A Shared Approach to Safety
We understand that managing food allergies and dietary needs is an important part of feeling safe and comfortable in residence.>
To help us provide appropriate accommodations, students must complete the Residence Accessibility Request Form detailing any dietary needs, allergies, or related concerns.
McGill Food and Dining Services is committed to supporting students with allergies, intolerances, and medical dietary requirements. At the same time, it is important to understand that our dining halls are not allergen-free environments. While we take steps to reduce the risk of cross-contact, we cannot guarantee that any food served is completely free of allergens. For this reason, managing food allergies in residence is a shared responsibility between students and dining staff.
What We Do to Reduce Risk:
In our residential dining halls, we take several measures to help minimize the risk of allergen exposure.
Food sourcing and preparation
- Peanuts and tree nuts are not used in any recipes prepared on site
- Alternatives including sunflower, pumpkin seed and soy-based wow butter are used instead
- Some externally sourced items (e.g., baked goods) may contain allergens or be produced in facilities that handle allergens. These products are clearly labelled.
Labelling
Menu items are labelled to identify:
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Made-without-gluten
- Dairy-free
Dedicated meal options
- A made-without-gluten hot meal is available daily
- A vegan hot meal is available daily
Food and Dining Services maintains EpiPens in all four main AYCTE dining hall locations as part of our emergency response protocols.
Important: Due to the risk of cross-contact, we generally do not recommend that students with celiac disease rely on the standard residence meal plan, except through our specialized celiac program.
How You Can Stay Safe
Students play a key role in managing their own food safety. Here are some important tips:
- Carry your EpiPen at all times (if prescribed)
- Wear medical identification (e.g., MedicAlert bracelet)
- askadietitian.shhs [at] mcgill.ca (Connect with our dietitian )before arriving on campus
- Speak with dining hall staff before eating to ask about ingredients and preparation – mention your question is related to an allergy
- Avoid foods if you are unsure about their safety
Living in Residence with Allergies
For students with multiple or severe allergies, we strongly encourage you to consider residence options with access to a kitchen. These include:
- Quiet Residences (first-year students)
- Greenbriar Apartments (returning students)
- Macdonald Campus budget-friendly residences (first-year or returning students)
These residences are not part of the mandatory All You Care to Eat Meal Plan and allow students to prepare their own meals in a controlled environment.
Support from the Residence Dietitian
We strongly encourage students with allergies or medical dietary needs to connect with our Registered Dietitian. You can meet with our dietitian at any time, before arriving to residences, or throughout the academic year.
The dietitian can help you:
- Identify safer food choices
- Understand dining hall layouts and options
- Know which stations may require extra caution
- Connect with chefs or managers for ongoing support, when appropriate
Contact: askadietitian.shhs [at] mcgill.ca