Peanuts on which airlines?

[disykat]

With all the people that fly on this site, I wondered if you could help me identify which airlines still serve peanuts. I usually call and and of course travel with epinephrine for my peanut allergic son, but was just curious what the general trend is currently. If you've flown recently and remember what your snack was, can you let me know what is was and what airline you were on? Thanks!

[pbhunt]

Southwest -PEANUTS, and new snack trays with a fruit granola bar, sausage, breadsticks, and cheese, which were rather tasty (only on flights 3 hours and longer).:D

[TravelSheryl]

There is a message board devoted exclusively to discussing peanut allergies with a category specifically for air travel.

http://www.peanutallergy.com/bbpage.htm

[pbhunt]

Thanks Sheryl, and I'm sure that will answer her question. I am however, curious as to what the other carriers serve as "snacks" or for meals. If there are no other replys, I may post it as a topic. :D

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Us air gave us snack mix (peanut free). It was something like Gardettos.

On our return flight, we got little snack boxes, with Nutra grain bars, crackers, with cheese spread, and a MilkyWay bar.

The flight attendant siad no peanuts on any USAir flights.

:( We missed the peanuts, so we took our own.

[Beverly Lynn]

since there are so many peanut allergies most carriers are switching to pretzels and snack bars and such. plus by switching from peanuts to pretzels or pepperidge farm goldfish etc they are saving millions of dollars!

[DDM]

I was recently on a Southwest flight. There was announcement made that they would not be serving peanuts on the flight due to a peanut allergy and crackers would be substituted. On the flight home we were served crackers as well.

[disykat]

Thanks guys! I do frequent peanutallergy.com - Everyone there tends to call ahead so "spot checks" aren't very accurate, but it is a great, very informative site. Thanks for posting it, Sheryl.

We always get pretzels on American - but we've always called ahead to have a peanut allergy noted.

[disykat]

In case anyone is wondering what the big deal is about peanuts on a airplane:

As a parent of a peanut allergic child I completely understand that it is not my right to take away your food rights and that peanuts are a special treat for many on airlines - I like them myself (or did until I discovered they could kill my child.) However on an airplane with recirculating air - peanuts can travel far. Peanut is an airborne allergy. People with peanut allergies cannot come into skin contact with peanut residue, or breathe or smell peanut particles. They do not have to eat them to suffer a deadly allergic reaction. Nothing ruins a vacation like having the person next to you on the plane die during your flight!

I'm sorry if this sounds accusatory, because I don't mean it to. I just thought you might be wondering why it's such an issue. Thanks for putting up with different snacks for us! (I used to love those Honey Roasted Nuts! Sigh! )

[TravelSheryl]

I had never heard of peanut allergies in my life until about 7 years ago when my cousin married a man who is peanut allergic. It was all explained to me at that time. It is certainly a life threatening allergy. And I also didn't realize until my cousin's husband told me about all the food products that have peanut byproducts in them, like non-peanut M&Ms.

As much as I love Southwest Airlines, I probably would not recommend that a peanut allergic fly that carrier because there is peanut residue everywhere on their planes. And as much as I too like peanuts, I would never be upset if an airline didn't serve them because someone on the plane was peanut allergic.

[Gillian]

wow! Thanks for filling us in on the scope of peanut allergies! I can't say I miss them anyway, and if it helps save someone, then I'll gladly eat pretzels.

Do epi pens work against peanut reactions, or do you need something stronger?

[Bo'sMom]

Thanks for this info. My great nephew...15 months old..was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy. I was just wondering what the effects would be if he travelled by air. Thanks again.

[lisapooh]

The trend towards eliminating peanuts as a snack and substituting crackers and candy and other high carb items is really a problem for those of us who are diabetics. The substituted snacks are inapproprite for us to say the least. For me as a diabetic to eat crackers with no protein such as peanut butter is to ask for high blood sugar. And high blood sugar is lack of control and a sure path to complications and a slow and miserable death. I am at the point of being extremely resentful and unsympathetic of people with peanut allergies. Their needs seem to cancel out all concern for mine by the airlines. Who cares if I end up with complications and have to suffer until I die is their attitude. The peanut people are entitled to special care but diabetics can do with whatever. Who cares about us? If we complain we are told too bad you caused yourselves to be diabetic.
Maybe airlines should serve no food and allow each person to bring the food they need. Oh no, that wouldn't work either would it. The peanut people would demand that we could not bring out snacks because even the smell of our peanut butter might bother them.
Guess I can't fly anymore if I want to control my diabetes and not have devastating complications.

[Bo'sMom]

There are other forms of protein you can pack and bring on the plane.

[TravelSheryl]

Oh, lisapooh, I hope you will reconsider how you feel. We're talking about a situation like a peanut allergy where the afflicted has absolutely no control vs. your situation where you have 100% control because you can bring along your own snacks.

Gosh, I would hope that someone who is unsympathetic to my medical conditions isn't near me should I be in a life threatening situation.

And if someone has told you that you caused yourself to be diabetic, then they too are being unsympathetic. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I hope my comments fall within the posting guidelines of this forum as they are not intended as an attack but rather to let someone know that they are comparing a medical condition that can be controlled to a medical condition that cannot be controlled.

[Bo'sMom]

Excellent post Sheryl. Thanks for saying it much better than I could have.

[lisapooh]

I can bring my own snacks. My best snack. Is 2 peanut butter crackers. And I do carry them. But on my last flight I was told I could not eat them and would have to substitute an entirely carb snack which is not in my interest because it raises my blood sugar too high to rapidly.
My daughter has a peanut allergy. We keep the peanut crackers in a separate area so she doesn't grab them by mistake. If I fix a peanut butter sandwich she is not in the kitchen. If we fly she doesn't ask that all forego peanuts. She wears a micropore mask.
We deal with both needs.
You really know very little about diabetes if you think it is an easily contollable disease. It isn't. I've lived with it for 23 years and it is a daily struggle to balance and keep the complications at bay. Four shots a day and multiple finger pricks and I still have some complications from it. I truely would prefer a quick death to the slow dying by inches. It isn't fun.

[TravelSheryl]

I did not say nor do I think that diabetes is an easily controllable disease. I said that your situation as it pertains to the discussion of this thread is controllable; i.e., you can control what goes into your mouth. A peanut allergic cannot control the air he breathes.

There are non-perishable food items that can be taken on board that meet the needs of both a diabetic and a peanut allergic.

[Gillian]

Do people with peanut allergies have problems with other kinds of nuts? I am hypoglycemic & have to worry about controlling my blood sugar also. I can't do all carb snacks or I get low blood sugar/faintness, etc.

I find that almonds work better for me than peanuts. Would that be a problem for the peanut allergic?

And lisapooh, did I understand correctly that you were told you couldn't eat your own food on the plane? That would be bad.

[rhiannonwales]

This is getting very nasty and i think it is highly out of place!

From one diabetic to another, ther are plenty of snacks that are high in protien, besides nuts!

When i have had to fly i always bring Choice bars with me as they are high in soy protien, and meet my diatary needs. Is this really a case of you being put at risk or are you just mad cause you couldn't eat your peanuts?

How would you feel if someone on the plane 5 rows back got very ill and died beacause the peanut particles from YOUR snack got on their skin? Some people are so allergic that even skin contact could do them serious harm, and unless you live in a bubble, any peanuts in the air can kill!

This is why airlines schools, and even some restaurants have eliminated nuts from their menus.

Sure, i like nuts as much as the next person, but its a small price to pay to keep someone from getting ill.

[lisapooh]

I will have no more to say one the subject. It is obvious that you are a diabetic who has an easy time with control. And what is a CHOICE BAR. I've never heard of it. What is it's carb level. If it has more than about 5 g it is out for me. My entire daily allotment of carbs is 30g over 3 meals and 2 snacks

[rhiannonwales]

Well i won't lie and say that i have a HORRIBLE case of diabetes, but i DO require insulin to manage my condition!

However that being said i do take care of my self very well and that is half the battle. I watch my weight as being overweight when you are diabetic makes you 20 times more likley to have complications.

A choice bar is a product made especially for diabetics, and they also make drink supplements. It is a carb restricted, sugar free meal substitute.They sell thema t pharmacies everywhere. They also make cereals my DH reminds me that are low carb. Oatmeal and such.

[Disney Daniel]

This post involves people dealing with very serious health conditions.

People with a severe allergy to peanuts have to be extremely careful not to come in contact with peanuts, and results of that happening may be life threatening. People with diabetes must also watch their diet, and monitor their sugar levels frequently to avoid large fluctuations in their sugar level. Failure to do so may be life threatening as well.

Diabetics, while having to monitor their blood sugar level, and meal/ snack intake, do have a certain level of personal choice for meals and snacks.

Individuals with a severe peanut allergy, if on a plane , or in a restricted environment, may not have a choice.

Please let's step back, and consider each other's feelings and health concerns before making further comment.

Comments are welcome on the boards. Comments that act as a personal attack, or against a identifiable group are not permitted.

Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Disney Daniel

[Bo'sMom]

From what I've read so far, people with peanut allergys are only allergic to peanuts...other nuts are okay.

[disykat]

Sorry to have started such a controversy! I just thought since I had brought it up, that people might wonder what the big deal about peanuts was and explain about airborne particles and residue. LisaPooh, I certainly wouldn't want to jeapordize your health (or anyone else's) either. I'm glad that your daughter has been able to avoid problems without having a peanut free environment. I'm actually curious how you work it - can your daughter eat or drink with her mask on or does she just wait? How do you deal with residue issues? Does she travel with sheets, gloves,and protective glasses as well as the mask? - I'm not being smarty here - I know many do and just wondered if you've found she stays protected the whole time? Many of us with health issues have to carry food and make special arrangements when traveling- it's just a way of life. I'm sorry you feel my child is infringing on your rights - I would not choose to do that for anything. Unfortunately, due to the altitude, Airline travel seems to be the one place we can't remove ourselves for his safety and are forced to rely on the goodwill of others.

To answer some of the other questions: Tree nut allergies are separate from peanut allergies (peanuts are a legume) but some people have allergies to both. I haven't heard of any other nuts causing airborne reactions. An epi-pen is supposed to give 15 minutes to get to a hospital. People generally carry two, hopefully extending the time to 30 minutes before organ damage or death could occur.

Next time I guess I should just ask what snacks are served and leave it at that.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I flew US Airways in March, and the gentleman infront of me brought a bunch of packages of peanuts onboard with him, and munched on them the entire flight! Boy, was he the envy of many of the passengers in the back cabin of that 757!

[tink2dw]

I am diabetic and at home I am quite controlled,but at WDW,I had an "unaware low blood sugar crisis" I had no idea that trouble was on the way. Usually when I have low blood sugar there are symptoms,sweating, a shaky feeling inside,that progresses to shaky hands and by this time I have gotten the cottage cheese[my favorite souce of protien] about half eaten and I'm starting to feel better!

But at WDW we had returned early to our room and I was on the phone to guest services,when bam !! it hit and I couldn't think straight,dh said to test but I couldn't for the life of me get it together enough to get the blood on the stick. Dh had to do it and then there wasn't enough blood so, we had to start over. My blood sugar was down to 45!! It's never fallen lower than 70 before!! I was so confused I could not remember what to do!! I knew if something didn't get done I would pass out,go into a coma and die, but I sat there so detached and Dh was so paniced, he wasn't any help and I was sinking faster and faster into such a confused state that I couldn't see, only hear what was going on.

Finally our teen remembered the sucrose tablets I carry and stuck one between my teeth and said chew this!! that helped and after 3 more tablets I was back to reality at least!!

Now we aren't sure what brought this on,could have been the extra walking,the heat,dehydration,not eating Right on schedule,not eating enough of a snack for the extra exercise,who Knows for sure??

But Diabetes is a balancing act!! The right amount of food,balanced against your exercise,and amount of medication!!

It isn't just a matter of what passes between our teeth!! and even from one diabetic to another it varies,there is a measure of Brittleness. Some diabetics are so Brittle just altering what they have for a snack can cause their blood suger to wildly fluctuate,putting them in danger!!

And its not just low blood sugar,passing out ,going into a coma and dying,that we worry about High blood sugar can mean lossing our eye sight,amputation of feet or legs,all while feeling like death would be an exceptable way out,because you are so sick!!

But all the while we look okay,So people don't even think we have any problems,they just wonder why we don't stop eating the sugar that caused the diabeses,right? Wrong!!! It has nothing to do with the sugar we ate, sugar doesn't cause Diabetes!

Our Cells that convert sugar[from the potatoe you ate]to a useable substance have lost that key ability to do their job,so we need to replace the key so our bodys can function again!! and that is a tricky thing to do!!

How would you fuction with the loss of a leg??? even with all the technalogy that exsists to help you,you will never have as good a fuctioning leg as you had before!! and you will still have complications due to the weight you have to put on the stump.

As Diabetics complications are waiting around every curve!! So don't just blow us off !! AS If we are normal and just complaining to complicate you Normies lifes!!
Not all disAbilities SHOW!!!

[TravelSheryl]

I certainly wish the moderators would put a lock on this thread, as I suggested through the normal reporting channels last night. It has gone far past its usefulness.

[Wendy]

Okay, enough is enough. I've edited quite a lot of personal attacks here. The original poster asked a very legitimate question and was met with hostility and sarcasm. Please remember to keep these forums friendly. This board is here for informational purposes only, not to debate issues. If you have issues that you'd like to debate, then please visit our Debate Board.