Dietary Needs

At Queen’s University, we take allergies and dietary needs very seriously. We support students who require dietary accommodations by providing support and knowledge that is essential to make informed choices while dining on campus and participating in the university experience. 

Our staff undergo mandatory allergy training through AllerTrain to receive certification for Managing Food Allergens & Gluten in a Commercial Setting. 

If you are a student that requires dietary accommodations, we encourage you to set up an appointment with our Hospitality Services’ Registered Dietitian, Jessica Bertrand and/or Executive Chef, Colin Johnson.

We encourage all students to “Ask Before You Eat”.

Do you have food allergies? We can help you.

We know it can be hard to manage food allergies in a new place – we’re here to help you. If you have yet to contact Hospitality Services about your allergies, or if you have but you continue to have concerns, please ensure to contact our office at 613-533-2953 or by emailing dining@queensu.ca.

Our services include:

• Confidential consultation with our Registered Dietitian and/or Campus Executive Chef
• Access to dining hall chefs and managers to help you make safe choices
• On-going support and guidance throughout the school year

When eating in the dining halls, please ask to speak to a manager or chef for assistance.

Are you applying to residence? Below are steps we encourage you to take:

• Complete Hospitality Services allergy/dietary intake form online here.
• Visit the following web pages for information about dining safely with food allergies on campus at the links below: 
  • Dining with Allergies at Queen’s
  • true balance – Where chefs prepare foods that do not contain common allergens.
  • Queen’s Severe Allergy Policy (2021)
• Attend Summer Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR) to virtually meet Hospitality Services’ Team Members in July. SOAR is for incoming first-year students and their parents and supports, run by the Student Experience Office.
• Visit the Queen’s Next Steps website to find more information and resources for incoming students here.
• Hospitality Services will contact you in August to book an appointment with a member of our culinary team. In this appointment, you can meet a chef in the dining hall closest to your residence building who will provide information and support that is essential to make informed choices on campus.
• If you would like to discuss dining with allergies over the summer, you can book a virtual appointment with our Registered Dietitian or contact the main office at 613-533-2953 or email dining@queensu.ca *In-person meetings are currently suspended due to COVID-19
• If you require room accommodation as part of your allergy management, please visit the residence accommodation page to access the required form and instructions.

Other Resources:

• Safety Checklist: Before starting at Queen’s, review this Safety Checklist from Food Allergy Canada. 
• Emergency Treatment: There are 5 Emergency Steps to take if someone is suspected of having an anaphylactic reaction. The first one is: Call 911 and the Queen’s Emergency Response Centre at 613 533 6111. As of Fall 2016, Campus Security and Emergency Services and Queen’s First Aid carry Epinephrine auto injectors. 
• If you would like to talk to an on-campus physician or nurse, contact Student Health Services
• If you would like to talk to an on-campus pharmacist, there is a DrugSmart pharmacy located in the Queen’s Centre
• If you require academic accommodations, please contact Queen’s Student Accessibility Services 
• Would you recognize an anaphylactic allergic reaction? Read more about the Signs and Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

With a diverse skill set in hospitality, research and clinical, Jessica is excited to share her passion of food and nutrition with students and staff at Queen’s University.

Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Applied Nutrition and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition, which included a semester in Melbourne, Australia. Jessica also completed a diploma in Food and Nutrition Management.

Jessica is dedicated to making the food on campus more delicious, nutritious, sustainable and easier to navigate for those with allergy and dietary needs.  She looks forward to meeting students and helping them build lifelong healthy habits.

As a hospitality employee, Jessica’s confidential nutrition appointments are limited to students eating on campus. However, she is happy to discuss the many food service options available on campus with you.

To contact another Registered Dietitian in the area who will be able to help with your personal nutrition counselling, please search for one here or reach one by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

Jessica also writes a monthly blog. Click below and subscribe to stay in the loop!
Jessica’s Blog

Colin has been with Queen’s since 1993, and is the Allergy and Dietary Needs contact for students and parents. A Red Seal certified chef, Colin worked in several restaurant kitchens before joining the university as a Sous Chef. He has held a number of positions within Hospitality Services, and has been the Campus Executive Chef since 2006.

Along with training from George Brown and the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Colin was named Sodexo Chef of the Year in 2004 and 2010, and was the team leader on the Silver Medal and People’s Choice winner team for the 2008 Canadian College and University Food Services Association’s Chef Competition. He was also a member of the Silver Medal team on the 2002 North America Culinary Competition, and the Executive Sous Chef at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Colin is passionate about local food, and also loves catching the latest Alton Brown episode on the Food Network. His favourite food is braised lamb shanks – and if you ask him, he’d be glad to give you the perfect recipe.

For students with an allergy / dietary need, book an appointment with our team here:

Book a Dietitian / Allergy Appointment

Fill out the Allergy / Dietary Intake Form