SAGE Dining has debuted a new concept named Free Style that is free of the 12 most common food allergens.
Meals served at the concept don't contain peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, gluten, eggs, fish, wheat, sesame, soy, mustard and sulfites. Diners can expect to enjoy dishes such as tacos, chicken noodle soup and more.
According to a survey by SAGE, which operates within the K12 and higher-ed segments, 9.2% of the students it serves have a common food allergy. Company leaders say the new dining option will allow those with allergies to seamlessly grab meals without having to worry about what is in them.
“Managing food allergies day after day can be hard. Think about it: Every time you eat a meal, you need to check information or ask questions to make sure it doesn't contain the ingredients you're allergic to,” Vice President of Food and Nutrition Lesley Vogel said in a statement. “The coolest thing about Free Style is that it eliminates that burden for those who have the most common food allergies. It's a quick, go-to option that they know will be safe without having to check.”
Over the past couple of years, many school districts and colleges have tried to make allergen-free meals more accessible to students. Stanford University, for example, introduced allergen-free stations in each of its dining halls.