Penn State welcomed its first kosher and common food allergen-free dining station on Tuesday, August 22. The new PURE food station is a one-year pilot program located in the East Food District in Findlay Commons.

Students now have a Kosher option on campus, serving foods that meet Jewish dietary principles. According to Jewish tradition, kosher food is ritually prepared or blessed and meets guidelines for how it is sourced, delivered, handled and cooked. PURE will comply with these laws including cleanliness, purity and quality.

A contract STAR-K rabbi will help manage the facility and ensure adherence with kosher guidelines. This includes turning on and off equipment, ensuring food is kosher certified and meets Star K requirements and training the PURE staff.

PURE is also a common food allergen-free station with no dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, gluten or sesame on the menu. This new menu will allow an all-inclusive eating option for students at Penn State who otherwise can’t find the dairy-free, allergy-free options needed throughout campus.

PURE is open to all students, as the diverse menu is likely to offer options that appeal to students of all backgrounds or dietary preferences.

These new options will play an important role in the continuing efforts to offer a variety of choices to students of religious backgrounds or allergy restrictions. Penn State is committed to an ongoing effort of supporting cultural and religious diversity among its students.

Pure is located in East Food District in Findlay Commons and serves dinner Sunday – Thursday 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday brunch from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.