Nut Allergies on Airplanes
April 23rd, 2009 | by Patricia Aspinwall 7 comments
I have been traveling by plane since I was a young child, and have taken so many trips that I couldn’t even count them all. Last month, I had a very surprising “first” experience on a plane.
We took a charter plane down to the Caribbean. This plane was full of families with kids, and I was traveling with my husband, and my 2.5 year old daughter.
Since you can no longer count on free food when traveling by air, I always pack a bunch of snacks. My daughter is a very picky eater, but one item she will eat is peanut butter granola bars. Naturally I packed a bunch for our flight.
After we boarded the airplane, a flight attendant announced that there was a child aboard who had a severe allergy to nuts, and requested that passengers please refrain from eating anything containing nuts.
I totally understood this request. The last thing I wanted to do was eat something with nuts, and by some chance cause an allergic reaction to a little child miles in the air. But what was my little picky eater supposed to eat for her snack?
I approached the flight attendants, but unfortunately they didn’t have any solutions. It seemed that this was a first for them as well. I was told to go ahead and eat the food I brought. I replied that I wasn’t willing to take the risk. Finally they gave us some free snacks, but asked us please not to tell anyone. They didn’t have enough for everyone.
As allergies are becoming a bigger and bigger issue each year, airlines need a definitive policy. As for me, I will definitely rethink what snacks I pack for our next flight.
Recent posts by this author
Jane on April 23rd, 2009
Thanks for the story, Patricia. I’m surprised airlines haven’t come up against this before. I hope everyone is as considerate as you.
Meg on April 24th, 2009
I have a question for readers, especially of parents of children with “nut” allergies. Are these allergies usually just peanuts or all nuts? (Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, etc?). I always hear nut allergies, but our pediatrician told me peanuts are a legume while other “nuts” are actually nuts – grow on a tree. You can have a severe peanut allergy and scarf down the walnuts. Does anyone have children who are allergic to all kinds of nuts? Do flight attendants/parents/we have to say “nuts” because processed food will use peanuts in something that may say “almonds”? I bring plain almonds almost everywhere because it is a great, transportable snack (that mom loves too) and I hope that it won’t put anyone with an extreme allergy at risk. Am I being naive? Thanks
Social Marketing Mama on April 24th, 2009
…that IS a first! You made the right decision in not eating the nuts, very kind of you…and the flight attendants were nice to give you something. I love to bring nuts along my travels as well (no pun intended)…but its a good thing to know. You’re right, a policy could help here.
Jamie Pearson on April 24th, 2009
I suspect airline policy is all about covering their asses legally. I get that they can’t guarantee a nut-free environment—that makes sense. But continuing to serve peanuts when life-threatening allergies are on the rise? Come ON.
Some airlines seem to be willing to create a 3-row nut-free buffer zone around the allergic passenger. That’s nice I guess, but wouldn’t it just be easier to serve pretzels?
Heather Poole on April 24th, 2009
As a flight attendant, a person who suffers from allergies, and a mother with a 2.5 year-old who travels often, I know there’s no easy answer here. My airline only serves nuts (no peanuts) in the premium cabins, but with airlines not serving food (mine included) passengers bring their own, and with everyone being healthy, nuts are a popular choice of snack.
No one wants to hear a hungry crying child, but on the flip side, I’ve seen what a nut allergy can do to a child. You were lucky the FA’s had food to share. Remember, if we are catered with food, there’s not enough for everyone. Therefore make sure when you’re packing your bag, to add another snack along with the nuts – just in case. Fortunately I’ve only come across a passenger with nut allergies once in 14 years of flying.
Great post, BTW. I think I’ll write about happened to you, Jamie, with a link to your post of course!
Heather Poole
http://www.gadling.com/galley-gossip
Linda on April 28th, 2009
It’s too bad the airline didn’t warn you beforehand that they might make this request.
With regards to your question about peanuts and tree nuts, some kids are allergic to just one, but often they’ll be allergic to both peanuts and one or more tree nuts. For some reason, there seems to be a correlation between the two. My son is allergic to peanuts and Brazil nuts but not other nuts.
There are no easy answers when it comes to allergies. Thanks for helping to keep the other child safe.
Avivah on August 19th, 2009
Thank you, Ms Aspinwall for being so considerate. I have found, unfortunately, that such consideration does not extend to adults. My mother (obm), aka my taster, finally taught me how she recognised the smell of nuts. Since I can no longer take anti-histamines except in an emergency I cannot tell you the number of times I have had to back out of a door before entering a party.
As for variations in nut allergies, I am allergic to all nuts except almonds, which I can only eat if roasted or in some way cooked. However, I cannot eat uncooked peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines too close to the pit or I have pseudo-reaction.
7 Responses to “Nut Allergies on Airplanes”