Kent State University located in Kent, Ohio is the nation’s first campus to offer a certified and entirely gluten-free dining hall. The university made the decision to restructure an existing dining facility after administrators noticed that the number of students arriving on campus with gluten intolerance was rising each year. The dining facility, Prentice Café, is designed to meet the ever-increasing demand for gluten-free foods.
I’ve never been prouder to say, “I am a graduate of Kent State.” Kudos Kent State!
Source: kent.edu/kent/news/
Kent State Gluten-Free Prentice Café – Highlights
- All menu items at Prentice Café are gluten-free.
- Prentice Café earned certification from the Gluten-Free Food Services Certification Program, a food safety program offered through the Gluten Intolerance Group.
- The menu also features a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes.
- Prentice Café dining hours: Monday-Thursday 8am to 8pm and Friday 8am to 6 pm.
- Payment methods include campus meal plans, cash and credit cards.
Read the university’s full release here: KENT STATE INTRODUCES FIRST GLUTEN-FREE DINING HALL ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS
Will Gluten Free on Campus Get Any Easier?
Being a college student is hard enough. Imagine being a college student living on campus with Celiac Disease. Just how difficult would it be to find something or somewhere safe to eat? And without feeling ostracized for it?
Sure, an increasing roster of universities provide some gluten-free options. Some feature gluten-free sections in the dining hall. Some have dedicated coolers or refrigerators. There also may be separate toasters, microwaves, etc. And like often heard in restaurants: There’s always the salad bar. But really, how closely are things monitored in a university dining hall setting for gluten-containing cross-contamination?
We think – or at least hope – more universities will follow Kent State’s lead in providing a bit of a safe haven free of gluten.
University of Iowa Gets Healthy
The University of Iowa also has made headlines with its move toward healthier food offerings.
It’s been reported that University of Iowa officials are working to make gluten-free options more accessible to students. UI is starting to label foods in its Marketplaces per its NetNutrition program. Rather than being labeled gluten-free, food are instead labeled with a ‘contains gluten’ symbol. According to UI’s Housing & Dining website, NetNutrition is “an online tool that will be available for you to use to view menu allergens and nutrition information for items served in both of our Marketplaces.”
Additionally, new refrigerators are being added to the University of Iowa Marketplaces that contain individually packed gluten-free food items like bagels, brownies and spreads. <read more here>
GF Retail HQ Take
- Watch for more universities to carve out dedicated – and preferably certified – gluten-free dining spaces for college students to cater to those with Celiac Disease and others who follow a gluten-free or “free from” lifestyle.
- University dining – and other institutional dining, for that matter – represents a huge opportunity for manufacturers, distributors and other specialists to step in and help serve those on medically prescribed special diets (e.g., gluten free).
- Proper education, training and monitoring of staff and students will be critical to a certified gluten-free dining hall’s success. For example, what measures are in place to prevent students from “carrying in” gluten-filled items (like cookies, energy bars, etc.) from outside. Just some food for thought.