Special Diets and Allergens

From clearly labeled ingredient information to individual guidance for specific dietary needs, support is on hand for students with food allergies and special diets.

Allergen disclosures

We make every effort to identify nutrition data and allergen information. In each of our dining venues, we label each dish to note if an item contains one of the top nine allergens, or if that food is vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free.

The Met and Portfolio Café are nut-free venues that offer vegan and vegetarian options daily. If you are ever unsure if a dish has a certain ingredient, our kitchen managers are prepared to answer questions about the food we serve.

However, there are elements beyond our control. Manufacturers may change their product formulation without our knowledge and product availability may fluctuate. We input ingredient and allergen statements from manufacturers' labels into our menu management system. Those statements include advisory statements such as “may contain…”, “processed in facility that also processes…”, and “made on equipment with…” that many manufacturers now list on their product labels. Given that we can not control manufacturing changes, we recommend students with severe allergies carry their epi-pen with them at all times.

Individual accommodations

We can work one-on-one with students to prepare customized meals. Meeting directly with students who have individual dining needs helps us ensure that your dining experience is safe and positive.

We invite you to work with us to develop a plan. Please let us know about your food allergy/special diet concern or if you require a special diet in accordance with religious practices (e.g. Kosher or Halal).

Develop a plan

To create a plan for your dining needs, email Maureen Young at myoung01@risd.edu or call 401 709-8508 to set a meeting with her and Executive Chef David Gould. At this meeting you’ll discuss the specifics of your diet to establish a plan that works for you.

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Maureen Young — Menu Management Specialist

With a bachelor of science in dietetics, Maureen Young has supported RISD students with individual dietary needs since 2016. In addition to her experience at RISD, Young has also worked in healthcare nutrition and has extensive knowledge of food allergies and special diets.

Accommodations in the dining venues

Medical accommodations

If you require a special diet for medical reasons, contact Disability Support Services (DSS) at disabilitysupportservices@risd.edu. DSS can give you guidance for submitting a request for medical accommodations. 

If you receive an approved medical accommodation for a special diet, you may be able to select your on-campus housing early, and may choose to live closer to The Met for more convenient access to allergen-free food.