VIDEO: CCL-Carnival Cruise Line launches food allergy program "Menu Mate"

   June 3, 2022 ,   Cruise Industry

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line is introducing the Menu Mate food ingredient program fleetwide in order to accommodate passengers with special diets "more efficiently than ever."

Operated on touch-screen tablets at dining venues across the Carnival cruise fleet, the Menu Mate program is powered by CertiStar software to mitigate allergic reactions. Menu Mate is the first of its kind among major lines.

The new food ingredient program works simply for both passengers and crew members. Staff will ask vacationers about food allergies and enter restrictions into the program. The software will sort through all available options and display the allergen-friendly items, which selections should be avoided, and which options could be modified to exclude allergens. If preferred, passengers can also use the Menu Mate designated tablet themselves in order to enter in their own allergy/dietary information and order from the options curated to meet their special needs.

Menu Mate eliminates the lengthy process of conferring between passengers, wait staff, and chefs over the menu items' ingredients and possible substitutions. Now that the process of selecting food with allergen-friendly ingredients is simplified, it is no longer necessary for travelers to inform Carnival Cruise Line of food allergies in advance of their vacation.

To ensure the efficiency of the new program, Carnival culinary staff studied recipes across the cruise line and worked to capture potential allergen conflicts through inputting accurate ingredient information into the company's CertiStar software.

To use Menu Mate directly and research allergen-friendly options, guests will find a Menu Mate tablet on display close to the Lido buffet stations as well.