Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Fri 23 Sep 2005 10:10:12a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>
>>Gabby wrote:
>>
>>>"jmcquown" > wrote in message
.. .
>>>
>>>
>>>>I didn't think they still gave out peanuts on planes. Whenever I
>>>>fly, which is a heck of a lot in the last couple of years, you get a
>>>>bag of pretzels or a granola bar. What if someone is allergic to
>>>>the oats used in granola? Or has a sensitivity to flour used in the
>>>>pretzels? At some point a person has to be responsible for
>>>>themselves and not expect the world to kow-tow just because they
>>>>have an allergy. A person with such severe allergies should carry an
>>>>epi-pen. My 2 cents.
>>>
>>>Peanut allergy is one of the few I know of where the allergic person
>>>can die because YOU ate peanuts. Just the opening of bags of peanuts
>>>on a plane can trigger an anaphylactic reaction. I'm not aware of
>>>anyone ever dying because someone else ate wheat.
>>>
>>>The epi-pen is a stop-gap measure to buy time while you haul ass to
>>>the nearest ER. Depending on the flight, an ER may not be accessible
>>>in enough time for the epi-pen to be worth anything. All it would do
>>>is prolong death.
>>>
>>>FWIW, not all airlines have stopped offering peanuts. A few have
>>>taken the attitude of some of the posters he your allergy is your
>>>problem, not ours.
>>>
>>>Gabby
>>
>>I generally fly Northwest (although with the bankruptcy that will
>>probably stop) or Delta. I've never been offered peanuts on any of
>>their flights. Call me insensitive, but I still don't believe it is the
>>airlines responsibility to worry about a single customer possibly having
>>a food allergy. You get 150 people on a plane and they are supposed to
>>change their policy because they might have one passenger with a peanut
>>allergy? You know that's not how big business works.
>>
>>And a lot of people bring their own snacks on the plane with them; I
>>know I do (usually cheese crackers, but sometimes evey PB crackers!).
>>What are they supposed to do, start confiscating anything with peanuts?
>>I, for one, would protest.
>>
>>I also do not remember anyone having peanut allergies when I was a kid
>>in the 1960's. I took a PB sandwich for lunch every day and no one ever
>>got ill from being around me while I was eating it. I can't comment on
>>why this has become so prevalent; I can only comment on personal
>>experience which is this: no child around me ever had an allergic
>>reaction when I was eating my lunch.
>>
>>Jill
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> DITTO!
>
You might not say the same thing if it was one of your loved ones or
yourself and you had to deal with the aftermath. No you would likely be
the first one pointing a finger or filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Schools and airlines have liability issues. That means if something so
simple as removing peanuts from their snacks can help prevent lawsuits
or the death of an individual it is much cheaper for them to remove the
snack. I have severe asthma and have severe allergies both
life-threatening and I am lactose intolerant. I am a mature responsible
adult who takes a pro-active role in maintaining my health and I carry
an epi-pen. This is why I don't like eating out at restaurants or
anywhere I haven't done the cooking. I am *very* specific in asking if
certain ingredients are in a dish and when in doubt I will not eat the
dish. I learned the hard way after a near death experience. I had
specifically asked if a certain ingredient was in the dish and the
relative said no. One bite and I ended up in the emergency department
being intubated. Have you ever had that done? It really isn't
pleasant! This relative had actually thought I was joking and had
included the ingredient just to see if anything would happen. I've had
the same thing happen with the lactose problem where someone will say no
there are no milk products but there are. It kind of ruins a meal when
you are desperately running for a restroom! Thankfully lactaid helps
with that type of inconsiderate action. You see ignorant and
inconsiderate people who fail to realize this could actually cause
someone's death are the real ones who cause the problem. People with
the problem know how to avoid it but they are no match for such
ignorance. If I as a grown adult could have fallen for such trickery
how can a little kid avoid it? If I as an adult can do whatever it
takes to prevent another's death, I will do it. Are peanuts that big of
a deal to you that you would risk someone else's life? Surely you could
enjoy peanuts in your own home and even out but not where kids who may
be highly allergic to them could die before help got there and not in
enclosed spaces like airplanes. Wouldn't you just feel wonderful for
enjoying your peanuts on a plane while someone takes their final breath.
Yes I'm being hard but I've been there and until you have you have no
idea how it feels.

Obfood: I'm canning applesauce, maple apple jam, and salsa today. I'm
making another batch of yogurt today. I'm not sure what I'm doing for
dinner yet. We have left-over chili and we have a very nice looking
side of ribs. A lot will depend on the weather as it does look like
there may be storms in the area.