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North Suburban Kid Turns Food Allergy Fears Into Educational Documentary

WILMETTE, Ill. (CBS) -- Food allergies are exploding in the United States, for no known reason. Now one suburban student turns his own allergy fears, into a film.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov introduces us to that young filmmaker and his vision.

Jack Yonover says he worked on his film for more than a year and did much of the work in his north suburban Wilmette bedroom. The result is his documentary called "That Bites" about children and the food allergy epidemic.

Jack is now 14-years-old, but he started his filmmaking odyssey at age 11, about a year after his own cashew and pistachio allergy was diagnosed.

"I never had to worry about what I was eating and all of a sudden I was having scary thoughts at every meal," he said.

He perceived there was a lack of education and understanding about the issue, so he launched a Kickstarter campaign, received more than $10,000 in three days and his two-year project began. "That Bites" has since won numerous awards and this weekend, it comes home, as part of the Chicago Jewish Film Festival.

"My goal is to make sure that I can maximize the impact that it makes," Jack said. "I am trying to get it into schools and possibly allergist offices.

His mom says, "people have talked about how it even starts a dialogue between people that don't have a food allergy and those who do."

"In a way, I think I've become a kids with food allergies ambassador, which is not really what I expected," Jack said.

Jack Yonover's film, "That Bites," is one of 18 films featured in the Chicago Jewish Film Festival. The festival runs March 10-March 20 at 8 city and suburban venues.

"That Bites" will be playing at the Landmark Renaissance in Highland Park and at AMC River East. On Sunday, March 13 at 4:30 p.m. Jack will introduce his film at a special screening.

You can find more information about Jack and his film at that-bites.org.

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