Kylie Jungles is senior Biology major hoping to attend medical school next fall. She recently started the Student Food Allergy Network at Saint Mary’s, and they are looking for additional members! You can find her in the dining hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch and the Vice President, Nicole Pador in the dining hall on Mondays and Wednesdays during dinner!
What inspired you to start the Student Food Allergy Network?
I have struggled with food allergies my entire life. Coming to college was a whole new obstacle to hurdle regarding my allergies. It’s easy to monitor the ingredients you are eating when you are eating at home, but eating in the dining hall or eating at restaurants makes things difficult. Throughout my time at Saint Mary’s I have learned to navigate the dining hall and manage my food allergies; however, I have always felt that we could do more to make Saint Mary’s a safer place for individuals with food allergies. So this year I decided to take the initiative to make a change. After spending the summer living and doing research at the University of Michigan, a university model for food allergy safety, I acquired a lot of new ideas of how we could improve food allergy safety at Saint Mary’s. The Student Food Allergy Network (SFAN) is a national organization that was founded at the University of Michigan. During the summer I was able to speak with the founder of SFAN and work with the Michigan chapter of SFAN to establish a new chapter here at SMC.
What are the goals of this new club?
The goals of the club are to first and foremost be a resource for Saint Mary’s students who are struggling with food allergies. Whether it may be offering advice for how to manage food allergies or how to navigate the dining hall, we are here to help. We are located in the dining hall Monday-Thursday to answer your food allergy questions and listen to your suggestions. We are also working with dining services to make positive changes in the dining hall. Along with that, we are hoping to do some fun activities throughout the year. We plan to create a pen-pal program with little kids suffering from food allergies, celebrate food allergy week, host informational lectures and guest speakers, and take field-trips to local allergen-free restaurants.
What influence do you hope the Student Food Allergy Network will have on the Saint Mary’s community?
I hope that SFAN can help make positive changes on campus to make SMC a safer place for students with food allergies. I hope to make lasting changes in the dining hall that will continue to be implemented after I graduate. Moreover, I hope to convey to others how serious food allergies truly are.
How are you working with the dining hall in order to improve conditions for those with food allergies?
We are working with SODEXO to provide more allergen-free options in both the dining hall and cyber. We are working to provide better ingredient labels and prevent cross-contamination by keeping allergen-containing foods separate from allergy-free foods.
What are some examples of food allergies?
Some of the most common allergens include: wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree-nuts, soy, and shellfish. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. If individuals eat even a bite of an allergen-containing food they can develop hives, troubled breathing, an itchy throat, or even anaphylaxis.
How can people sign up/when’s the first meeting?
People can sign up by speaking to us in the DH or by emailing SMC.SFAN@gmail.com. The first meeting will be held at the end of September!