Peanuts on a plane

[goofy4tink]

I'm glad airlines serve such a potentially fatal snack at 30,000 ft! I mean who can live without peanuts for 3 hrs? Seriously, pretzels just don't cut it now do they?!

Besides, kids with peanut allergies don't deserve to fly... let alone go to Disney!!!

(Sorry, not trying to be inflammatory, just making a point! Getting tired of hearing what a hassle it is for parents who can't send peanut butter sandwiches to school for lunch just cause somebody else's kids might die from them... sheesh!)

If you have a child who eats basically only peanut butter for lunch or on the go...for whatever reason, then perhaps you would feel differently. It's a protein and one that is the prime source of protein for my dd..at least it was several years ago. But....even though I was in the habit of bringing peanut butter sandwiches for her, when flying, we kept it in our bag when we were notified that someone with a nut allergy was on board. My dd was more than a bit hungry by the time we got to Florida.
No one said anything about anyone deserving or not deserving to fly anywhere. But, sometimes it's up to each person to decide what the risk is. I would never get into an airplane if my child had a severe allergy to any food product. How could I possibly know if everyone on that plane was going to adhere to any announcement made??? Not taking that chance.

If you have a child, or you yourself, that has any kind of allergy, that could be made worse while on a plane, it is up to you to alert the airline, before flying. That way they can make alternative plans as far as snack offerings. It is up to you, not the airline, to keep you or your child safe.
I no longer fly with any peanut product....just to be on the safe side.

 

[Hannathy]

Peanut dust is an issue with people who are allergic to peanuts. Peanut Butter in sandwiches doesn't release peanut dust into the cabin. I wouldn't eat a PB&J sandwich if the allergic passenger was in a seat in my row, or an adjacent row. Otherwise make your own decision. JMO but the airline has an obligation to notify passengers early enough so they can bring alternate food.

A person with very severe allergies can't fly. There are going to be passengers who don't know their granola bar has peanuts. More passengers who won't know if their granola bar was processed in a plant that processes peanuts.

Thank you I am so glad someone else finally chimed in on this.

You can eat peanut butter sandwiches without harming someone with an allergy. And mine would eat them if that is what I brought.

I agree with the common sense! Don't blow peanut dust into the air of someone who is allergic and don't demand the whole plane not eat peanut butter when without direct contact it isn't going to harm the allergy person. Both sides need to use common sense.

 

[Lewisc]

Thank you I am so glad someone else finally chimed in on this.

You can eat peanut butter sandwiches without harming someone with an allergy. And mine would eat them if that is what I brought.

I agree with the common sense! Don't blow peanut dust into the air of someone who is allergic and don't demand the whole plane not eat peanut butter when without direct contact it isn't going to harm the allergy person. Both sides need to use common sense.

I would move to another part of the plane to eat my peanut butter sandwich if the person next to me is the one with the allergy.

There may be people who are so allergic that passengers eating a sandwich could cause a reaction. The problem is there will be passengers who'll be eating granola bars and candy bars that contain peanuts. Some won't realize it and some won't care.

Those, very few people, with allergies that severe can't fly.

 

[livndisney]

Thank you I am so glad someone else finally chimed in on this.

You can eat peanut butter sandwiches without harming someone with an allergy. And mine would eat them if that is what I brought.

I agree with the common sense! Don't blow peanut dust into the air of someone who is allergic and don't demand the whole plane not eat peanut butter when without direct contact it isn't going to harm the allergy person. Both sides need to use common sense.

So, people with peanut allergies would only react to the peanut dust in the air? Then why the heck is everyone running around banning peanut butter sandwiches? Or am I totally missing something?

 

[livndisney]

Fine, instead of peanuts I'll bring pickled herring to munch on!!










Just kidding.

They serve dried squid on the plane in China. (Looks like a fruit rollup.......but sure doesn't smell like it)

 

[bumbershoot]

Unfortunately for us, a lady sitting in our row wasn't concerned about a peanut allergy. She chomped away on her peanut butter sandwich.

Even after an announcement? Blah on her.

... BUT, when he was around 5- he ONLY ate pb sandwiches... As this was a 5 hour flight, we would have had issues in the past.. I would have had behavioral issues as I still do when his blood sugar gets too low.

If I had experienced this back then, I would have liked the opportunity to know that this would be the situation and perhaps I would have chosen another flight. I think that the airlines should give ALL the opportunity to take other flights if a situation like this occurs..

Good point.

From a peanut post several months ago, I realized that we needed to make sure we did have other things with us. For our next flight we actually found these cute 1oz packets of organic PB that went in one of our 311 bags along with tiny safe-for-DS jelly packets. So if we hadn't been able to eat the PB, we could have had jelly sandwiches, or just bread if necessary. Our snack wouldn't be destroyed, since the packs were in the 311 bags and therefore our sandwiches weren't pre-made and useless in the case of someone with an allergy.

I'm glad airlines serve such a potentially fatal snack at 30,000 ft! I mean who can live without peanuts for 3 hrs? Seriously, pretzels just don't cut it now do they?!

Besides, kids with peanut allergies don't deserve to fly... let alone go to Disney!!!

(Sorry, not trying to be inflammatory, just making a point! Getting tired of hearing what a hassle it is for parents who can't send peanut butter sandwiches to school for lunch just cause somebody else's kids might die from them... sheesh!)

Yeah, I don't understand your point.

So pretzels...unfortunately, the pretzels served on the flights we've been on have HFCS in them. While that's not going to kill my son, it's going to cause a freakout so that OTHERS might think about killing him... If they'd get pretzels made with normal sugar it would be fine...

Anyway, I read your post 5 more times and finally got it. And no, no one is saying any of what you're reacting to. It's all about education and thinking about other choices, and hoping that the allergic family tells the gate agents BEFORE anyone is boarded so that there's a chance for people to eat quickly or run and grab something else.

I take small snack bags of peanuts on planes all the time and eat them as my protein snack (dietary requirement for me is a certain number of grams of protein per day.) I have never been on a flight where we were asked to not eat peanuts due to an allergy.

And now, after reading this thread, perhaps you can bring something else along with the peanuts, for your needed snack. Just in case. I haven't been on a flight that has been announced as peanut-free, but like I said in my first post in this thread, it wouldn't feel good to kill someone!



As for peanut butter not spreading dust....yeah...while I'm sure that's true, the smell of PB is strong. And if an allergic someone is sitting back several rows and smells it, don't you think that's going to cause an emotional reaction? Don't you think it's going to scare them?

I know that with my occasional asthma, high emotions bring it on, or exacerbate it, like NOTHING else. Before the asthma, when I just had sneezing allergies, I had been known to have a massive sneezing fit during arguments with my mom.

Not sure if that sort of thing might happen to others, but I would HATE to have someone so SCARED that someone had a bag of peanuts that might harm them. I think I would prefer to not scare someone, so if it was a peanut-free flight, I would do without the PB.

 

[Hannathy]

So, people with peanut allergies would only react to the peanut dust in the air? Then why the heck is everyone running around banning peanut butter sandwiches? Or am I totally missing something?

The vast majority of peanut allergies are only triggered by peanut protein ingestion. that can be by inhaling the dust or getting peanut butter in the mouth, nose or eyes. There are a few, very few who are allergic to contact but the worry is they will rub the peanut butter into their eyes, nose or mouth.
That is why i say if my child eats a PB&J 3 rows away and doesn't get it on the surface the allergy person will touch there is no problem.

Why the ban that is part of the no common sense and over reaction that is rampant today. Stopping my child from eating the sandwich on the plane does nothing to prevent the business man from eating a peanut butter cup on the monorail and wiping his sticky hands on the pole.

 

[disneysnob]

I'm glad airlines serve such a potentially fatal snack at 30,000 ft! I mean who can live without peanuts for 3 hrs? Seriously, pretzels just don't cut it now do they?!

Besides, kids with peanut allergies don't deserve to fly... let alone go to Disney!!!

(Sorry, not trying to be inflammatory, just making a point! Getting tired of hearing what a hassle it is for parents who can't send peanut butter sandwiches to school for lunch just cause somebody else's kids might die from them... sheesh!)

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I definitely understand your point. My nephew has a SEVERE allergy to peanuts/tree nuts... and JetBlue is fabulous when it comes to his flying. They allow my sister (who always informs the airline beforehand) to pre-board, wipe down their seats (she even puts a twin-sized fitted sheet over his, just incase of a previous peanut eating passenger.) They do announce the allergy before the flight, and I believe give her a "bufferzone" :2-3 rows in front and back are peanut-free. It's is funny, however, the reactions she has come across regarding this. People are actually not happy because they have to fly 2-3 hours without a bag of peanuts! For all those parents whose kids "only eat PB & J", maybe you can try to broaden their horizons a bit....Bologna & Cheese? Tuna? Jelly & Cream Cheese? JMHO.

 

[livndisney]

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I definitely understand your point. My nephew has a SEVERE allergy to peanuts/tree nuts... and JetBlue is fabulous when it comes to his flying. They allow my sister (who always informs the airline beforehand) to pre-board, wipe down their seats (she even puts a twin-sized fitted sheet over his, just incase of a previous peanut eating passenger.) They do announce the allergy before the flight, and I believe give her a "bufferzone" :2-3 rows in front and back are peanut-free. It's is funny, however, the reactions she has come across regarding this. People are actually not happy because they have to fly 2-3 hours without a bag of peanuts! For all those parents whose kids "only eat PB & J", maybe you can try to broaden their horizons a bit....Bologna & Cheese? Tuna? Jelly & Cream Cheese? JMHO.

The things you mentioned all require refrigeration and do not take into account other allergies. To say nothing of the possible reaction the wipes your sister uses to wipe the seat will cause to others like my family. As I have said before courtesy goes both ways.

 

[disneysnob]

Not quite sure I've ever heard of an allergy to wet wipes? Am I missing something? As far as 'refridgeration', I survived all of my school years with a sandwich packed in a lunchbag for three hours in my locker...whether it be cold cuts, tuna, even egg salad

 

[hildarumpole]

AirTran put a note on our reservation regarding my kids' peanut allergy. They serve pretzels, but said they make an announcement about the allergy prior to take off, so passengers who brought their own food are aware of it. The customer service rep I talked to told me they've had to make emergency landings when someone has had a severe allergic reaction, so it's something to consider if you choose to indulge in a can of peanuts after being warned about it. The problem on planes is the recirculation of air, so it's not impossible for the peanut dust to be inhaled by an allergic person. Is it really worth risking harm to someone and messing up your vacation plans? As others have stated, peanut butter isn't as much of an issue, because of its consistency. We always wipe the trays and armrests down, just in case of residue. If everyone exercises common sense and common courtesy, we'll all be better off.

 

[hildarumpole]

Not quite sure I've ever heard of an allergy to wet wipes? Am I missing something? As far as 'refridgeration', I survived all of my school years with a sandwich packed in a lunchbag for three hours in my locker...whether it be cold cuts, tuna, even egg salad

Sounds like my school lunches. How did we manage to survive?

 

[livndisney]

Not quite sure I've ever heard of an allergy to wet wipes? Am I missing something? As far as 'refridgeration', I survived all of my school years with a sandwich packed in a lunchbag for three hours in my locker...whether it be cold cuts, tuna, even egg salad

I wish I had never heard of allergies either. My family reacts to chemicals in certain wipes. Life threatening, can't breathe reaction.

I can just imagine how lovely a tuna sandwich with mayo would smell after a few hours in the bottom of a bag in the Florida heat.

As I said courtesy goes both ways(or atleast it should).

 

[Inkmahm]

Sounds like my school lunches. How did we manage to survive?

Ha, I just had this conversation with my sister on our last trip to WDW in March. We LOVE the sandwiches from the bakery in France. I bought ham and cheese sandwiches as well as turkey and cheese sandwiches our last night at Epcot. Kept them in the refrigerator overnight and took them to the airport with us to take on the plane. My sister was having heart failure because they weren't going to be refrigerated for a few hours. I reminded her that when we were kids, there was no such thing as coolers. Lunches went to school in brown paper sacks. They were never refrigerated and we survived!

 

[Lewisc]

AirTran put a note on our reservation regarding my kids' peanut allergy. They serve pretzels, but said they make an announcement about the allergy prior to take off, so passengers who brought their own food are aware of it. The customer service rep I talked to told me they've had to make emergency landings when someone has had a severe allergic reaction, so it's something to consider if you choose to indulge in a can of peanuts after being warned about it. The problem on planes is the recirculation of air, so it's not impossible for the peanut dust to be inhaled by an allergic person. Is it really worth risking harm to someone and messing up your vacation plans? As others have stated, peanut butter isn't as much of an issue, because of its consistency. We always wipe the trays and armrests down, just in case of residue. If everyone exercises common sense and common courtesy, we'll all be better off.

They really should be making the announcement prior to boarding. Early enough so passengers have time to purchase an alternate snack.

Parents should make sure they have at least one epi-pen.

 

[Pirate Dad]

I was trying to make a point indirectly but perhaps I need to be more direct...

Unlike most other allergies peanuts are highly dangerous (and most people know this). My DW is a school teacher and says the number of kids with peanut allergies is growing. Also, many parents do not know their kids are allergic until they have a reaction (the allergy is not necessarily genetic). And, unlike other environments, a plane is 30,000 ft in the air with no 911 option.

So there are two possibilities here: 1) the airline announces there is a child with a peanut allergy on board (so they serve some other snack) but some parent lets their kid eat pj sandwiches anyway. The kid at some point goes to the washroom (or something else) and the allergic kid comes in contact with the peanut residue. 2) a parent does not know their kid is allergic to peanuts but finds out the hard way on a plane in mid-flight. In either case the child could choke to death (an epipen only stops the reaction for about 15 minutes - usually enough time to get an ambulance or to emergency... not so on a plane).

So what I'm saying here is that as individuals, we can choose to forgo the peanuts while we fly. I love peanuts but can live without them for a few hours and am willing to make that sacrifice when I'm flying for the safety of all. (If there are other life-threatening allergies I knew about I'd do the same for those). I could just imagine the stress a parent of a child with peanut allergies must go through when flying. Can't we all try to make life a bit easier for them, after all no one chooses to have a life-threatening allergy. And no, saying they shouldn't fly isn't a solution.

BTW I witnessed a neighbor's child have a reaction and get dragged off in an ambulance after being kissed on the cheek by another child who ate a peanut butter cup a few hours earlier. It scared the hell out of me! That's why I am willing to save my peanut snacks til I get to my destination. Planes are a special case where if we all make a small sacrifice it will be safer for everyone. Seems like the Disney thing to do!

 

[Lewisc]

Both sides have to be reasonable. PB sandwiches don't produce peanut dust. Parent may need to wipe down the bathroom before a child uses it. You have to assume someone on the plane may have consumed a candy bar or granola bar with peanuts. They may not know it.

 

[Hannathy]

So there are two possibilities here: 1) the airline announces there is a child with a peanut allergy on board (so they serve some other snack) but some parent lets their kid eat pj sandwiches anyway. The kid at some point goes to the washroom (or something else) and the allergic kid comes in contact with the peanut residue. 2) a parent does not know their kid is allergic to peanuts but finds out the hard way on a plane in mid-flight. In either case the child could choke to death (an epipen only stops the reaction for about 15 minutes - usually enough time to get an ambulance or to emergency... not so on a plane).

The chance of a walking, talking child who has been out in public to have a first anaphylactic shock incidence from contacting the slight left over residue off of someones fingers is so slim that is not a legitimate argument. And if you know your child is that sensitive if it were mine they wouldn't be going to the BR without gloves on if I had any doubt in my mind and washing their hands well before touching their nose or eyes.

 

[junebugTN]

Seems like the Disney thing to do!

I agree with you, Pirate Dad. I know we can all get sensitive about our personal freedoms and such, but come on.... I'd be glad to give up peanuts, wet wipes or anything else that could cause a life threatening allergy to a child on my flight.

I'm all for personal responsibility, and I totally agree that the parents of kids with these allergies should use every precaution... and the airline staff should notify passengers before boarding. But it seems extreme to get angry or act like it's an inconvenience to do what you can to minimize the risk to another child.

I'm going to take Bumbershoot's suggestions to heart and just try to keep this sorta thing in mind when I pack my flight snacks. I definitely don't want to make anybody sick or worse...no matter how much I love my Fluffernutter sandwiches.

June

 

[DebbieB]

Delta also serves peanuts. They give you a choice of biscoff cookies, peanuts or pretzels.