ask that if you have a food allergy you have an epinephrin auto injector, such as Epi-Pen, available to you when eating in the dining hall. We also suggest that you create an emergency plan in the event you have an allergic reaction.

Student Allergy Checklist:

  • Practice independently managing your food allergy prior to living on campus
  • Pick your residence. It is recommended students living with food allergies dine in Howe Hall, where the True Balance station is located
  • Talk to our dietitian ahead of visiting the dining halls. Book an appointment
  • Book a dining hall tour to meet key people in helping to manage your allergy.
  • Create an emergency plan
  • Ask before you eat! Let our staff know that you live with a food allergy and review ingredient information before eating
  • Keep an open line of communication. Let us know how things are going. You are welcome to report any challenges to our dietitian

For suggestions on successfully transitioning to residence living, see the resources from Food Allergy Canada. 

Ask Before You Eat
Before each meal, speak with a manager, or supervisor to share your dietary needs and receive guidance on food options for your needs. Dalhousie Food Services does not have certified allergen-free facilities. Still, we make every effort to take necessary precautions to minimize the risk of exposure.

Our Role:
Our role is to direct you to the right person. Our managers and supervisors are our allergy champions in the dining hall. These folks have been provided with allergen management training to assist students to safety navigate the dining environments. These folks should answer all your questions accurately. This includes providing menu ingredients and product labels whenever necessary. If there are no appropriate options for your dietary needs, our supervisors should be able to provide an appropriate alternative meal. Our register dietitian can also assist in setting up additional arrangements to help meet your dietary needs.

Plan Ahead:
Planning safe food choices is important for those with allergies, celiac disease, or other food-related health conditions where cross contamination is of concern. These tips will help you dine with ease:

  • Look for wellness icons on menus identifying common dietary needs or preferences (ie. vegan, halal, etc.). This information will provide guidance on which menu foods to inquire about.
  • Before arriving at the dining hall preview today's menus to assess your options. Planned dining hall menus are posted online by location. If there is any discrepancy between the icons shown on the online menu and those on the printed menu signs in the dining hall, please confirm with a manager or supervisor. Please note that the printed in-hall menus reflect the most current and up-to-date information, while the online menus represent the originally planned offerings.
  • Chat with our staff ahead of your meal. You are welcome to chat with our management team ahead of your planned meal in the dining hall to discuss meal options and request modifications.
  • Taking the time early in the year to build a relationship with the team at your dining hall by being open about your unique needs and asking questions can really pay off. Building a rapport with our teams can make sure you have a smooth and satisfying year. This will be especially valuable once exam season hits and your mind is focused elsewhere!
  • Our registered dietitian can help connect you with the support team at your preferred dining hall. Book an Appointment

Emergency Response Planning
If you have an allergic reaction, you have a responsibility to:

  1. Immediately administer your epinephrine.
  2. Call Dal Security at (902) 494-4109. They will despatch a team member with Advanced First Aid Training. The Security team carries epi-pens that they will administer as needed. They will also coordinate with Emergency Services to help them locate and access the site of the emergency. If you call 911 first out of habit, call Dal Security second.
  3. After receiving medical attention, inform your Residence Life Manager of the incident. They can help provide additional support when back at residence.
  4. Email the Registered Dietitian (Dietitian@dal.ca) to notify them of the allergic reaction and set up a follow-up meeting to investigate the incident and discuss strategies to prevent future reactions in a campus dining environment that does not have allergen-free facilities.

Think ahead!
Create your own emergency plan for allergic reactions. Emergency Plan Template Food Allergy Canada

Resources:

  • Student Health
  • Dal Safe Application 
  • Special Dietary Fridges: Dietary fridges with no gluten and no dairy options are available in every dining hall. These fridges generally include:
    • -Non-Dairy Milks (Oat & Soy)
    • Lactose free Milk
    • No Gluten bread
    • No Gluten Wraps
    • No Gluten Waffles and Muffins
    • Allergen friendly snacks and desserts such as granola bars and cookies are also available on request at the checker stations in the dining halls. These fridges do not require special permission to access.
  • No Gluten Toaster: Each dining hall does have a toaster dedicated to no-gluten foods. However, use of this toaster is not monitored. Dalhousie Food Services cannot guarantee that this toaster would not be contaminated by gluten containing foods. If cross-contamination is a concern, please reach out to our dietitian. Access to toaster bags can be arranged by the dietitian to help prevent cross-contamination in the shared toaster.