Winslow Dining Hall continues its efforts to provide safe dining options for students with allergies, but what do its safety measures entail?
Murray State has maintained its commitment towards accessible dining for students, according to the Racer Dining website which states everyone from general managers to frontline servers work diligently to serve students’ needs, especially those with food allergies or celiac disease.
Winslow includes allergen info on the menus spread around the dining hall, as well as the online menu on their website. The website also allows students to exclude items containing common allergens from the menu list and narrow down possible meals for the following week. Allergens listed include peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products, eggs, gluten, fish, mustard, sesame and sulphites.
Scott Rossen, the general manager for Winslow, said that Winslow’s chefs have several pieces in place to ensure cross contamination does not happen, including colored cutting boards for separate ingredients. He also said Winslow’s managers continue to meet everyday to discuss allergen safety.
“All our managers have allergen training and certificates along with some of the cooks that handle that area,” Rossen said. “We also have daily huddles that we continue to coach on allergens and the importance of handling these correctly.”
Winslow also has a dining option specifically for students with allergies called Simple Servings. According to the racer dining website, Simple Servings serves food free from common allergens including nuts, milk products, eggs and gluten. Simple Serving has a dedicated spot in Winslow and its own separate place in the kitchen to avoid cross contamination with allergens.
“All the simple serving staff members are carefully trained to avoid cross contact with food allergens. And it’s got its own separate menu. It’s got its own separate menu cycle. It’s got its own separate spot in the kitchen,” said Joe Chism, Winslow’s point of contact for dietary needs and food allergies.
Chism is a district dietitian for Sodexo and works with Murray State students who need special accommodation for dietary and allergen concerns. Chism helps students with allergies not included in Winslow’s allergy list. Chism said he helps students with allergies navigate the dinning hall and website for allergen information, as well as get special meals to fit their dietary needs.
“If a student has some sort of allergy or needs some sort of accommodation, we can make a custom meal in the back within reason,” Chism said. “All our chefs are trained to be able to do so, and they can make something that does not contain the food ingredients that would be problematic for the students.”
Chism said any student in need of special accommodations for food allergies should reach out to Murray State’s Student Disability Services office to have their allergy registered. Students will then be directed to Chism or someone else in dining services to discuss their dietary needs and what accommodations can be made for them.
Though Murray State tries to provide safe dining options and accommodations for those with allergies, risk of cross-contamination and allergic reactions are still possible.
“Separate equipment, storage areas, utensils and preparation areas minimize, but do not totally eliminate the chances of gluten and allergens in our Simple Servings foods,” the Racer Dining website said.
Chism said Sodexo staff are trained in the event of allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. If a student suffers an allergic reaction in Winslow, which requires immediate medical support, and cannot be administered an EpiPen, Chism says staff will contact campus police and 911. If a student suffers an allergic reaction that is not life-threatening, Chism said to still alert a Winslow employee, preferably a manager, so they can deal with the issue.
Though the risk of an allergic reaction is still possible in Winslow, Rossen said the preventative methods they have in place have been effective.
“These methods have been successful, and I have not received any complaints since I have been here,” Rossen said.
