A legal settlement with a Massachusetts college has broad implications for food service at U.S. colleges and universities.
The Justice Department said in a recent settlement with Lesley University that severe food allergies can be considered a disability under the law. That gives those who suffer from such allergies a new avenue in seeking menus that fit their diet. But the decision leaves schools, restaurants, and other places that serve food more exposed to legal challenges if they fail to honor requests for accommodations by people with food allergies. Colleges and universities are especially vulnerable, because they know their students and often require them to eat on campus, Eve Hill of the Justice Department’s civil rights division says.…Read More