Benson Opens Gluten-Free Restaurant
Decision comes after students requested more options to meet dietary restrictions
On Thursday March 9, a new gluten-free station, Simply Oasis, opened in Benson. The grand opening underscores an effort by students and the university to make on-campus dining more accessible to those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Simply Oasis is classified as a “top nine allergen station,” which means that those sensitive to the nine most common allergens will be able to safely eat there without worrying about cross-contamination. As specified by the School Nutrition Association, the top nine allergens are milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame. All meals prepared at Simply Oasis station do not contain any ingredients derived from those foods.
According to Jordan Nunez, a member of the Office of Accessible Education and manager of the Gluten Free SCU Instagram account, dissatisfaction expressed by many gluten-free students about the lack of variety at Benson was a primary reason for the school’s establishment of Simply Oasis.
“There have been a lot of complaints from students who say that there just aren’t enough options in Benson for those who have allergies,” Nunez said. “That’s how I felt when I first got here my freshman year.”
Cross-contamination is a concern for many students. While there are gluten-free options at some of the other Benson stations, gluten residue may find its way into gluten-free food in preparation. This poses challenges for those with celiac disease or those with this specific dietary needs.
“If I order a gluten-free burger, they’re going to put it on a gluten-free bun, but they’re gonna run that gluten-free bun through a toaster that has gluten in it,” said Nunez. “They’re going to cook the burger on a stovetop that could have gluten on it, and they’re going to fry the fries in oil that the curly fries were fried in, even though the curly fries aren't gluten-free.”
Simply Oasis will reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination and provide a broader variety of gluten-free foods.
“The way Benson works is they have their staple items that do not change,” said Nunez. “They also have specialty items that rotate in and those specialty items are never gluten-free. I am eating the same thing every week: it’s either gluten-free pasta, gluten-free burger or sushi–that’s it.”
Nunez recommends that those with celiac disease or gluten allergies follow the Gluten Free SCU Instagram account to get the most up-to-date information on gluten-free matters. Menus with gluten-free options are posted daily on the account’s story.
Although Nunez is unclear on the name’s origin, “Simply Oasis” nonetheless describes the value of providing a comfortable dining experience for those with food sensitivities.
“It makes sense because an Oasis is kind of like a relief, a safe space,” Nunez said. “That’s all we want: a safe place to eat.”