Eating nuts in enclosed spaces

I have twice been on a plane where it was announced that someone on board had a severe nut allergy and please do not eat any nuts you might have with you.
I’ve not been on a flight where nuts were offered for years, it’s usually pretzels these days.
I have absolutely no objection to not eating nuts on a flight. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of someone having an anaphylactic shock.
Actually I don’t eat that many nuts at all. I do use them in some of my cake recipes though, usually walnuts.

I think it would be best all round for airlines not to give or sell nuts on board or for Airports to sell them or passengers asked not to take any on board the plane.It would soon be accepted and could save lives every year.

Often young lives too.

It’s years since I was offered anything nut-based on a flight. I don’t think it’s that difficult to go without nuts for a few hours in order to protect someone’s life.

My dd flat-shared with someone who is nut-allergic. Although some of my DC have allergies, this was on a different level. I checked carefully whenever sending my dd any food gifts and she of course studied her grocery shopping carefully. Her flat mate was so allergic that she couldn’t go into cafes that offered an almond milk option, in case of cross contamination.

She once had a reaction when my dd was with her. She was certain she hadn’t eaten anything so my dd did some sleuthing and traced it back to a new shampoo her flatmate had used that had almond oil in it.

I love peanuts, but can never have them in the house! How did I survive the last forty years! 😉

It would, however, be very difficult to enforce. How do you ensure people from all over the world would comply even if it was made law in every country?

Well, I've not been on a plane that offers nuts as a snack for years.

wildswan16

It would, however, be very difficult to enforce. How do you ensure people from all over the world would comply even if it was made law in every country?

Well as far as I am aware, they've managed it with smoking haven't they?

They've also managed to ban the use of mobiles other than in airplane-mode where you turn off your wireless communication options.

A law is a law - why do you think people wouldn't obey it on a commercial airplane?

The local flights here often have nuts. Mainly peanuts but sometimes macadamias. They are always in sealed packages ,not loose.

nanna8

The local flights here often have nuts. Mainly peanuts but sometimes macadamias. They are always in sealed packages ,not loose.

I suppose I'd never asked for them on internal flights, assuming airlines were more careful now.

nanna8

The local flights here often have nuts. Mainly peanuts but sometimes macadamias. They are always in sealed packages ,not loose.

But presumably those eating them open the package before consuming them, so they hold the same risk as a handful of loose peanuts in a bowl.

Does any airline serve nuts that are not in a sealed package?

Gosh, the nut blog has certainly raised my awareness!! A very dear friend of mine was at a company dinner (many moons ago), he had a proven allergy to sea food so naturally avoided it, But whilst eating his soup went into toxic shock and was actually hospitalised for a few days. When investigating the reasons for the allergic reaction it transpires the pans used for that soup had been used 2 days previously to make fish soup!!!

this is not about refraining from eating nuts for a few hours but on long flights. To date it is not illegal or banned. So why is it not banned if so critical?

I would also add that if catering for vegans and others was not so dire, then people would not need to take nut bars with them on planes and trains. Nut bars are a replacement for a meal that is not offered to vegans by catering firms . It is not a snack but for a vegan it is nourishment on a long flight.

I don't think you would even consider the 'fairness' if someone's life was at risk. I would be happy to refrain.

ordinarygirl

I would also add that if catering for vegans and others was not so dire, then people would not need to take nut bars with them on planes and trains. Nut bars are a replacement for a meal that is not offered to vegans by catering firms . It is not a snack but for a vegan it is nourishment on a long flight.

But it's not as if that's the only thing they can eat? Surely if there is a risk to someone's life, it's hardly asking too much for people NOT to eat nuts, even on a long haul flight? There are plenty of alternative snacks.

In many cases of anaphylaxic shock due to a nut allergy, it’s been due to
a nut based product , oil or flour used in the production of the food

Malaysia airline serves nuts. They are delicious but I am always amazed that they still do it. I just presume that no one on board has reported a problem.
I can’t imagine being upset at having to do without.
What’s the matter with people who seem to have such little concern for others? There are so many other food options.

I'm perfectly sure vegans (or anyone else for that matter) can find a snack that doesn't contain peanuts. We're talking about a maximum of around 8 hours, not weeks on end. Good grief, we have a greater choice of food stuffs these days than you can shake a stick at. Nobody's going to waste away.

ordinarygirl

I would also add that if catering for vegans and others was not so dire, then people would not need to take nut bars with them on planes and trains. Nut bars are a replacement for a meal that is not offered to vegans by catering firms . It is not a snack but for a vegan it is nourishment on a long flight.

Vegans with a nut allergy cope without nut bars.

A 'peanut' is a legume (member of pea family) not a tree nut at all. So maybe other nuts would be an alternative. Start the journey hydrated and well fed. We have been trained to eat and drink on planes as we are a captive audience to be marketed to. A few sweets and a bottle of water should be plenty. (Oh I am aware I'll annoy some) schoolnutrition.org/sn-magazine/peanut-and-tree-nut-allergies-understanding-the-differences/

A few sweets and a bottle of water should be plenty
Over 14 hours?

I can't last that long. But I can manage without nuts, sesame seeds, anything else that might cause problems to other people.

I get that it is awful to have such an extreme allergy, but our freedoms seem to be eroded right, left and centre because this person or that person is sensitive to something. I'm not sure how I feel about the particular question, I just know if my child had such an extreme allergy I would not get in a plane or go anywhere where his or her safety could be compromised. I also think we should a) be asking ourselves why these allergies, and intolerances are surfacing, and b) what we can do about them. Apparently it's beneficial to give peanuts to a child at a very young age, to prevent the allergy developing. There must be more that can be discovered, to help.

We usually fly long-haul, so asking us not to eat nuts (if they are provided by the airline) is just not on. Why should the majority be deprived of a treat by a tiny, tiny minority. If a person's nut allergy is that life-threatening, then should they be flying?

meddijess

We usually fly long-haul, so asking us not to eat nuts (if they are provided by the airline) is just not on. Why should the majority be deprived of a treat by a tiny, tiny minority. If a person's nut allergy is that life-threatening, then should they be flying?

Oh, can't you do without nuts for the length of a long-haul flight?