Anyone take PB&J sandwiches through airport security?

[kkandaj]

What if you get peanut butter on your hands and you touch a surface my child touches? That WILL cause my child to react. I'm so not militant about other people eating peanuts/peanut butter (in fact, we still keep it in our house for DH and me), but it's the attitude about it that really bothers me. Unless you or someone you love (especially a child) has a potentially deadly allergy, you won't get it -- and I don't expect you to, and by all means, eat your precious peanut butter on a flight, but there are other ways for my child to react to peanut butter without ingesting it.

Agree with this. The protein that IS in peanut butter can be smeared on seats, without you even being able to see it. If a child then gets that protein on their hands and wipes their mouth, that IS considered ingestion. And it can cause harm--and even death.

When making our flights for May, SWA asked about allergies. After telling them of DS's food allergies (peanut is 1 of 5), they said they will make an announcement requesting that no one eat peanut products and will let me on the plane early to wipe his/our seats down. I told her we do not need the announcement since our family will be creating a buffer around him and no one will be getting pb on him, but that I will need to make sure the seats are clean. Sadly, many adults don't know how to clean up after themselves on a plane. In my son's case, the cheez it's and m&m's that are left around can do just as much harm as the peanut products.

Until your child is laying lifeless in your arms, because of a reaction to a food, you may not "get it." I pray this never happens to any of you. It is horrible! And I can guarantee most of you would not like to see someone's child lifeless on an airplane. Especially over a sandwich???

OP--as a mom to a food allergy kid, the pb/jelly is okay. Just please make sure you have your children wash their hands (even with wipes) so that the food isn't smeared everywhere. Have a great trip!

 

[LMN]

I am sorry, but if my child had such a severe peanut allergy, I would not endanger their life by exposing them to so many people, such as on public transportation. I would certainly not expect or ask a plane full of total strangers to refrain from eating peanut products just for my child. Whatever happened to the days of inconveniencing yourself before you would ever ask others to be inconvienced??

 

[kkandaj]

I am sorry, but if my child had such a severe peanut allergy, I would not endanger their life by exposing them to so many people, such as on public transportation. I would certainly not expect or ask a plane full of total strangers to refrain from eating peanut products just for my child. Whatever happened to the days of inconveniencing yourself before you would ever ask others to be inconvienced??

Just curious--do you expect a child with life threatening allergies to never leave their house? EVERYWHERE we go, there are people...the mall, the park, the grocery store, school, people eating everywhere. Are we supposed to hide our children from society because people think they have to eat at all times?

We don't ever ask anyone to not eat around our child (he has life threatening allergies to not only peanuts, but tree nuts, eggs, milk and soy), but we also can't keep him from LIVING a life. Not taking public transportation? What?

Though I would never wish this life on anyone, I would love for people to walk in our shoes for one day, so they would have a little bit of compassion. It's heartbreaking...from a child's perspective and a mother's perspective.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

Agree with this. The protein that IS in peanut butter can be smeared on seats, without you even being able to see it. If a child then gets that protein on their hands and wipes their mouth, that IS considered ingestion. And it can cause harm--and even death.

I hope this doesn't come across as argumentative (I don't like PB at all, and can take or leave peanuts in general, so you won't have a problem with me causing contamination on a plane!!). I'm genuinely curious...

I see this issue come up most often about planes. I assume this is because 1) peanuts were the traditional airplane snack for decades and 2) you're dealing with a small cabin and recycled air. But on this thread I've seen way more comments concerned with contact (peanut butter smeared on a seat, etc.) than with airborne particle issues. But wouldn't there be just as much risk of this if people eat their PB crackers and PBJ at home before arriving at the airport? I can't imagine trying to keep an allergic child from touching, well, anything, anywhere! The seats at the gate, the rail on the escalator...

We are lucky that my DS does not have any allergies (my DH is highly allergic to stone and core fruits), but he DOES have a rare, misunderstood and potentially life-threatening disease. I completely understand the parental fear of something happening to your child when you are so, so careful. I feel for those who have to deal with severe allergies.

 

[WDSearcher]

I am sorry, but if my child had such a severe peanut allergy, I would not endanger their life by exposing them to so many people, such as on public transportation. I would certainly not expect or ask a plane full of total strangers to refrain from eating peanut products just for my child. Whatever happened to the days of inconveniencing yourself before you would ever ask others to be inconvienced??

If your kids don't have severe allergies, it's easy for you to say that. When you do have a kid with allergies, you actually tend to try your darnedest to help make their life as normal as possible, while taking the appropriate precautions and keeping a watchful eye.

I don't think it is a huge inconvenience or hardship to ask those few folks who may have tossed a bag of peanuts or a PB&J in their carry-on to refrain from eating it. It's not like everyone on the plane is packing PB&J and will perish if it cannot be consumed while flying. How many people is it affecting? A handful? Maybe? And, really, if it is a huge inconvenience or hardship to not be able to have peanuts during the flight, then I'm sure those folks can be moved to a more peanut-friendly part of the plane. Interestingly enough, I've heard of several people who died from eating peanuts. I've never heard of anyone who died from NOT eating peanuts.

Whatever happened to the days of compromising a little so that everyone has a chance to enjoy life?

 

[goofy4tink]

This would have to be a very rare situation. I was a flight attendant for 5 years and never came across this. Also rather odd since for so many years a bag if peanuts was the snack of choice for most airlines.

In the past 10 years, I have had 5 flights that had FAs asking passengers not to open peanut products due to severe allergies onboard that flight. I fly probably just twice a year, sometimes three times a year.

Yes you can take them and eat them.
Eating peanut butter does not bother a peanut allergy person altho they will try to tell you otherwise. But peanut protein has to be in the air for it to be a risk and there is no peanut protein released form peanut butter.

They also can ask you not to eat but they can't force you not to eat them.

Peanut dust can be in the air, which could set off an allergic reaction. And, worse yet?? An allergic child sits in a seat recently vacated by a very messy child...a child that had had peanut butter crackers or sandwich. Now, there is peanut residue on the seat, arms and possibly tray. Yes, the vast majority of parents of these kids will ask to board early in order to do a proper cleaning and sometimes even spread out a sheet over the area.

Perhaps it's a new thing (well, new since I flew - over twenty years ago).
Still, all those flights and never an issue with anyone reacting to the peanut bags that were handed out to everyone. I guess I would honor the request, but I think it's a bit silly.

Well, 20 years ago we didn't see peanut free tables or classrooms in schools either. But they sure do exist today!!!

Can someone please explain this logic?

It's the whole 3-1-1 issue. If a substance will not hold it's shape when removed from it's container, it has to be in a 3oz, or smaller, container and be put into your quart sized baggie if you are using carryon baggage. And peanut butter and jelly most certainly do not hold their shape outside their jars.
But in a sandwich is fine since there really isn't close to 3oz of it.

As I said, I flew for the airlines for 5 years. Never ever ever had any issue with anyone reacting to the peanuts we handed out or any peanut product anyone had brought on board. As has been said by PPs, there are sill airlines handing out peanuts today. As far as someone smearing some peanut grease on the seat and then another person's child putting their hand on it and then to their mouth..well...that could happen with someone on a previous flight when there was no peanut alert. So, yes, i think it's kind of silly because i don't think there's a genuine risk. As i also said, i would respect he request anyway.
If you can show me one documented case of a peanut reaction from someone on an airplane, i will change my mind.

Have you seen someone go into anaphylactic shock?? I have. It isn't pretty. I watched my dd's best friend almost die from a food allergy last May. So, yes, it is a genuine risk.

I am sorry, but if my child had such a severe peanut allergy, I would not endanger their life by exposing them to so many people, such as on public transportation. I would certainly not expect or ask a plane full of total strangers to refrain from eating peanut products just for my child. Whatever happened to the days of inconveniencing yourself before you would ever ask others to be inconvienced??

And exactly how do you think these families are going to travel??? They have to use a car because so many people refuse to give up their peanut butter for a few hours on a plane???? Seriously??

Here's the thing. My dd, now 18, has always been what we call a 'discriminating' eater. Yeah, that is our nice way of saying picky, picky, picky!!! Her diet consisted of...peanut butter sandwiches (creamy only please), milk/dairy, mac and cheese, pasta and butter/parm cheese, cheeseburgers/hot dogs. And some veggies and fruits.
So, it was easy to just pack her a peanut butter sandwich when flying. But, after that first request to not use peanut products, we stopped doing it. There are other things you can bring to eat. You can actually sit at the gate and eat your sandwich there if you have to. Bring a baggie full of frozen veggies and add some grapes or cheese. Or some other kind of fruit. There are ways around this.

To the OP...can you bring a pb/j sandwich through security? Yes, you can. And in all likelihood, you won't be asked to not eat it on the plane. But, it could happen.

 

[LaurenT]

Not that I want to get involved in a PB argument , I was genuinely curious if there have been any problems with reactions on a flight ... google found me this

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...ez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

interesting link, thanks for posting
I did notice that it says that not enough is known about the circumstances (paraphrased)..such as if that airline typically serves peanuts, or if that passenger actually ate something on the plane that may contain peanuts (cookies comes to mind)...
But it does look like they need to do more research on it.

 

[thewesterberg]

Hi the westerberg! I was going to say the same thing- we flew Delta in February and were offered a bag of peanuts. (so were our 4 kids!) Then I noticed your name- are you by any chance from MN? (we are!)

Yup, we're in MN too! Up in Duluth.

 

[nchulka]

After not flying for several years I have been on 4 flights this past month on Southwest (thank you free flights with the Southwest Credit Card!) On every flight they gave me a bag of peanuts. I'm sure it stinks to have a close family member be severely allergic to peanuts, but if we start banning them everywhere where does it end? Do we also ban other food items that people are allergic too? Do we ban peanuts at ballgames? Do we have to change the song from buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks to buy me some pretzels? What if some people are allergic to pretzels???

 

[SDSorority]

After not flying for several years I have been on 4 flights this past month on Southwest (thank you free flights with the Southwest Credit Card!) On every flight they gave me a bag of peanuts. I'm sure it stinks to have a close family member be severely allergic to peanuts, but if we start banning them everywhere where does it end? Do we also ban other food items that people are allergic too? Do we ban peanuts at ballgames? Do we have to change the song from buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks to buy me some pretzels? What if some people are allergic to pretzels???

Those of us that are celiac ARE allergic to pretzels.

To the OP- you will probably be fine with a peanut butter sandwich on a plane. If you're concerned about having peanut butter on a plane and someone telling you not to eat it, have you ever tried almond butter or Sun Butter (sunflower seed butter)? Both are really good

 

[TDC Nala]

I never heard of anyone being allergic to pretzel dust in the air.

 

[goofy4tink]

After not flying for several years I have been on 4 flights this past month on Southwest (thank you free flights with the Southwest Credit Card!) On every flight they gave me a bag of peanuts. I'm sure it stinks to have a close family member be severely allergic to peanuts, but if we start banning them everywhere where does it end? Do we also ban other food items that people are allergic too? Do we ban peanuts at ballgames? Do we have to change the song from buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks to buy me some pretzels? What if some people are allergic to pretzels???

I hear ya, I really do. BUT...there is a huge difference between an airplane and a ball game. An airplane is an enclosed space..which is seldom cleaned adequately. I'm happy that you got your free peanuts, but how would you feel if the child two rows down from you started wheezing and having breathing issues because the person seated in his seat prior to his flight, had gotten peanut oil all over the arm rests?? I mean really, come on now. It's peanuts people. And there are few foods that cause this severe of a reaction.

But, I guess the each person's right to carry peanuts/peanut butter outweighs others right to safe travel. This subject has been done to death over on the Transportation board. I'm pretty much done with it here as well.

 

[Hannathy]

If a child is so young that they don't know to not put their fingers in their mouth why don't they wear gloves when leaving their seat?

Do they wear gloves at Disney? shopping? It is disingenuous to only worry about peanut butter residue on a plane.And most do not have an anaphylatic reaction to peanut butter on their skin it is usually only a contact reaction.

Also for the peanut protein in the air to do any harm it has to be at a pretty concentrated amount not the amount someone eating peanuts several rows away would cause.

I don''t mind someone doing things to keep themselves safe but don't do things that are not necessary, base actions on scientific facts not emotions.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I always bring PB&J sandwiches on the plane, never had a problem with TSA or on board. I suppose if there was someone sitting very close by who had a SEVERE (life-threatening) allergy, there might be cause for concern, but I really doubt that my kid eating a sandwich in row 4 is going to cause a problem for someone in row 17. If someone, by some chance is THAT allergic, I seriously hope they have an epi-pen or something b/c I don't see how they can possibly go through life without coming into contact with such a minute amount.

I certainly don't want to cause harm to someone b/c of my food, but I have a hard time believing that it is truly dangerous in the vast majority of circumstances. We fly fairly often, probably 15-20 different planes per year for about the last 10 years, and have never once heard such and announcement, or heard of it from anyone else (until reading this thread). Maybe I've just been lucky, or maybe certain airlines (which I don't fly) tend to do it more... still having a hard time accepting that this is a real problem. Again, not saying that it isn't, it just seems very odd to me.

Bottom line - I'd bring the PB&J, and on the off-chance that you happen to be seated next to someone who might die b/c of it... know that you'll have to go hungry for a bit. But I wouldn't lose sleep over that possibility.

 

[Sinderelly]

This should not cause so many arguments lol. If you are traveling on a plane just pack other snacks IN CASE there is a peanut allergy. There have been some great suggestions fruit, cheese, crackers etc. That way your kids will have something to eat and no one will have to worry about peanut allergies. It just seems so simple

 

[goofy4tink]

And there is a very similar thread regarding this same issue over on the Disabilities board. And pretty much the same reactions.

 

[Music City Mama]

I hope this doesn't come across as argumentative (I don't like PB at all, and can take or leave peanuts in general, so you won't have a problem with me causing contamination on a plane!!). I'm genuinely curious...

I see this issue come up most often about planes. I assume this is because 1) peanuts were the traditional airplane snack for decades and 2) you're dealing with a small cabin and recycled air. But on this thread I've seen way more comments concerned with contact (peanut butter smeared on a seat, etc.) than with airborne particle issues. But wouldn't there be just as much risk of this if people eat their PB crackers and PBJ at home before arriving at the airport? I can't imagine trying to keep an allergic child from touching, well, anything, anywhere! The seats at the gate, the rail on the escalator...

We are lucky that my DS does not have any allergies (my DH is highly allergic to stone and core fruits), but he DOES have a rare, misunderstood and potentially life-threatening disease. I completely understand the parental fear of something happening to your child when you are so, so careful. I feel for those who have to deal with severe allergies.

No worries, your post doesn't come across as argumentative or confrontational at all.

I will answer your question from my perspective. My post was in response to another poster who suggested that unless someone who was allergic to peanuts consumed their PB sandwich, that person wasn't going to have a reaction. I was just making the point that it is possible to react without consuming them (if after touching PB they touched their mouth, their nose or even their eyes) -- I'm not saying they'd necessarily have an anaphylactic reaction (although they might), but they more than likely would react. To say it's "scientifically impossible" or whatever it was, just really rubbed me the wrong way. We take our own precautions with cleaning areas, washing hands, etc., so it's not too much of an issue -- the insensitivity about it from some people just boggles my mind, though.

 

[Sweettears]

I can't remember the last time I got peanuts on Southwest and I fly them exclusively. I've gotten cereal bars, pretzels, and 100 Calorie Packs of Lorna Doone cookies.

I have on about 50% of the flights I've taken over the last few months.

As far as being asked to refrain, I fly frequently and have only heard the announcement once.

 

[amarberry]

They should be considerate of others by what... Not having a peanut allergy?

Again, I think it's a little selfish for you to make a decision that affects another person's heath and decide that you'll eat your sandwich, even when asked not to due to an allergy issue, because you've assessed a person you never met and their allergy and made a decision that could impact them very negatively in an area where they have no ability to get help simply because you want a PB&J. You can choose from hundreds of other snacks, but you'd choose something like this to make a stance on... For reasons that are beyond me... Instead of just doing the decent thing and having a different snack.

Sorry, I find this unfathomable, especially considering the environment, where the allergy sufferer could be a child. Is your sandwich really THAT important that you'll put another person in danger in an environment where they can't get immediate care?

All it takes is the flight attendant picking up your trash and touching the allergy-affected person. You touching the handle of the bathroom. The overhead compartment Having the person sit next to you or your family who're having the snack. Having kids who aren't as conscious of such things make a mess of their food.

Just do the decent thing and bring something other than a PB product.

Thank you! I just don't understand how some people feel like they are being persecuted and having "their rights" taken away because they are politely asked not to eat peanuts for a couple of hours BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD DIE. Real nice.

I have a daughter with a severe food allergy (not peanuts). About a month ago, she ended up needing her epipen administered at school and had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. We believe her reaction occurred because there was residue on shared math tools in her classroom (reaction occurred about an hour after lunch period) and she probably put her hands in her mouth (she's 7). Pretty scary. Her class now has some new sanitation protocols in place to protect her and the other food allergy student in the class...not to mention that a little extra hand washing in the classroom is really beneficial to the entire class for preventing other illnesses.

What happened to my daughter was pretty scary and, yes, extreme and unusual. When traveling, we make sure to wipe her seat, tray table, etc. down on airplanes and always carry benedryl and 2 epipens as a precaution. My husband or I sit next to her as a buffer if we are in a row with a stranger. She needs to ingest what she is allergic to, but as you can see from what happened to her last month, it's possible. It is very scary to know that you are 10,000 feet up in the air away from paramedics and hospitals, but I think we take a lot of precautions to mitigate the possibility.

My kids eat peanut butter pretty much everyday. They enjoy their PB&J sandwiches very much. However, as a rule, we never take PB&J on a plane because I do think about how the oil and residue gets on the seats and trays unlike other types of food, and being on an airplane, it would be a lot harder to get medical care in the event of an emergency.

My kids, who are 4 and 7, can get by for a few hours without eating peanut butter. I don't understand why an adult couldn't in the event of an announcement that there was an allergy on a plane. I hope those of you who feel so put out never have a family member with a severe food allergy, or any disability for that matter. Talk about a lack of compassion and maturity.

 

[amarberry]

Do they wear gloves at Disney? shopping? It is disingenuous to only worry about peanut butter residue on a plane.And most do not have an anaphylatic reaction to peanut butter on their skin it is usually only a contact reaction.

It is not disingenuous. An airplane is isolated from medical care in the event of an anaphylactic reaction. Chances are a paramedic could reach a person within minutes of a reaction on ground. That is the difference with an airplane.