Food Allergies and Dietary Accommodations

Syracuse University Food Services is happy to accommodate students that may need dietary modifications (food allergies, intolerances, conditions necessitating specialized diets, or religious preferences).

  • All campus food is made in a peanut- and tree-nut free facility (except coconut).
  • Peanut butter portion cups and almond milk are available in the dining centers.
  • If you have a question about food allergies or would like to meet with someone one-on-one to discuss your concerns, you can contact our assistant director Nick Punch or James Blackmon, who is overseeing residential dining. They will help you set up an individualized meal plan and can walk you through a dining center to get a sense of what you can be comfortable with eating.

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 Food Services at rmealtalk@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. 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.

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 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 Syracuse University Food Services at:
201 Ainsley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13244, or email mealtalk@syr.edu.

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

  • Send a letter documenting your food allergy, food intolerance, or dietary needs to Syracuse University Food Services, 201 Ainsley Drive, 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 mealtalk@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.

 

 

How to Use the Dining Center Menu

Our daily menu is available on the Food Services web site. You can find it here: Daily Menu and Nutrition 

There is a link on the home page that will take you to the menu. If you have a food allergy, this menu will help you plan your meal before you go to the dining center. The menu clearly indicates which foods are vegan, vegetarian and which contain the “Big 9” food allergens.

Many menu items in the dining centers also have labels with QR codes. Scan the code to see nutrition information and allergens in the food.

Finding the Food You Need in our Dining Centers

Read the Menu
Always read the menu before going to the dining centers. This will help you feel more confident knowing what is available. If you don’t see an item in the dining center that is listed on the menu, ask for it. While in the dining center, if you see an item that is not on the on-line menu, ask the staff what is in the item.

Every dining center has vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free friendly foods. These foods are produced on separate equipment and are handled completely separate of the other foods in the dining centers to minimize cross-contact. Shaw Dining also serves kosher and halal meals.

A Place for Nuts
The only peanut item we offer is a peanut butter PC (portion control cup). Please check with the management staff to locate where the PCs are kept in your dining center. The only tree nuts we serve are almond milk for cereal and coconut does appear in some of our recipes.

Special Orders
If you would like to request a particular food item, talk to your dining center manager or email them. Special orders come at no additional cost to you and is part of your meal plan. We will do our best to accommodate your requests. A 24-hour notice is required for all special orders.

Dining Center Contacts

Communication is Key
If you are unsure about a particular product or its ingredients, please ask a staff member. If they are unable to answer your question, they will find someone who can help you. Or email us at: mealtalk@syr.edu

Venturing Out
You don’t have to limit yourself to eating only in the dining centers. All Food Services facilities can accommodate students with food allergies. The staff in these units have had food allergy training so they will be able to help you choose foods if you have questions.

Other Resources
If you have an allergy to a food item that is not one of the “Big 9”, please contact us at mealtalk@syr.edu.