Food Allergies and Special Diets

If you have celiac disease, Food Services staff can assist you when eating on campus. All staff has been trained, our dining centers have separate gluten free areas to avoid cross contactn, and we welcome your suggestions for specific foods that you like.

Before you arrive at school, you will need to send medical documentation from your medical provider to Ruth Sullivan, MSEd, RDN, CDN at resulliv@syr.edu

The documentation must include date of diagnosis and what tests were performed to diagnose celiac disease.

When you arrive on campus, check in with your dining center manager. Take this opportunity to discuss the types of gluten free foods you eat regularly. We will work with our vendors to provide products you prefer whenever possible. If they are unavailable, we will provide a close substitute.

Keep in touch with the staff in the dining center where you eat most often to let them know how you are maintaining your diet and if you would like to see some changes to our gluten free friendly menu.

Students with dietary preferences such as vegetarian and vegan are accommodated in all our dining centers.

• Vegetarian and/or vegan items are served at each meal.
• Menu items are clearly labeled as being meatless or vegan.
• Our online menu identifies items as being meatless or vegan and can be filtered to show only these items to the user.  Our menu also features ingredient listings for our offerings.
• Supplemental vegan options like dairy alternative products and protein options are available but vary by location.

Our vegan menu does not contain animal products, gelatin, honey, or white sugar (We use sucanat and vegan sugar to the best of our ability.  This will depend on our manufacturers ability to get vegan sugar.)

If you have a favorite vegetarian or vegan recipe that you would like use to serve, send you idea to mealtalk@syr.edu.

Syracuse University Food Services also provides kosher and halal meals to students under the current meal plan. If you are interested in kosher meals, we encourage you to contact the manager at Shaw Dining Center for more information, 315.443.2383.

Halal foods are available in all dining centers. Menu items are indicated in the key on our online menu. You may also scan the QR code on the labels in the dining centers to determine if a menu item is halal. Food Services has been working steadily to increase the variety of halal foods in all the dining centers. In addition, our current recipes are under review to determine how they may be produced as halal.

All our dining centers carry dairy-free alternative such as soy milk, almond milk, dairy-free cheeses, yogurts, and sour cream. These items are readily available in the dairy case. If you have any questions about dairy free choices, contact your dining center manager for assistance.

Due to the fluctuation in the food supply chain, students with specific dietary needs should review the menu each meal to be certain foods are safe. Please do not hesitate to ask a manager for assistance. Link

Syracuse University Food Services is committed to meeting the nutritional needs of our campus community. We pride ourselves on working one-on-one with students who have food allergies, celiac disease, and medically prescribed diets. Training for dietary accommodations is provided by Ruth Sullivan, our full-time registered dietitian, to managers and dining staff to help ensure a safe and satisfying dining experience.

If you have dietary need, we strongly encourage you to contact us before you come to campus. That will help us be better prepared to accommodate your nutritional needs when you arrive.

Please provide medical documentation. The documentation must include the date of diagnosis and what tests were performed to diagnose your needs.

Send medical documentation to Ruth Sullivan, MSEd, RDN,CDN at:
111 Waverly Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244, or email resulliv@syr.edu.

If you have food allergies, celiac disease, or other dietary needs, it is in your responsibility to:

• Call 315.443.9884 to speak with the registered dietitian at Food Services before your arrival on campus to discuss the specifics of your diet. Or email Ruth Sullivan at resulliv@syr.edu with questions.
• Send a letter documenting your food allergy, food intolerance, or dietary needs to Ruth Sullivan, 111 Waverly Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244.
• Obtain appropriate and up-to-date allergy medication if prescribed and to always carry it.
• Wear a MedicAlert® bracelet or other type of identification that alerts others of your allergy in case of an emergency.
• Know whom to call in case of an emergency:

• *711 from a campus phone
• *911 from an off-campus phone
• *#SU from a cellphone with local service

Food Services requires medical documentation for any dietary modification needed in any of our facilities. (A modification is what is needed beyond what we currently serve.)

Provide information listed below in advance of your arrival to campus. We ask for this information by July 10 to give us the time needed to put a plan in place.  Waiting to provide appropriate documentation may lead to delays in requested modifications.

Medical documentation should be a letter from your medical provider that includes:

• Current tests (within the last two years), complete and comprehensive related to your diagnoses. (A diagnosis of celiac disease does not need to be within the last two years.)
• All foods that need to be avoided, and the name of the test(s) performed.
• Documentation needs to be on office or practice letterhead, dated and signed by a professional who is licensed or certified in the area for which the diagnoses is made.
• Name, title, and license/certification credentials of the medical provider treating you for your special diet,
• The nature and the extent to what specific modifications are needed based on testing and/or clinical history.

Please send medical documentation to Ruth Sullivan, MSEd, RDN, CDN at resulliv@syr.edu.

Medical documentation will be reviewed for the requested modification(s).  Please be advised that you may need to provide additional information as needed.  Review of the medical documentation may be shared with Health Services and the Center for Disability Resources.

A change in accommodations/modifications will require updated medical documentation.

If you have any questions, please contact Ruth Sullivan at 315.443.9884 or resulliv@syr.edu.