Allergies & Intolerances
Living and dining together help foster community and connection between our students, faculty, and staff. The College has a single dining hall, the Dining Center, that serves as a central hub for dining, gathering, and socializing together.
Communal dining provides many opportunities for fellowship, but might present questions for those with food allergies and intolerances. In order to support our students who experience food allergies and intolerances, we work closely with individuals to identify and meet their needs within our dining program.
Please be aware that the Dining Center is not a peanut-free facility!
Disability Accommodations
We recognize that both returning and new students experience an evolving range of food allergies and intolerances. Students, who may need disability accommodations for dining, can request accommodations through Student Disability Services by completing the Voluntary Disability Disclosure in mySwarthmore. Log in using your Swarthmore credentials, choose the Student Menu and select Disability Accommodations. Please be aware that, in certain cases, the College may require medical documentation and require students to meet with Student Disability Services staff for an intake meeting. Students may also be connected with our Student Health and Wellness Center for additional support.
Options For Those With Food Allergies and Intolerance
Most students, with consultation from our staff, find they can navigate the regular offerings safely, and don't require additional arrangements. Available options include, but are not limited to, the following resources:
- The Dining Center Free Zone has offerings free of all of the top nine food allergens plus sesame. Food allergens include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, gluten, and sesame. The goal of the Free Zone is to provide allergen free dining options for those with food allergies. This station has dedicated food storage and preparation equipment. Equipment includes coolers, ovens, fryers, grill, toasters and waffle maker. Purple serving utensils will also be dedicated to this station. Our goal is to serve safe and nutritious meals to the community.
- Allergen information is posted on the digital menu boards at each station in the Dining Center.
- Individual meal preparation. This can be arranged on an as-needed basis for students with severe allergies.
- Pack out meals. If you're traveling with a sports team or other group, you may arrange in advance to have a meal packed out that has been prepared appropriately for your specific food allergy or intolerance.
