Food Allergies & Resources

Jamix is an online menu management system informing you of your dining choices at Vail Commons. Our e-menu is designed to help you:

• Review nutritional content of meals.
• Identify allergens and food intolerances.
• Choose well-balanced options aligned with your dietary needs.
• Filter selections from Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal, and Made Without Gluten.
• Students are encouraged to explore the Vail Commons e-menu, Jamix, for the location's daily menus.
• Explore our Dining Locations for menu ingredients information at other locations.

Background

Dining Services recognizes the social opportunities mealtimes provide, like enjoying good food, conversation, and relaxation from busy days. Dining Services offers different facilities to offer a variety of foods, including homestyle meals, snacks, and on-the-go meals. However, we understand some options may contain food allergens students cannot tolerate. Our mission strives to provide safe alternatives to meet our students’ food allergy needs.

Purpose

This policy seeks to inform Dining Services staff and customers of Davidson College’s intention to accommodate students with allergies by providing healthy, safe alternatives.

Policy

The Registered Dietician or Dining Services representative will meet with students to discuss food allergies individually. After menu, recipe, and ingredient reviews, the Registered Dietician or Dining Services representative will assist the student with alternate food options.

Administration of Policy

The Director of Dining Services oversees this policy and reviews it at least once every two years. Dining Services staff will be trained annually in this policy. Policy changes will be made in accordance with Davidson College policies. The following procedures will be followed as Dining Services implements this policy.

1. Students are encouraged to contact the Registered Dietician for an appointment.
2. The student and Registered Dietician will review the menus to familiarize themselves with Dining Services resources, and Jamix, our e-menu.
3. If desired, the Registered Dietician will arrange a meeting with the Executive Chef of Dining Services and the location’s manager to answer any questions regarding recipe or food ingredients.
4. The student will communicate with the Executive Chef and Registered Dietician about specific ingredient questions.
5. The Executive Chef or the location’s supervisor on duty will assist the student with alternative menu selections as needed.
6. For prepared food items, the Executive Chef and student determine a suitable pickup time at the location.
7. As necessary, the Dining Services staff prepares food with precautions:

• They will wash their hands and wear non-latex gloves.
• They will use clean and sanitized pans, knives, utensils, and work surfaces.
• They will change their gloves and serving utensils when asked.
• Clean equipment and sanitized workspaces
• They will use the proper dedicated purple allergen kits and labeled storage
• Specially prepared diet meals are labeled with our crafted with caution sticker.

When a student suspects of having an allergic reaction, a staff member will dial 9-1-1. The staff member will provide the location’s address and share that a customer is having an allergic reaction. A staff member will stay with the individual until medical help arrives, while another will be sent to direct medical personnel to the student in need.

If the student carries an Epi-Pen, they may use it in the event of an allergic reaction. A staff member will immediately call 9-1-1.

For additional information regarding food allergy navigation on campus, please explore our Dining Services Food Allergies.

To ensure our customers’ safety, we ask all students and guests with allergies or special dietary needs to follow these precautions:

• Indicate your allergy or dietary restriction when filling out your incoming health forms.
• Current students may schedule a private consultation with our Registered Dietitians to discuss their dietary needs.
• Carry and maintain an Allergy Emergency Action Plan and any medications (e.g., EpiPen.)
• Clearly communicate your allergies when ordering food—in person or online.
• Look for Dining Services staff members in red shirts, or supervisors, to help or clarify.
• Use our e-menu, Jamix, for real-time allergen and ingredient information.

Our Friendly Fork section of Vail Commons is an area free of the nine main allergies, including peanut and tree nut! This section includes our Herbs and Spices, Corner Grill, and Power Plant stations. 

If a student has a food allergy or is concerned about cross-contamination, they are advised to avoid all fried foods at our locations. Explore the nine major food allergens and how we accommodate those living with these allergies:

• Peanut & Tree Nuts

  Davidson College is not a nut-free campus, though all Dining Services locations do not use nuts as an ingredient in any cooking production, except Chick-Fil-A. It is possible that ingredients used may have trace amounts of nuts due to being processed in facilities that contain nuts. Prepackaged items containing nuts such as sealed peanut butter cups, prepackaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, snack bars, candy, nut mixes, almond milk, and coconut milk are found at our locations. Students can determine whether a food is safe to enjoy by reading food labels and dietary information. We offer SunButter, a sunflower seed butter, as a delicious alternative!

• Milk & Dairy

  Students are encouraged to refer to ingredient lists to identify dairy in recipes. We offer many dairy alternatives and lactose-free milks at Dining Services locations. 

• Wheat & Gluten

  While Vail Commons is not a gluten-free facility, it is our largest on-campus dining option that best accommodates wheat and gluten allergies or intolerances. Vail Commons dedicates a preparation area for made without gluten menu options. Made without gluten is a phrase used to describe foods made without gluten product, but prepared in a facility that is not gluten-free. Gluten-free bread and cereals are also available in separate sections of the location. Davis Café, Qdoba and Wildcat Den also offer mouth-watering made without gluten menu items!

• Shellfish

  Shellfish is found occasionally on a menu item at Vail Commons. Sushi is freshly made and offered at Davis Café. Students are encouraged to read location ingredients lists, as shellfish will always be identified.

• Fish

  In Vail Commons, fish is commonly found as a main ingredient or menu item. Fish is also occasionally fried. Be mindful that fried foods on campus are susceptible to cross-contamination. Students with fish allergies are advised to avoid fried foods. Sushi is freshly made and offered at Davis Café. 

• Eggs

  Eggs are used in some cooking production at all Dining Services locations. Students are encouraged to check the menu and ingredient lists. At least one vegan dessert is always offered at Vail Commons.

• Soy

  Soy products, such as tofu, tempeh and edamame are found on menus. We use canola oil to fry food and olive or canola oil in recipe production. Students with soy allergies are encouraged to check recipe ingredient lists and food labels of packaged foods.

• Sesame

  Sesame is found in many foods on campus.  Students with a sesame allergy are encouraged to check the menu and ingredient lists before enjoying the food.

Davidson College Dining Services is committed to ensuring the safety of all guests, especially those with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Our Safe Meal Preparation procedures are designed to prevent cross-contact and support informed food choices.

Key Practices

• The Dining Administration Team is responsible for communicating, implementing, and reviewing the food allergy policy and procedures at least once per year.
• All managers, supervisors, and chefs are SERV Safe Manager and Aller Train U certified.
• All employees complete the Food Handler and Allergen Safety Training  annually.
• New recipes and ingredient substitutions are approved by the Dietary Technician before being served.
• Ingredient binders and our e-menu, Jamix, are updated prior to every service.