Peanut Allergy

Having a peanut allergy and being identified as such within the general public can be an instant lesson in alienation. So very many people are upset or just downright angry because of the continuous push to remove peanuts and peanut butter from ball parks, amusement parks, schools, airlines and almost anywhere else that can be considered a public forum.

The continuous debate over whether it should be banned fuels so much controversy. Proponents for keeping peanuts at a public event constantly state what is the necessity of eliminating a long-eaten staple at a baseball game or other sporting event when the difficulty only affects maybe 1% or 2% of the population, "do you hear that - just 1%? But guess what? That slim 1% translates into numbers to be approximately 1 million plus live walking and talking people. People unfamiliar with the difficulties of a severe allergy can not relate to the fact that approximately one million people, when in the immediate vicinity of the smell or touch of a peanut can actually suffer the consequences the same as someone shooting off a loaded gun, point-blank range. A severe peanut allergy can claim a life in 5 minutes or less.

This means there is approximately one million people who every day must guard against some of the most commonplace events we just take for granted without even thinking about them.

Getting a kiss from your sweetheart, your wife (or husband) or any other person who ate peanuts in anything earlier that day can actually trigger a reaction Touching a door knob, a steering wheel, a shopping cart at the grocery store, a dinner plate or glass, a stadium seat, the bathroom vanity or the "flusher handle" on the toilet. On and on this list goes.

If any person had peanut proteins on their hands, and an allergic individual followed them, a severe reaction has been staged. So if you just finish off a peanut butter cup, a bag of M&M peanuts, a peanut butter cracker, french fries or any other food cooked in peanut oil, the peanut itself plus any of the many other places a peanut shows up as an ingredient, you are actually an immediate danger to a peanut allergic individual.

Many prepared food products, which no one has any idea has peanuts as an ingredient, is a danger for this allergy. Worcestershire sauce, bouillon cubes, salad dressings, prepared soup and chili's plus countless other processed foods have an ingredient known as natural flavorings. Often this term is referring to peanuts.

Cross contamination is a major concern for this allergy. Chocolate candies, trail mixes or trail bars, mixed nuts and breakfast cereals are just a few of the problem areas. Even though many of these products might not necessarily have peanuts as an ingredient, often other items made in the same factory can have the nut as an ingredient.

So, yes, there will be times that you would just love to have that Snickers bar right about now. But to the people beside you, or behind you or in front of you, that sweet indulgence you so desire could mean the end of their life.

How hard is it for you to be courteous enough to ask each of these people within your immediate vicinity if your ripping open that candy bar could create any major difficulties to their health?

#PeanutAllergy