This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

Special diets

Individuals with food allergies or dietary restrictions often encounter difficulty in finding suitable meal options. Clear labeling can prevent unintended exposure to allergens or food items that require some degree of restriction, but if a sufficient variety of alternatives is unavailable, these individuals may be at risk for consuming potentially harmful foods.

This feature requires establishments that provide or sell food to include a variety of meal options available to those with common food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Part 1: Food Alternatives

Meals or catering provided by (or under contract with) the project owner include at least one option for each of the following criteria (as necessary, by request):

a.32 Peanut-free.
b.60 Gluten-free, in compliance with the definitions and restrictions set forth by the FDA in 21 C.F.R. § 101.92.
c.60 Lactose-free.
d.60 Egg-free.
e.60 Vegan (contains no animal products).
f.60 Vegetarian (contains no animal products, except for eggs and dairy).
Integumentary
Digestive
Immune

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New & Existing Buildings New & Existing Interiors
Part 1: Food Alternatives - O O
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Food Alternatives - O - P -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
Part 1: Food Alternatives Operations Schedule
32

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies In Schools and Early Care and Education Programs. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/foodallergies/pdf/13_243135_A_Food_Allergy_Web_508.pdf. Published 2013. Accessed October 14, 2014.

48.1.a

The CDC’s Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies In Schools and Early Care and Education Programs reports that 50%-62% of fatal or near fatal allergic reactions are caused by peanuts.

60

California Department of Developmental Services. Diet Manual. http://www.dds.ca.gov/Publications/docs/DDSDietManual.pdf. Published 2010. Accessed September 15, 2014.

48.1.b

The Diet Manual recommends providing a gluten-free diet to treat gluten induced enteropathy.

48.1.c

The Diet Manual recommends providing a milk-free or lactose-controlled diet to prevent or reduce symptoms associated with ingesting cow's milk or dairy containing products.

48.1.d

The Diet Manual recommends providing an egg-free diet for individuals with an egg allergy.

48.1.e

The Diet Manual recommends providing a vegetarian diet for those who wish to omit all or some animal products from their diet for religious, health, environmental, or ethical reasons.

48.1.f

The Diet Manual recommends providing a vegetarian diet for those who wish to omit all or some animal products from their diet for religious, health, environmental, or ethical reasons.