When it was time for Michael Malek to go to college, he knew he wanted to major in mechanical engineering, but did not know where he wanted to go. He knew UW-Madison was an excellent school with a good engineering program, but once Malek-who has food allergies-learned about the special dietary program offered by University-Housing Dining and Culinary Services, he called it the ‘cherry on top.’
Malek, now a junior in the engineering school at UW-Madison has had food allergies since infancy when he reacted to his mother’s breast milk. After his reaction he was put on a special diet which eliminated all top allergies and over time was tested for each allergen through a pass/fail system.
Today, he still has several allergies.
Malek explained, “I have life-threatening food allergies to milk, nuts which includes tree nuts, and fish which includes shellfish, it’s a little complicated.” Allergies are different from intolerances or sensitivities in that they occur as an immune response to food proteins and in return cause severe or life-threatening reactions.
Malek’s reactions vary by how much and which allergen he is exposed to, which can result in a full spectrum of responses from mild to life-threatening.
On the life-threatening end are reactions like anaphylaxis and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome known as “FPIES”, these reactions differ in their immune response to a food protein allergy. For example, in an anaphylactic reaction the airway usually closes, and the body could go into shock.
Malek added, ““FPIES” usually takes fluid from your gut so what happens is your blood pressure drops like crazy and essentially you go into shock, it’s even more dangerous than an anaphylactic reaction because EpiPens can’t fix that”.
However, as an avid self-advocate and educator of his own food allergies he can usually keep severe reactions at bay.
Trying to manage his allergies while transitioning into college was tough for Malek and his family, “If you look at the ADA [American with Disabilities Act] it is a disability in that it impacts a major aspect of life, and I view it as a disability because it takes a lot of extra work to make sure I’m able to complete major life functions” said Malek.
However, before Malek even came to campus he reached out to the McBurney Disability Resource Center who offered accommodations like getting a single bedroom and having key access to the dorm’s kitchen.
For dining accommodations, he connected with housing dietician, Agnes Sherman, who met with Malek to understand his specific needs and then set up a profile for him to use the OrderIT app.
Malek uses the OrderIT app exclusively for every dining marketplace meal. The app allows him to completely customize his meal and ensure a safe dining experience knowing that strict guidelines are being followed.
Malek concluded, “This [app] has taken one of my family and I’s biggest fears and made it comfortable. We’re super comfortable with this!”.