For one family visiting Pace’s Open House last Sunday, their day culminated in a trip to the hospital after Chartwells staff were not fully briefed on all of the food available during lunch. The student had a potential allergic reaction after eating a dessert item containing walnuts.

“The family of the individual requested an ambulance, knowing the student had a previously identified allergy to nuts and could potentially have an allergic reaction,” said Tyrone M. Ellen, District Manager of Chartwells. “Out of an abundance of caution the student was taken to the hospital by emergency services where he was immediately discharged.”

After presentations from each of the colleges, students and their families were invited to Goldstein Gym. In the gym, Faculty and staff set up informational tables regarding topics from majors to advising to athletics to security. Chartwells catered a buffet-style lunch for students and their families.

Part of the catered food was a dessert tray. Ellen said that the staff was fully briefed on the menu. However, there was a late addition of a dessert option containing walnuts, which the staff were not adequately briefed on.

Ellen said that the student asked staff members if the food contained walnuts. The staff informed the student that there were no walnuts in the food.

Though the student ended up being fine and healthy, this mistake could affect their overall perception of Pace. Something as simple as an allergy can be taken into count when a student is choosing what colleges to apply to or attend.

“We are sincerely sorry this occurred and want you to know that this isolated incident is not reflective of the high standards on which we have built our program,” said Ellen. “While we currently have a number of allergen safety and communication protocols and programs, we are committed to taking a number of steps to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. This includes further briefing and training of our waitstaff for catered events, greater oversight of last-minute menu changes and increased campus-wide staff training.”

Over the past few days, notice signs have been put up at various stations in Kessel reading, “Items prepared on this station share equipment that may process milk, soy, nut, and wheat products.”