A National Leader in Allergy-Aware Dining
Whether you have a food allergy or intolerance, follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, or avoid certain foods for cultural or religious reasons, we’re here to help you feel safe, heard, and supported.
What Sets 51±¬ÁÏ Dining Apart?
Inspired Eats Station
A specialized dining station free from gluten and the top 9 food allergens, located in the Ripich Commons on the Biddeford Campus. Here you’ll find chef-prepared, staff-served meals made without gluten, dairy, egg, peanut, fish, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. Students with allergies outside the top nine are encouraged to speak directly with staff for additional accommodation.
Accolades in Allergy-Aware Dining
- Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) Silver Status — the only college in Maine where all full-time dining staff are FARE-certified and are trained to identify and prevent cross-contact, recognize and respond to allergic reactions, and help students make informed choices.
- One of only four schools nationwide recognized by FARE for having an official student allergen-advocacy group, Red Sneakers for Oakley.
While we maintain strict protocols to prevent cross-contact, we cannot guarantee a 100% allergen-free environment since our Inspired Eats station operates in the main dining hall. Please discuss your specific needs with our staff.
Epinephrine on Campus
The 51±¬ÁÏ is one of only a few campuses nationwide — and the only one in New England — with stock epinephrine for severe allergic reactions — located in Belay MedLockers, donated by Red Sneakers for Oakley, on both the Biddeford and Portland campuses.
You Belong at Our Table
Do you have a food intolerance, celiac disease, or an allergy? Follow the steps below as you prepare to join us on campus so you can dine comfortably at 51±¬ÁÏ.
Tell Us Before You Arrive
Fill out this form to register your dietary needs, or email 51±¬ÁÏ Director of Catering Kayla Maniery.
Know Where To Eat
Visit the Inspired Eats station in Ripich Commons, free from the top nine allergens, or D’s Bakeshop, located on both campuses, with allergen-free baked goods. You can also see what is safe for you before you walk into the dining hall. Browse full menus with allergen icons for every meal item at .
Just Ask — And Never Be Afraid To
All 51±¬ÁÏ dining staff are FARE-trained and ready to help. No question is too small.
Contact Us
FARECheck Trainer and 51±¬ÁÏ Director of Catering
Kayla Maniery | (207) 602-2869 | kmaniery@parkhurstdining.com
Dining Room Supervisor
Deb Dauley | (207) 602-2690 | ddauley@parkhurstdining.com
Ripich Dining Hall Main Kitchen
Chef John Caron | (207) 602-2850 | jcaron@parkhurstdining.com
51±¬ÁÏ Dining Allergy Safety FAQ
Inspired Eats is a dedicated allergen-aware dining station inside the Danielle N. Ripich Commons on 51±¬ÁÏ’s Biddeford Campus. It offers chef-prepared meals made without gluten and the top 9 food allergens, and sits physically apart from the other dining stations in the Commons.
All Inspired Eats recipes are made without the top nine federally recognized food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Recipes also avoid gluten.
Inspired Eats has a separate kitchen with dedicated equipment and strict cross-contact protocols. However, because it operates within a broader kitchen environment, 100% absence of allergens cannot be guaranteed. Students with severe allergies are encouraged to speak directly with Dining Services staff.
All full-time 51±¬ÁÏ Dining Services staff complete FARE's accredited food allergy safety training as well as AllerTrain or AllerLite from MenuTrinfo. Kayla Maniery, 51±¬ÁÏ’s director of catering, is a certified FARE trainer who has personally trained all 75 full-time, year-round employees and trains all new hires upon arrival. Training our team with two models of food allergy education provides a comprehensive level of care and understanding.
You are encouraged to contact 51±¬ÁÏ Dining Services before arriving on campus to discuss meal options and allergen-aware dining support. You can also connect with the Student Disability Access Center for additional coordination.
Yes — 51±¬ÁÏ partners with Belay MedLockers and Red Sneakers for Oakley to provide stock epinephrine in four secure MedLockers across campus, and is one of only three colleges in the country to do so.
MedLockers stocked with epinephrine are located in The Pub and dining hall of the Danielle Ripich Commons, the Alfond Forum, and Alexander Café in Portland. In an emergency, anyone can open a locker by pulling on the door and breaking the safety seal, which instantly alerts our Safety and Security team; there is no lock or code.