Audrey Suwarno ’21, on Managing Food Allergies in College

“Dairy-free, nut-free, and tomato-free.  To people like me, these listings are vital.

As someone who suffers allergies, I have a few opinions about how these issues are addressed on campus. While I acknowledge that efforts are being made, sometimes the online menu posted on Facebook does not match what is written on the labels in the Dining Hall. For anyone else, this is simply a casual annoyance; but for people allergic to dairy or nuts, this is can be a life-or-death scenario.

Making sure cross-contamination does not occur is also essential for those who have severe allergies. Accidents happen, we all know that, but being cautious is greatly appreciated.

As a college student in search for more filling vegan food— and one who dispels the notion that only vegans eat vegan food— I’m a regular at The Fresh Grocer and Walmart, which are both down the street [from Arcadia] and right next to each other. There, I buy dairy- and nut-free pastas and microwaveable foods. My favorite finds are dairy- and nut-free desserts because the Dining Hall only offers allergen-free cookies.

As Confucius says: ‘Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society.’ And that goes for food, too.”