NC State’s Food Allergy Club, Safe Eats, Hosts Valentine’s-Themed Sweet Hummus Social

By Olivia Chadwick

With so many stressors and commitments of college life, such as piling homework, all-nighter study sessions, group projects, exercising regularly, and having a social life, it can be very difficult for students with dietary restrictions to comfortably navigate a college campus safely. Safe Eats, the food allergy club at NC State, is working to change that.

The club began over 5 years ago with the promise of providing support, safe food, and allergy-friendly information and presentations to students with food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities. Today, Safe Eats works with the student body of NC State to promote allergen friendly food, host frequent events, and connect Dining staff, chefs, and dietitians with these students. Members are also able to network with each other to share helpful tips and tricks on how they navigate the dining facilities.

On Monday, February 11, Case Dining Hall staff and the NC State Dining nutrition team collaborated with the Safe Eats club to host a sweet hummus social, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Chefs made snickerdoodle hummus, brownie batter hummus, and berry hummus, along with assorted fruit and allergen-free cookies from Enjoy Life. Nearly a dozen participants were overjoyed with the assortment and flavors of the hummus dips, all amazed with the Top 8 allergen free and plant-based offerings. Students also received Enjoy Life chocolate valentines, recipe cards for the sweet hummus dips, and to-go flights of each flavor.

Overall, Safe Eats members were thrilled to see the chefs and Dining team working to deliver safe items at this exclusive event. Each semester, Dining works to deliver a food-focused event catered to students with dietary restrictions or lifestyle choices, including food allergies, diabetes, vegan and vegetarian, and Halal students. Accommodations are consistently being made at the university to ensure all students during their time at NC State feel safe and comfortable at the 35+ dining locations on campus. In the future, NC State Dining hopes to serve more naturally allergen friendly and plant forward items, including the sweet hummus dips, for all students in the dining halls and retail locations, given the increased demand and enthusiastic feedback.