Allergen-friendly station replaces To-Go

Simple Zone station sign, Anna Buescher

Simple Zone, an allergen-friendly dining room, has replaced the Simply To-Go station in Harrington Place Dining this semester and will open soon.  

Only students with approved allergies will be allowed to use Simple Zone, as the pantry-style room contains only food without the top nine most common allergens.  

“It will be limited to folks who actually have registered and demonstrated food allergies, and so there will be items in there that only those who are allowed to go in will be able to get,” said Keith Chapman, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services. 

Approved students will scan in with their student IDs to ensure that the special selection goes to the right students. 

While some might have the option to try food from other stations, they risk cross-contamination. This is a risk most students are not willing to take, including Belmont Freshman Grace Libby.  

"All the allergy-friendly foods are in one section, so anywhere else is cross-contaminated with gluten. So, we really only have one option,” Libby said. 

Simple Zone will have pre-packaged foods, preventing any threat of cross-contamination while adding variety.  

“They don't have to worry about it, because you have to have approval from me, and only certain people can badge in there,” said Belmont Dietitian Julia Green. 

The room’s opening was delayed as Belmont and Sodexo prioritized completing the Bear Necessities stores and Betty’s Market. 

Although it’s no longer located in the cafeteria, Simply To-Go has not gone away. Instead, it is repurposed in Betty’s Market and Bear Necessities. Students can use a meal swipe at the hot food station or on prepackaged meals.  

Simple Zone’s addition to Harrington Place Dining is intended to grow students with allergies’ confidence in the food offered. 

“It's a place to help them feel like they matter, because they do,” Green said. 

This article was written by Anna Buescher