"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 05:14:36 -0700 (PDT), Bryan-TGWWW
> > wrote:
>
>> It seems irresponsible because of all the folks who have peanut
>> allergies.
>> The residues get all over folks shoes and get tracked around. I think
>> the
>> practice should be forbidden on those grounds.
>> >
>
> I think that peanut allergy thing is overblown and ridiculous. I know
> absolutely NO one with a peanut allergy, and yet I know someone who
> carries an epi pen at all times because she's that allergic to onions.
> I even know someone who is allergic to beans, yes - beans (not the
> green vegetable)! If I can know even one person with a weird allergy
> like that and not a soul who is allergic to peanuts, it's overblown.
>
I actually know several. One year I was in charge of class parties for all
of the food allergic kids in my daughter's grade and they put them all in
one class to make it easier. One had the life threatening allergies and
there was another like Angela who is just intolerant.

In NY, they put all of the food allergy kids in a glassed off room at luck
to keep them safe. There were about 20 but it was a big school.

The wife of a coworker of my husband was allergic to peanuts. I did not
know this until we went to a formal dinner and she began screaming at her
husband because he brought peanuts to the table. I really wanted some
peanuts too. The food they served was not to my liking and just plain
wasn't good. It wasn't just me that noticed this. They did not mix the
seasonings in well. Those of us who ate at the buffet first complained of
too much salt in the food and those who ate last said there was no salt.
They also put shards of raw beet in the salad and they were so sharp that
they were sticking into my tongue.

I too think that the peanut thing has gone overboard because peanuts in and
of themselves are no more likely to kill someone than something like cheese
to a person with a dairy allergy or cilantro to a person who is allergic to
that. I actually know of a Latino waitress with a life threatening cilantro
allergy.

But... I can see why peanuts can be different than other foods. When a
person has a life threatening allergy, they can react (not all will but some
can) to airborne particles and peanuts put off dust that stuff like cheese
and cilantro aren't going to do. So in an enclosed place with recirculated
air, like on a plane, that could be bad. People are also more likely to
wipe their hands on stuff after eating peanut too because they can leave an
oily/salty residue and allergic people can react to that as well.

We make it a point to give out peanut free things for Halloween. Many years
we don't even give candy. I leaned last year that nobody wants pretzels.
Won't do that again. But they do like fruit snacks and toys.