Food
Allergies and Special Diets
Residential Dining Services maintains the highest standards and practices
in the selection and preparation of foods for our residence halls. We
make every effort to inform diners of entrée ingredients that are
associated with common food allergies, and we keep such ingredients properly
separated from other food items in our kitchens. However, those with food
allergies should be mindful using toasters, warmers and grills available
in our serving areas to all diners.
While we work very closely with vendors who meet our quality standards
and practices, RDS cannot guarantee that food items we have purchased
have not had direct or indirect contact with other items that are allergenic
to some people.
Please
contact our Registered Dietitians by email at eatsmart.umich.edu
if you have a food allergy or require a special diet. They can provide
you with additional materials and updates to help you make healthy food
choices with confidence. In the Residential Dining Halls, items are labeled
and ingredient information is provided upon request. The following lists
are provided for your easy reference.
Common
Food Allergies
There are eight common food allergies which account for 90% of food allergies.
These include wheat, milk, eggs, shellfish, peanuts, fish, tree nuts,
and soy. In addition, there is Celiac Disease, which some may describe
as a "gluten allergy", but is really a digestive disease in
which the intestinal lining is damaged when one ingests gluten. See the
web sites below for more detailed information.
Allergy Symptoms
Symptoms of food allergies may include physical and/or emotional
reactions. If you are allergic to something in your diet, you may experience
migraine headaches, constipation or diarrhea, or suffer from chronic colds
and extreme fatigue. In addition, you may experience mood swings, be unable
to concentrate, or feel anxious and depressed.
Food allergies can develop at any time. They should be distinguished from
food intolerances, which are common but produce less intense reactions.
Food allergies manifest in many different ways depending on which food
is involved an how your immune system responds. Symptoms of allergies
vary from individual to individual. Often, the culprit is food consumed
daily by many people, like wheat or dairy products. If you are concerned
about possible food allergies, consult your doctor or holistic health
practitioner.
Preventive Measures
Listing a food allergy on your medical emergency card is helpful should
you ever experience an allergic reaction. This information is then shared
with appropriate staff as needed. Telling your roommate is a good idea
to help prevent inadvertent exposure to the offending food items. Also
tell your roommate if you have emergency medicine and consider instructing
them in its use.
If You Have an Allergic Reaction
Please follow-up with the dining room staff where you ate the food
item that produced the reaction by telling them what happened. This is
important so that the specific reason for the inadvertent exposure can
be identified and corrective action can be taken as needed to prevent
future exposure.
You may also contact the Registered Dietitian at 734-647-2614 and she
will follow-up with the dining room staff.
You can also receive
non-emergency care at the University Health Service Allergy Clinic, 734-764-8304,
on campus.
For Additional Food Allergen Information
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis
Network
Celiac and Gluten Free Lifestyles Information, including "safe lists"
The Food Allergy Initiative, with helpful information on individual food
allergens
Peanut Allergy Information
Food Allergy Website with Tips on Living Allergy Free
Food
Allergy Intolerances Information at iVillage
