Education Programs & Training

The club is called Safe Eats, and students can sign up here, or contact Lauren Smith, at 919-513-5310, or lasmit24@ncsu.edu for more information. 

CAFAE is the College Advocates for Food Allergy Awareness and Education club at Northwestern University. CAFAE is committed to increasing awareness, education, and support for college students with food-related conditions (ex: food allergy, celiac disease, EOE, etc.) across the nation. 

Our three primary aims are Support, Educate, and Advocate. 

• Support aims to help students navigate campus life with food conditions. CAFAE leads discussions surrounding dining on/off campus, social situations, sports, and more!
• Educate involves hearing from experts in the allergy/immunology field and teaching students how to respond in an emergency situation. 
• Advocate entails brainstorming ideas to improve quality of life for students with FA and creating a safer, more inclusive environment for all.

If you are interested in starting a CAFAE Chapter at your institution, contact CAFAE@u.northwestern.edu or Preena Shroff at pss0404@u.northwestern.edu or Kethan Bajaj at kethanbajaj2025@u.northwestern.edu

Follow us on Instagram!  @cafae_cfaar 

We also provide a detailed toolkit for incoming students with dietary restrictions. The toolkit contains tips on how to talk about food allergies with friends or roommates, navigate NU dining, and find safe areas to eat in and around campus. Both the NU Toolkit and a customizable version are linked below!

• Northwestern's Toolkit for Food Allergies and Special Diets
• A Special Diets Toolkit template that can be personalized to any school

AllergenGuard at UCLA

AllergenGuard at UCLA is a passionate and proactive student-organization dedicated to preventing food allergy reactions, empowering individuals living with allergies, and fundraising for vital non-profit organizations such as Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). Our mission is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a life free from the constant fear of allergic reactions. By combining prevention strategies, empowerment programs, advocacy efforts, educational outreach, and targeted fundraising, AllergenGuard at UCLA is dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with food allergies and creating a future where allergies are understood, prevented, and effectively managed.

Email:
allergenguard.ucla@gmail.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/allergenguard.ucla?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
 

While we do not have a specific "Food Allergy Club" we have an entire committee/ inter-departmental partnership within our Undergraduate Student Government that focus on making our university more accommodating and aid in the spread of awareness regarding the severity of food allergies. 

As the Student Body President of the Undergraduate Student Government, I have the privilege of engaging deeply with the intricate workings of our committees and advancing the mission of our senate. Our primary focus is to elevate student voices, ensuring that every individual has an exceptional collegiate experience, regardless of their dietary restrictions. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone not only feels welcomed but also safe—whether it's during meals in the dining hall or while navigating campus life.

Here are some of our significant accomplishments and partnerships:

1. Each month, our dining service provider, Parkhurst, hosts a dinner for our entire general senate. These gatherings are not just about discussing student feedback on dining experiences—they're about creating an environment where every student's needs are met. The meals are meticulously curated to accommodate the dietary requirements of all senate members. For example, our Director of Catering, Kayla, once traveled over 40 minutes to my favorite donut shop to ensure I could share in a sweet treat with my colleagues.
2. Through our collaborative meetings with Parkhurst, we have successfully identified and addressed key areas for improvement within our Inspired Eats Section, a dedicated kitchen free of the top ten allergens. We now have a dedicated fryer in this section, allowing for the preparation of fresh, hand-cut fries upon request. Additionally, we have formed partnerships with gluten-free and vegan bakeries (D's Bakeshop and Something Sweet Without Wheat) across New England, ensuring safe and delicious dessert options are always available in our dining hall for students with allergies.
3. Our senate identified a disparity in the types of milk available in the dining hall and took immediate action to address it. As a result, we now offer a variety of milk options, including oat, soy, coconut, almond, and cashew milk. Additionally, after further discussions with dining services, we introduced portable mini bottles of Silk Chocolate Milk, allowing students to enjoy their favorite beverages on the go.
4. This past summer, I successfully established a partnership with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), which led to our university being included in the FARE Food Allergy College Search. This partnership also provided our dining hall staff with the resources to become officially FARE Check Certified, ensuring a higher standard of care for students with food allergies.
5. Our student government is committed to supporting students in every possible way. We maintain daily office hours in the Commons to ensure that students can easily share their concerns or questions with us. I actively encourage students with severe dietary restrictions to reach out to me via email, visit during my office hours, or even stop me in the halls with any questions or concerns regarding navigating the dining hall or finding accommodating restaurants nearby. The University of New England has an outstanding support system for students with food allergies, with USG and Parkhurst serving as key pillars of this system.

Official Website: https://sites.google.com/une.edu/uneusg
Instagram: une_usg
Contact Info: Students can either contact me directly (eperry10@une.edu) or use our Student Government's email (usg@une.edu)