From the linked page:
How should the college dining hall handle this situation?
For the six different allergens mentioned, there are 2^6 = 64 different combinations of allergy / non-allergy. Throw in soy and the number of combinations becomes 2^7 = 128. In order to cater to students who need to avoid the slightest possibility of cross contamination to their allergens, but want have food choices containing those they are not allergic to, the college dining hall would need 128 separate food prep areas. That does not seem to be too realistic.
Good point. One idea could be to place microwave ovens in the dining halls so that students could heat up frozen meals purchased (by students or the school) from third party food prep companies.
Aren’t microwave/fridge combos provided in every dorm room?
Yes, but kids walk with friends to the dining hall from class, the lab, the library, team practice, the gym, etc. Asking them to go to their dorm room to prepare meals separates them from community.
We have celiac’s disease in our family circle so I’m sensitive to the issue but honestly there is only so much a college can do. Most have a model like Williams in having allergen free stations.
Picking a school where students could live off campus with their own kitchens after first or second year was one of the criteria for our people.
Placing microwaves in the dining halls would help.
There are no microwaves in Whitmans, Mission Park, or Driscoll? If not, have any students asked Williams to purchase microwaves for these dining halls?
March 8, 2023
Is there a special reason we need to discuss a 3 year old Op Ed? Does the situation remain the same or is this simply clickbait?
On the days that a student wants to eat with their friends directly from class or an activity, they can choose from what’s available in the allergen free area. On other days, re-heat the frozen meal in the dorm for variety or pack your own food in an insulated bag.
Again, I get that it’s a pain, but it’s college. It’s not a private residence or a restaurant. Repetition of meals is a problem for all college students, not just those with Celiacs or food allergies.
This article is also now 3 years old. It would be interesting to hear if there have been any changes since then.
I also am just bristling at the title which feels so click bait-y to me. Based on that op ed, no one is being “neglected”.
Jinx
Might be more useful to start a more generic thread on the best schools for Celiac and food allergy accommodations?
It doesn’t make sense to just dismiss food allergies as something that can’t be dealt with individually because there are too many. Would the university tell vegetarians that they also have to eat no gluten, no eggs, no strawberries, no nuts if they want vegetarian? Vegetarian is just a preference but it is widely accommodated; even vegan main courses are offered daily.
University kitchens already label the presence of allergens on their offerings. But strawberries and nuts are not in practically every food so it is relatively easy for a student with one of those allergies to eat normally by checking the labels and skipping the strawberry muffins, or the peanut chicken. In contrast, it is not easy for a celiac to find an option that is gluten free because most sauces contain gluten which can eliminate all the meat and fish choices, and all the pasta dishes have gluten. My celiac kid at Harvard ended up having dinners of rice and veggies for 4 years.
Students do not choose this for themselves and they can’t get around it by keeping gluten free main courses in their rooms. Harvard provides carryout gluten free options in a fridge off Annenberg that is mostly gf muffins and bars for snacks. In European universities, dining halls offer hot gluten free main courses at some of their dinings halls every single day.
It’s not rocket science, it’s realizing that it’s an issue. There was a time when people said “You want us to build ramp access to buildings because some small percentage of students are in wheelchairs?!” It only matters to you if you’re the one in the wheelchair.
Great idea! Too late for my kid but would be a great resource.
Have any of the celiacs in your family indicated to you that eating alone in their room with their microwaved food for 4 years seemed like a good option? Is it an option you would consider if you were celiac?
Certainly not! But occasionally, for variety, it’s not the end of the world to go back to the dorm to eat something else, or heat it and bring it with you to eat with friend, or eat outside when the weather is good, etc…. And Williams isn’t that big that it’s unreasonable to get back to the dorm.
I started a new thread: Schools Known to Have the Best Food for Students with Celiacs and Food Allergies
This is an issue at night at Whitman’s. The Whitman’s microwave is in a room that is locked during “Late Night.” College staff in the nutrition office proposed that he call facilities as needed to unlock the door. By the time the facilities person arrives, however, his friends have already eaten.
Great idea!!
But the microwave is accessible during breakfast/lunch/dinner? Are there microwaves in the other eating halls too?
Regardless, I would have him ask if the microwave can be accessible during late night dining with no need to call security/facilities…has he asked? Schools like Williams tend to be hyper focused on solving these types of logistical issues. But students still have to advocate and be persistent.