Food Allergies & Special Diets

Special Dietary Needs

We recognize that there are many students who have special dietary needs and preferences. Our goal is to provide safe and healthy food for you, so you are able to focus more on your academic and social life. We want to provide you with nutritional resources, education, and awareness across UMass campus and beyond. 

Steps to take if you have a special diet: 

• List your special diet if and when you sign up for New Student Orientation 
• If you have food allergies, sign up at disability services
• Allergies and Health Condition Guide: Learn how to navigate the web site to use the allergen and ingredient filter and how to get nutrition information
• If you have any questions or think you need further accommodations, contact the registered dietitians via email at [email protected]
• In addition, University Health Services offers dietary consults with their registered dietitian regarding diagnosed health conditions. Please call 413-545-5101 if you would like to schedule your appointment 

Other Resources 

• FOOD ALLERGY GENERAL INFORMATION
  • Food Allergy Policy
  • Food Restriction Support Checklist
  • Food Allergy Brochure
• FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES
  • Wheat/Gluten
  • Milk
  • Egg
  • Fish/Shellfish
  • Soy
  • Peanut/Tree Nut
  • Corn
  • Sesame
• PREFERENCES
  • Vegan/Vegetarian

• ORAL SURGERY
  • Oral Supplementation (Puree) Diet

• RELIGIOUS DIETARY NEEDS
  • Halal
  • Kosher

• Avoiding cross-contact

Cross-contact occurs when one food item comes into contact with another and their proteins are unintentionally mixed, allowing for potential of an allergic reaction. Since our dining commons and some retail locations are all-you-care-to-eat dining, this can serve as a potential hazard for cross contact. Please take the following precautions if you are worried about cross-contact:

• Ask a dining employee to serve you items from the back of the house that have not yet come in contact with the serving line

• Review allergen and ingredient information online, on the app, or on the menu identifier