One of the questions we hear most often from Brisbane event organisers is some version of "can you cater for guests with allergies?" The short answer is yes — vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free options come standard on every Aarav Ices van at no upcharge. The longer answer covers how that actually works in practice. This post walks through the most common dietary questions and gives a practical, no-fuss breakdown.
What dietary options come standard?
Every van that rolls up to a Brisbane event carries the following dietary options as part of its standard load:
- Vegan. A plant-based soft-serve made without dairy, eggs, or honey. The flavour is rich and the texture creamy — guests rarely guess it's vegan.
- Dairy-free. Same recipe family as the vegan option, suitable for guests with a dairy intolerance or allergy.
- Gluten-free. Most of our soft-serve recipes are naturally gluten-free, paired with gluten-free cone alternatives. Some flavours (Turkish Delight, for example) are reviewed individually.
- Nut-free. A clean, nut-free flavour line is available, with separate handling protocols at the serving window.
None of these are an upcharge or a "premium" tier. They're part of the standard quote, ready to serve to any guest who needs them.
Common questions answered
Do you carry vegan options?
Yes — every van. Our plant-based soft-serve is part of the standard flavour load. The texture and richness are close enough to traditional dairy soft-serve that vegan and non-vegan guests often share the same line happily. Tell us your vegan guest count at booking and we'll bring enough supply.
Can you do dairy-free?
Yes. The vegan option is also dairy-free, and we use the same supply for guests with a dairy intolerance or allergy. The cones we use for dairy-free service are also dairy-free. There's no need to flag this as a special request — just confirm guest counts at booking.
How do you prevent cross-contact between standard and dietary options?
Cross-contact is the practical concern at any food-service event, and it's handled at three levels:
- Separate serving utensils. Each dietary option (vegan, gluten-free cones, nut-free) has its own dedicated scoop or spout. Utensils are not swapped between standard and dietary lines.
- Separate cone and cup stocks. Dietary cones and cups are stored apart from the standard supply, so a server can grab the correct one without cross-handling.
- Staff training and briefing. Every Aarav Ices staff member holds a current food-handler certification, and the team briefs at the start of every event on the dietary protocols for that booking.
Do you label your options at the serving window?
Yes. Each dietary option is clearly labelled at the serving window. Guests can read the labels themselves or ask the server, and the staff are trained to confirm exactly which option suits which dietary requirement before serving.
Are halal options available?
Our soft-serve range doesn't currently carry a formal halal certification. The recipes are pork- and alcohol-free, but we don't market them as halal-certified. If your event has a strong halal-certification requirement, contact us at booking and we'll let you know honestly whether we're the right fit. For events where halal-certification is a strict requirement, we'd recommend a specialist halal-certified caterer.
What about kosher?
Same answer as halal: we aren't kosher-certified. For events with a strict kosher requirement, a specialist supplier is the right choice. For events where ingredient lists are the main concern, we're happy to share what's in each flavour so you can make an informed decision.
Are your flavours peanut-free?
Most of our flavours are peanut-free, but we work with tree-nut ingredients in some recipes (Honey Salted Almond and Macadamia, specifically). For nut-free events — particularly schools and children's parties with high nut-allergy prevalence — we can run a dedicated nut-free service that excludes those flavours and uses separate handling. Mention nut allergies at booking and we'll set up accordingly.
Can you do a fully allergen-aware event?
Yes. For events where allergen awareness is the primary concern — for example, a children's party with multiple allergy concerns or a school fete where the committee wants a stricter setup — we can run a dedicated allergen-aware service. This typically means:
- A nut-free van for the day (no Honey Salted Almond, no Macadamia).
- Separate vegan/dairy-free serving station.
- Pre-event briefing with the event organiser on which guests have which allergies.
- Clear signage at the serving window.
This isn't a separate package — it's part of how we plan a booking when allergens are flagged at enquiry. Just tell us at the start.
What happens if a guest with an allergy turns up unexpectedly?
Because every van carries vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free options as standard, walk-up dietary requests are usually accommodated immediately. The supply is sized for the guest count we plan around, but there's typically extra stock for unexpected requests. Severe allergy cases (especially anaphylaxis-level) should always be flagged at booking so we can plan accordingly.
Do you charge extra for dietary options?
No. Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free are all standard inclusions on every van. There's no upcharge, no premium tier, and no surcharge per cone. The price you're quoted at booking is the price you pay regardless of how many dietary cones are served.
Can you run a fully vegan event?
Yes — entirely vegan service is available. For a fully vegan Brisbane event, just confirm at booking and we'll load only the vegan recipes. Same flavour choice, same cone and cup options, same service. The price is the same as a standard booking.
Are your cones gluten-free?
Standard waffle cones contain gluten. We carry gluten-free cone alternatives on every van for guests who need them. Cups are also available as a gluten-free serving option.
Does the soft-serve contain eggs?
Our standard soft-serve recipes are egg-free. Our vegan options are egg-free by definition. So an egg-allergic guest can typically order from any of our flavours, but at booking we'll confirm the specific recipes loaded for the day so you have certainty.
What if a guest has a soy allergy?
Some of our vegan and dairy-free options contain soy. For guests with a soy allergy, the standard dairy soft-serve is generally the safer option. Flag soy allergies at booking and we'll confirm the right pick.
Can my guests trust the dietary options at a Brisbane school fete?
Yes — our dietary handling at school events is the same as at any other event. The serving setup keeps dietary options separate from the standard service, the labels are clear, and our staff are trained to confirm which option suits which dietary need. For school events with high allergy prevalence, we can run a dedicated nut-free service and provide the school office with a written allergen-handling brief in advance.
Do you provide an allergen list?
Yes. We can provide a full ingredient and allergen list for the flavours and options loaded for your event. Request this at booking and we'll send it through with the booking confirmation. This is particularly useful for school fetes where the P&C committee wants documentation for the school office.
Why this matters
Brisbane families today are more allergen-aware than ever. School communities have multiple guests with dietary requirements at almost every event. Wedding RSVPs routinely include vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free guests. Corporate events have to cater for diverse staff diets. A catering option that handles dietary requirements as standard — without upcharges, without separate ordering, without making dietary guests wait while the rest are served — is what events need now. That's the bar Aarav Ices works to.
Tell us about your guests at booking
The simplest way to make sure your dietary guests are looked after is to share dietary numbers at booking. RSVP forms, school newsletter polls, or corporate event invites all collect this information naturally. Pass it through and we'll plan stock and serving setup accordingly.
Get a quote for an allergen-friendly Brisbane ice cream van
Send us your event date, venue, guest count, and an estimate of your dietary numbers. We respond within 4 business hours with a tailored quote that already accounts for the allergen handling. Visit our contact page or call 0433 145 531. For more on our service area, see the Brisbane ice cream van hire page; for school fete events specifically, the school fete page covers the dedicated allergen-aware service options.