Susie Hultquist, Author at Spokin

Allergen Component Testing 101

The most powerful and potentially life-changing diagnostic tool in the food allergy community is also the least known: the allergen component test. We partnered with Allergy Insider, an education platform from Thermo Fisher Scientific who conducts the majority of allergy blood testing in the US and is considered the gold standard, to provide the details you need to know so you can understand if component testing is right for you. Spoiler alert: if you manage allergies to peanut, most tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, or sesame we think the answer is a resounding YES!

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Auburn University

In three of Auburn University's dining halls there are allergy stations called True Balance which serve meals free from the top 8 food allergens—my go-to place to eat for dinner! There is also a Panera, Au Bon Pain, Starbucks, NYC gyro food truck, and Amsterdam taco truck on campus! I find I can eat at all these places with no worries about allergens! Location: Auburn, Alabama

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Brandeis University

The dining hall at Brandeis University, worked hard with me to try to accommodate my allergies. They have a top eight free section in each dining hall that has hot meal options, gluten free breads, a dedicated microwave, toaster, allergy safe brownies, cookies, etc. With my long list of allergies they were not able to accommodate everything. I was able to easily get housing accommodations to have my own kitchen in a suite with three friends who all agreed to avoid my allergens. Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University has a Pure Eats section in each dining hall that is free from the top 8 allergens, and they serve it themselves to avoid cross contamination. There are gluten free sections as well, including a dedicated waffle machine! They have an app that lists every item on the menu and it’s ingredients! I will say that sometimes the ingredients have been vague (ex. “sugar cookie dough”) but for the most part I have a wide variety of safe eating options! Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: College of William and Mary

As a sophomore at William and Mary, I have been pleased with the College’s allergy policy and protocol. Menus are clearly labeled and 2/3 of the dining halls on campus have allergy-friendly “Simple Servings” stations and are completely nut-free facilities. The school nutritionist is a fabulous resource and a wealth of information. There is always room to grow, but I feel safe eating on campus with a food allergy. Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

Campus Guide: Colorado College

I would 100% recommend Colorado College to someone with food allergies. Get in touch with disability services, food services or a nutritionist at the school to work out a plan so you can use the dining halls with ease. Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Campus Guide: DePauw University

Make yourself aware of your options and what's available on Depauw's campus. Asking those who work in the cafeteria can be extremely helpful if you're unsure if they cater to your allergy - I didn't find out we had dairy-free milk until nearly the end of first semester! Location: Greencastle, Indiana

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Elon University

Elon University had been my dream school for a few years, but when I was finally accepted into one of their BFA Programs, we realized that getting to attend this might actually become a real possibility. All that was left was to work out accommodations for my food allergies. It turns out that there were hardly any preparations necessary because this school has SO many established food allergy resources. First of all, the school has a dining hall section that is COMPLETELY allergy friendly. Yes, that’s right. It is free of the top 8 allergens with no cross contamination. They also have my favorite allergy friendly brands as “grab and go” snack items in the different dining halls. They also have extensive amounts of allergy friendly food items in each of the stores on campus. All of these things have made my first year and a half at Elon go as smoothly as possible and have kept my family, who lives 12 hours away, at ease. I am forever grateful for all of their efforts, and hope that others will be encouraged by this information because attending a university far from home with multiple life threatening food allergies IS possible! Location: Elon, North Carolina

Allergy-Friendly College Campus Guide: Emory University

My food allergy experience at Emory University was literally a dream come true! That being said, it did require a lot of work and advanced planning! I only ate at the main dining all (where all the employees knew me!) and never at any of the other dining halls. This main dining hall was completely free of peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. They also have a GF station and a vegan station. Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Harvard University

My experience with dining at Harvard with a nut allergy has been somewhat positive. Dishes with allergens are only sometimes labelled, and so it requires a lot of asking the dining staff. I also have been given the option to order my meals separately and email ahead (accommodations through AEO). However, students at Harvard do not have the option to cook for themselves or get off of the required meal plan. Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Campus Guide: James Madison University

"James Madison University has a very helpful Office of Disability Services, professors all willing to work with you, and people tend to be nice about allergies." See Rose's top allergy-friendly picks around the James Madison University campus! Follow her on the Spokin app @toboldlygo Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Allergy-Friendly Campus Guide: Loyola Marymount University

To be honest, my experience at Loyola Marymount University's dining hall were not the best. Thankfully things have improved since I left, but I would still make an effort to meet with the head chef upon move in at the 2 main dining halls. The student run coffee shop is amazing though. Nursing staff on campus are wonderful. If you get allergy shots, try to get on the waitlist the second you enroll! Location: Los Angeles, California

Susie Hultquist