Allergy Information


Calvin Dining Services strives to provide nutritionally- balanced menu options in our dining locations across campus. Any allergen or special dietary accommodations need to be brought to the attention of The Student Academic Services Office at Calvin College (phone: 526-6113) or the Food Service Office (phone: 526-6384).  Creative Dining Services Registered Dietitian may also be contacted through the Broene Counseling Center, (phone: 526-6123). This ensures that proper arrangements may be made with Calvin Dining Services in order to provide information that is helpful in selecting the foods that meets each individual's dietary needs.


Allergies


There are 9 food items that account for almost 90 percent of food allergic reactions: milk, eggs, nuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Below is information on some of the most common food allergies. Please visit the link below for more information and facts. 
Links: http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens
Eating safely in the Dining Halls – Commons and Knollcrest
We work hard to identify all dishes that are prepared with these select items and in addition we advise diners with allergies to do following:

  • Pay attention to entrée name. Dishes made with common allergens often have that allergen mentioned in the entrée name.
  • Read labels…and know what ingredients you are allergic or sensitive too.
  • Establish a relationship with the chef. Simple conversations with the chef in your daily visit to the dining halls can make your dining experience a lot easier. The chef can go over ingredients used in recipes and how the meal was prepared.
  • If there is ever a question… about an entrée avoid consuming it.

Nut Allergy Information for each dining hall location below:


Commons:


Nut Free Areas:

  • The East dining room (located closest to Schultze-Eldersveld) contains 2 nut free tables.
  • East dining room/Line One salad bar is nut free. Located just beyond salad bar is a designated toaster station that is nut-free. 
  • Uppercrust is a designated nut free area.

Nut Caution Areas:

  • West Dining Room (located closest to Commons lawn) will have nut products on the salad bar, in the dessert area, and also by the toasters.
  • All areas that contain or may contain nut products will have signs clearly displayed.
  • The Breakfast Bar is an area that contains nut products and will be labeled to indicate this.

Knollcrest:


Nut Free Areas:

  • The Northeast dining room (located closest to Beets-Veenstra) contains 2 nut free tables
  • Northeast salad bar (Beets-Veenstra side) will be designated as nut free and will be clearly labeled.

Nut Caution Areas:

  • Northwest salad bar (Noordewier-Vanderwerp side) and deli will be an area that will contain nut products and will be labeled to indicate this.
  • The dessert bar on Northeast side (Beets-Veenstra side) will be labeled if desserts contain or may contain nuts.
  • The Breakfast Bar is an area that contains nut products and will be labeled to indicate this.
  • All areas that contain or may contain nut products will have clearly displayed signs.

Knollcrest and Commons Dining Halls:

  • Food on the hot lines will be nut-free unless otherwise indicated by clearly displayed signs and servers on the lines will be informed ahead of time if a food product will contain any nut products and will make this information clear. Nut free areas will be washed separately from areas that may contain nut products.
  • If there is ever any question or concern about any of the food products being served, students are highly encouraged to talk to a supervisor at the dining location.

*All retail locations on campus are considered areas that contain nuts.   Students should use caution.


Note… no latex gloves are used at any food service locations at Calvin College.


What to do if you have an allergic reaction in the dining halls
If it is a severe reaction:

  • Have the dining service manager  or a staff member Call x3-3333 or 526-3333  to page campus safety immediately
  • Have the manager or staff member explain the problems ("I have a student with _______ allergy and they are having an allergic reaction")
  • Tell them where you are located, i.e. building / specific location
  • Administer an Epi-Pen or take medication as prescribed.

If it is not a severe reaction:

  • Take medication as prescribed
  • If you feel that medical attention would be beneficial, call for non-emergency help at 3-3333 or 526-3333

In either case:

  • Please follow-up with the dining services manager where you ate the food item that produced the reaction by telling them what happened. This is important so that the specific reason for the inadvertent exposure can be identified and corrective action can be taken as needed to prevent future exposures.

Disclaimer
Although we strive to make the information as accurate as possible, deviation(s) from recipe(s), product substitution(s), or changes to portion size can happen during our meal preparation process.  Our utmost mission is to serve you in the best ways possible in a healthy and safe dining environment.