Hiding from nuts on planes

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm not surprised you were ill-treated by the American flight attendant. For all their talk about accomodating people with nut allergies, most airlines seem to not "get it."

As far as people bringing their own peanuts on flights, I wish I'd had the same experience as you. Our very first flight with our children, we witnessed entire families scarfing down peanut butter sandwiches both before and during the flight. And as we got ready for take-off, I heard the mother sitting behind us say to her child: "I brought your special peanuts." Oh, joy! We've also seen peanuts and shells crusted all over our seats and on the floors. And this is on an airline that doesn't serve peanuts!! Go figure.

My 12 year old has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. She has experienced an anaphylaxic reaction, which is severe. Actually life threatening. She carries an epinepherine injection pen and asthma inhaler. The US is not doing enough with labels and warnings, and has done far too much with pesticides and geneitically alltered food. What most people fail to notice is the increase in food sensitivity. Those like my daughter must be their own advocates for their own health's sake. They read labels , ask countless questions about food preparation(peanut oil, cross contaminants), ...it's rough. They may be the canaries in the coal mine for the rest of us.
* I feel for peanut farmers in the South. There had been a peanut slump and there was a big push even in the govt. to push the use of these legumes so farmers wouldn't go bust. Check that out. That's when you see the great influx of info about how nutritious and inexpensive the peanut is. Likewise, this is about the time peanut -butter everything became en vouge. ie) oreos, ritz crackers, cereals, etc. This was a worse case senario for my family and I hade to bake everything for my child. God bless Ben and Jerry's for their labeling practices and Breyer's Pure Vanilla ice cream.

If the ICAO would simply issue a directive to use PRETZELS as the snack-food on ALL FLIGHTS it would solve the problem.

This is a tough one. I travel probably half a dozen times a year, and most of my flights are long ones. In case the airline serves unappetizing food, or charges for their food, or doesn't serve any food at all, I like to bring trail mix along. I have a friend whose child is severely peanut-allergic, so I try to be sensitive and eat neatly, and do whatever I can not to impose my peanuts on anyone around me, but I realize that even this might not be enough for the severely allergic.

On the other hand, if I'm stuck on a plane for five or more hours with no food being served to me, what am I supposed to do? Nuts are, for many of us, a very healthful and convenient snack. The protein makes them filling (and this is why a bag of pretzels on a long-haul flight just won't cut it), and they are certainly easy to bring along, since they don't need to be chilled or warmed up.

Do you peanut-sensitive folks have any suggestions for a substitute snack/meal I should bring on my next flight?

What do diabetics do, they shouldn't have pretzels due to the high carbohydrate count. Peanuts/nuts is a better choice for diabetics.

No! Don't change to pretzels! I'm allergic to gluten!

Your story shows just how far we have to go in this country in educating people about food allergies. My son is allergic to wheat, rye, barley, oat, egg, peanut and tree nut. We have only flown once and it is not something I wish to do again for a long, long time.

According to the current evidence, skin contact or inhalation are unlikely to cause systemic reactions in food-allergic patients.

Two of the few studies showing a correlation between "inhalation" of food particles and allergic reactions consisted only of self-reported events.

There is a difference between smelling a food and inhaling an aerosolized food.

Aerosolization of food can occur in boiling, frying, grating, shredding, grinding. Inhalation of aerosolized food can induce wheezing in sensitive individuals.

http://allergynotes.blogspot.com/2009/02/airlines-and-peanut-snacks.html

I understand that you have a particular and very dangerous sensitivity to nuts, but it is really unfair to expect that the 99.9% of people that don't have this problem go out of their way to accommodate your allergy. It is an unpopular viewpoint, but maybe your health issues are your own and not the responsibility of others.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience in quarantine. I can only imagine how awful that would have been traveling over the Atlantic.

Allergic Living recently did a cover article on this issue and how airlines need more accommodations. Also, a write-in campaign to persuade Canada's two main air carriers that more needs to be done to protect a growing population of food allergic travelers was conducted and brought in over 1000 letters. Hopefully, policies will change and be carried over to American airlines.

There is a chart available: http://www.allergicliving.com/documents/airlines.asp which compares airlines and their policies on allergies. It says right on the chart that American Airlines will not ask passengers to refrain from eating nuts/peanuts. It also says the airline does not refrain from serving treenut or sesame snacks to accommodate an allergic passenger. On a better note for American travelers, JetBlue is really accommodating.

THe cover article is also on the AL website in case anyone is interested: http://www.allergicliving.com/features.asp?copy_id=233

I have food allergies and travel with some simple precautions, such as antihistamines a simple face mask (think of the kind you see folks in Asia wear during cold & flu season). I advise that you do the same. It's easy and I find I get a better, more helpful reaction out of those traveling with me when I show that I'm willing to do what I can, given it's my problem and not theirs.

If all else fails, I move to another place in the plane. I've never had trouble with making the request.

I usually bring a peanut butter sandwich when traveling. If someone said there were allergic, I would hold off on eating it. However, I am not going to stop bringing them because there's a chance of allergic person on board.

Thanks for this article, and for publishing it. It is important and we cannot stop educating people about the situation.

We are a family that works abroad, and has been doing so for 19 years. Our son is 13, has been diagnosed with severe nut anaphylaxis. As we live abroad, he has never lived in his passport country (Canada). We are finding that the few international airlines that make it easy for us to fly international destinations are much better than the domestic airlines in North America. Some people just don't get it, and their animosity towards allergy sufferers is truly testament to their lack of education.

There seems to be such a malice towards kids with these allergies; allergies they do not choose to have, but simply happen to them. The American "right to eat nuts on planes" outweighs an allergic person's right to fly. How sad. Their discomfort over eating crackers instead of nuts on a plane is perceived to be more cumbersome than exposure to a life threatening allergy. How sad.

What a lot of people don't realize is that those who are severely allergic are not rescued by an epipen; they need to know that an epipen buys about 20 minutes of continual heartbeat and brain activity. It doesn't necessarily open the airways. That's why an anaphylactic reaction at 30,000 feet is a death sentence, and why nuts on planes is a serious, not trivial, matter. Those who provide nut snacks on planes are uncaring and uneducated, and those who demand their right to eat nuts on planes, after hearing an explanation are very selfish.

The only thing that will make this situation real for those who feel they MUST serve or eat nuts on planes is if everyone ends up with a nut allergy sufferer in their family. Not something I would wish on my worst enemy .

Get educated, get compassionate. Airlines need to learn to care: serve other non-life threatening foods.....it's better than watching a four year old who touched the handle on their seat with trace amounts of nuts go into anaphylactic reaction mid-flight.

I can't believe that they would refuse to stop serving the nuts if it was a hazard for your health. Is it really worth someone's health for a few passengers not to have their snack of choice? I mean, you're sitting in a flying sardine can. It's not like you can just walk away.
Hopefully the recent salmonella scare will encourage more airlines to consider nixing the nut.

My youngest son is so allergic to peanuts and tree nuts that even the smell sends him into respiratory distress. Family members each carry EpiPens just in case he has a reaction when he is with them.

When my father surprised the family with a trip to Disney World, all that I could think of was the hassle we might have going through security with a dozen EpiPens among us and how to avoid the peanuts. Masks worn on planes doesn't necessary make passengers feel comfortable. Perhaps it was the pre-planning that I went through and the communications with Delta in advance, but I am happy to say that all flights were peanut free and my worries were for not.

Going through security was easier than I thought would be as well. I contacted each security dept. at the various airports prior to our arrival, so they knew our names, his MD's name and travel plans in advance. We carried a letter from our MD stating the need and the emergency action plan in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.

He had never flown before and I am very grateful that Delta acknowledged the seriousness of peanut allergies and did not offer them during the flight.

I am gluten intolerant. I flew last year just as airlines were starting to introduce "a la carte" meals that you pay for, so I wasn't aware of it. I had been able to select "gluten free meal" when I bought my ticket online, and I wasn't aware the airlines had stopped serving meals. So then I had to endure an 8 hr flight without food because I couldn't eat anything in the pre-packaged snacks they sold and hadn't had time to pack anything to eat because I had to catch a 6am flight. On my way back, thinking ahead, I bought a bunch of gluten free meal bars. Now unfortunately most of those are made with nuts, so in order to be considerate to those with nut allergies, I have to go hungry on airplanes. I feel for them, I just hope I don't end up sitting next to someone who is allergic as I eat my nutty gluten free bar.

Oh yes, didn't you know that people with food allergies shouldn't ever enjoy traveling to another country? Shouldn't be allowed to do so at the risk of innconveniencing anyone?

So pathetic. I wish to take my kids out of the country, but we're probably going to have to take a flipping boat at this point. We use trains now instead of flying if we really cannot drive somewhere.

I am also severely allergic to tree nuts and always get a little nervous when I board a plane. I have no idea why the airlines insist on continuing to serve peanuts and tree nuts?!?! It is an unnecessary risk that puts people at risk, especially children with their small airways and often more severe allergic reactions.

Pretzels anyone?

Thank you for sharing your experience.I understand the hassle of traveling with food allergies but I don't think that an Airline can ever really please everyone. I am allergic to Wheat and when I fly I ask "would it really be so hard to just serve peanuts?".

People with allergies this bad need to be the ones that compromise. It's silly to ask a whole plane or worse, a whole airline to change it's policies just because one person may die.

Peanut allergies cause less deaths per year than lightning strikes.

Next time take a boat...or even better, stay home.

My 4 year old daughter has peanut allergies. She started to wheeze as soon as everyone opened the peanut packets.

Some schools have a strict "no peanut policy" as this is a known issue. I believe it should be the same case in the airplane too as there is no way the patient can be given emergency help while flying over the ocean. Does anyone know where can petition for "no peanut" policy?

Allergies are the responsibility of the person (adult) who has them. If someone knows they're allergic to all nuts (not just peanuts), then it's silly for them to only ask about peanuts. If the columnist had accurately described the extent of her allergy to the airline in the first place, she most likely would have been accomodated, or at least had the opportunity to choose a more cooperative carrier.

If someone is so severely allergic that merely being in the same room as the allergen is enough to bring on anaphylaxis, then perhaps they need to accept that their health is simply too delicate for them to do many of the things others take for granted, such as eating at restaurants or flying on airlines that serve nut products without making proper arrangements in advance.

I can't even trust airlines with my luggage – I'd have to be out of my mind to trust them with life-threatening medical issues!

I, too, have nut allergies and have loved the freedom of breathing on NW flights. Delta has at least tried to have a nut-free zone but people eat their nuts in the zone anyway. United's meals in first class are frequently nut-encrusted.
My body's reactions to nut proteins in the air have become more severe over time. Remember that the air we breathe out is moistened by our body's fluids, and spit flies 2-4 ft. with every chew; therefore, no attempt at reduction is safe and we must call for complete abstinence of nut products on board flights or risk increasing numbers anaphylactic deaths. It's simply statistics; there are increasing numbers of allergic and atopic individuals yearly, along with related nut and other food allergies.
The airlines should at least be prepared to deal with these possible emergencies in flight, which should include medical training of flight crews, which could be analyzed as a cost issue of training vs. distribution of nut products. I suspect that airlines are supplied with "free" nut products to dispense, which serves to increase profit for nut companies as people develop preferences for these items.
I find it ironic that I and other physicians have volunteerd to assist airline crews during in-flight emergencies, yet this huge "elephant in the room" continues to be ignored and must be addressed.
I believe in modern medicine and am excited about the peanut vaccine that may be used to hopefully reduce risk of death if casual contact with peanut products occur. But for now, whenever I fly, I dose up with long-acting Allegra, I take my Advair and albuterol inhalers, I keep prednisone and a few Epi-pens near, and I should have some Benadryl for just in case; but it puts me out for days so I really do not like it. I have become anaphylactic to Claritin, so really do not want to use any medication more than necessary since my body is demonstrating that repeated exposure to any allergen can eventually result in a reaction.
If a passenger near me eats something with nuts in it, I inform them they could kill me. I have also thanked people for not eating their nuts during the flight.
It is a good thing that I am a physician and can take care of myself, but what about everyone else and their parents whose voices are not being heard?
Please, just save your nut snacks for your own home and bring something else onboard. I am calling on fellow human beings to boycott nut products being served, and decline them when they are offered; and I can guarantee you that when I fly and the crew calls for a physician to help with someone, it may just be me who volunteers (if I can breathe.)
Thank you.

I have this sort of allergy...but to hemp and hemp products (and by products like second hand pot smoke).
Try explaining THAT at a party.
It hasn't kept me off planes, but it does keep me out of Amsterdam, away from concerts, and other things.
These allergies pare pretty frightening to those of us who have them. Unfortunately, the only way many others believe they are real is to purposely induce a reaction trying to "prove" that we are making it up. I've been hospitalized twice when people at parties didn't believe me and snuck pot into a food or smoked in the next room (as though the door in a crap college apartment were hermetically sealed).

of course part of me also wonders when we, allergy sufferers, got so weak. Were people allergic in the past and just died? Why don't we hear about this in other countries? Is it a problem just in the US and parts of Europe?
Is my survivial compromising evolution of the human species? (I don't have kids so that question is actually moot)

As much as you do not want to have an allergic reaction to peanuts,
neither the airline doesn't want you to have it.
What you can do that you have not done?
Prohibiting the people of a certain flight, to carry peanuts, won't work.
Paying the airline to serve anything else but peanuts,won't work either.
That leaves you with isolation.
Maybe you should wear ,a plastic dress to prevent contact with peanuts?(Overall)
As for inhaling scent:Since carrying an air purifier,is unacceptable,
maybe,breathing the airplans jet of purified air is the answer?
Sometime you might need to inhale the airplanes oxygene .

3 million people with peanut dangerous peanut allergies?? One out of every 100 Americans. Seriously. Of the hundreds of people you know, how many are at risk of dying from nuts. It is actually 1 out of 10,000 with dangerous peanut allergies.

The reality, you are more likely to from the plane crashing:

A 2001 report of 32 fatal cases of anaphylactic reactions to foods reported to a national registry in the US, a nut was identified as the responsible food in 21 and possible cause in nine more. For comparison, tree nuts were identified as the cause in seven and possible cause in another three cases. The other two cases were thought to be due to milk and fish (1 each — 19 percent).

Do we ban milk and fish too.

LET'S GET REAL

As the mom of a child who had allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs for the first 8 years of her life, I can sympathize with your frustration. Thankfully, she has outgrown them as we practiced complete avoidance.

We have traveled with many different airlines and have always asked the airline upfront if they have any nut-free flights or if they could serve something other than nuts as the in-flight snack. Now, it's just good business to accomodate your customers when a family of four is spending thousands of dollars to travel overseas.

An airline cannot control what passengers bring on the plane for food, but could certainly request that people not eat those things while on the flight. I doubt that anyone would want to cause someone else a medical emergency. Since 9/11, aside from food for babies and young children, one can only bring food that was purchased in the airport behind the security checkpoint as carry-on to the plane cabin.

Sadly enough, people have NO CLUE what is in their food!! Self-declared foodie actually suggested I use "Egg-Beaters" instead of eggs to get around my daughter's allergies.

If one comes to know what is actually in all the processed convenience food, it begs the question of why anyone would eat it. Coming from a family with a food industry background, if you knew how minimal the health standards are for food establishments, you would never eat in one.

The only flight we've ever been on with our 3 peanut allergy children was Aer Lingus. While they couldn't prohibit people from brining their own food, they did serve pretzels on the flight for us. Unfortunately the pretzels were also made in a nut factory but at least there wasn't peanut particles floating around the 9 hour long flight. We've always had problems with US flights so use them at little as possible and just drive everywhere.

If you have a severe peanut allergy, wear a gas mask or bubble suit when you travel. The rest of us don't care, and in fact find nut products a cheap and nutritious source of protein.

In answer to Maggie, no people in the past didn't die of their allergies. In fact, food allergies are a recent problem (although if people in the past did have them, they would have died, simple as that), due mainly to lack of understanding of how the human body develops immunity. As a fetus, we are given antibodies by our mother via the placenta. After birth, we are given antibodies via breast milk (which is why breast fed children tend to have less health problems overall). As a child, you develop antibodies by exposure to things – dirt, germs, dust, bugs, nastiness in general. And yes, there is such a thing as too much; too clean and you put your child at risk for asthma and multiple allergies, too dirty and your child will be overwhelmed by sickness.

That being said, some children and adults are just allergic to certain things. These people are in the minority, and unfortunately, their problems affect all of us. I am against changing an entire flight to accommodate one person, even though I do feel badly for those with deadly allergies. I am allergic to bee stings, but I don't insist that all group activities be held inside because I might get stung. I carry my epi-pen, I watch for bees and wasps. I take precautions, as should all people with severe allergies. I'm sorry, but I think people who expect everyone to stop eating all tree nuts are over-reactive and unrealistic. As someone else commented, some have gluten allergies! As an adult (or the parent of a child) YOU and ONLY YOU are responsible for making arrangements and dealing with possible dangers. It is not the responsibility of a flight full of people who have also paid big bucks to fly to accommodate you.

Nuts are a major part of the low cholesterol diet my husband and I are on at our doctor's suggestion. Most pretzels have way too much salt, and no protein. They are largely empty calories. I often bring unsalted nuts and eat them on planes. The current crop of "snack boxes" served are way full of salt, frankenfood ingredients, and generally high on sugar and salt and low on protein. Not to mention cholesterol.

If you are so much at risk, you should wear a mask and have appropriate meds with you to deal with an attack. You have to recognize that you are one of a tiny minority. An airplane can't be sanitized by its staff. Pieces of nuts could be anywhere. I have found Mr Peanut bars in my purse I didn't know I had for weeks. What if you sat next to me on a "peanut free" flight? Are you going to interview everyone getting on the plane?

Many people can't or don't fly for many reasons. If your life is truly at stake you would not go near an airplane, or for that matter anywhere else where nut eating people may gather.

I am not denying your affliction, but you need to have some perspective. Unfortunately YOU have a problem, and shouldn't fly, the same as many other folks with serious disabilities.

FYI I just had to spend $50,000 putting in ramps, handicap bathoom, and full handicap access to a third warehouse on my business property. This warehouse stores goods only; it is "dead" storage.No one works there except occasionally to deliver items from our adjoining warehouse. The adjoining one has full handicap restrooms and access to all areas used by staff and the public. Still we had to convert, per the ADA. This is NUTS – pardon the pun. And part of the same victimization of regular people in the name of the disabled.

I waver on this issue. I can't be around fresh strawberries if they're being cut or handled, my throat gets sore even being in the same room. The last accidental ingestion a few years back caused me to start wheezing. If they (hah) served fresh strawberries on a plane, I would be in a world of hurt.

My allergy to peanuts, eggs, bananas, gluten, soy, sulfites, lobster, crab, etc. is much less severe. I don't like the smell of them anymore, but it won't hurt me to be around them, just to eat them.

In our family, strawberries are not allowed in my house, but my parents and sister occasionally have them when I'm not around at their houses (we live close). The rest? I eat simpler meals than my relatives do, but they can, for the most part, still have the things they like. I don't expect the rest of the world to bend over backwards for my allergies...but yeah, it really sucks to be afraid of something so innocuous.

Thank you for your comments. Our son is fatally allergic to MILK. And yes, like some people are to peanuts/tree nuts: Inhalation, ingestion and contact. To the person who wrote "skin contact or inhalation are unlikely to cause systemic reactions in food-allergic patients." You should have been there when a bag of "Dorito" Chips was opened near our son at age 3. Even I couldn't believe he was so sensitive. That was a full-blown, full-body reaction.

We do live in a bubble. We home-school and travel domestically by car. We don't expect people to respect or understand his needs...most of my family doesn't entirely "get-it"..and they have food allergies too.

Unfortunately, my husband's family lives in Europe. So for 5 years we have not visited them. We don't see how we can safely cross the ocean with him. I wouldn't expect an airline to not serve milk products on an overseas flight. We looked at a private medical jet to fly us over, but we would have to sell our house to pay for it. Maybe one day we will if my husband gets transferred back to Europe.

He's also allergic to nuts/peanuts but thankfully that is only by ingestion. Crazy to say thankfully that is all. But life would be easier if we only had to worry about what he ate.

As for the issue of peanuts on the plane or not. I can surely see both sides. It's like the 504 plans at school. The plan is only as good as the people who implement it. Mistakes are made, symptoms are overlooked or misread. I could have a 504 plan that says no peanuts or milk. The school is supposed to comply. But it's insane to think they really could. As his parent, it is my responsibility to protect my son. And that means not leaving it up to an airline or a school to serve or not food offending foods.

I ALWAYS bring a baggie of peanuts on flights. I always feel a little better with this snack, and have missed them served. I had no idea there were people who react by breathing particles in the air! Can't these few people wear a breathing mask? It's hard to believe this is such a common problem when I've never been aware of it after all these years. I must admit, too, that I probably will continue my selfish crime until specifically asked not to by airline authorities. Sorry.

Whoa....no need to be so scathing on that last comment!
I don't have a peanut allergy, but know that they can be deadly. Sounds like a frustrating scenario. My brother has celiac's disease, so pretzels are a no go for him....I believe Jet Blue gives you a choice of snack from a mix, to nuts, to pretzels. Sounds like a good idea for most airlines to me. Perhaps at the time that people are consuming the nuts you could don a face mask? You can buy them at hardware stores or pharmacies and they don't cost very much. At least that would stop the particles from affecting you if you are highly sensitive to even just the smell. If it were me, I would try that. So what if people think you're crazy for wearing it if it keeps you healthy and safe. Good luck to you.

I see it being reasonable for airlines to not serve peanuts. That's a whole plane full of people who are going to surround someone with allergens.

However, those of you who are complaining about passengers bringing their own nut snacks are self-absorbed and out of your minds. If someone next to you has a peanut snack, ask to be moved. End of discussion.

After reading the comment stating that "the rest of us don't care", I wonder whether people who claim not to care whether other people live or die expect to have blood (donated by those of us who do care) available if their own lives ever hang in the balance. Their lives, after all, are not the blood donor's problem.

that is a disgrace- someone should sue the pants off those airlines once and for all- they have no feeling- is it the high altitude day after day affecting their brains

The woman in Japan threw a fit for us all in the airport

Wow. If we're going to ban all nut products, let's ban all food. That will solve the problem. People didn't have problems like this 20 or 30 years ago. Let's all stop using Chorlox products and stop being super-hygenic and one day we may see a decline in these allergies/autoimmune disorders.

We, too, have food allergies in our immediate family to — among other things — chicken, pork, rice, soy, and bananas. I have Celiac Disease, an autoimmune response to gluten which can cause damage to the intestines, liver, and other organs. There are many folks with allergies to other very common food products, so expecting a perfectly safe food environment is not realistic. Our family members accept individual responsibility for managing food intake and try to leave it at that. Flying is particularly problematic because of the restrictions concerning bringing our own snacks on board, but with an emphasis on what we can eat rather than on what we can't, we manage.
We will not travel via transportation, to a destination, or patronize a local restarant where we are not confident we can comfortably manage our various dietary restrictions. Yes, that limits our choices, but imposing our limits on others is not an option, either.

I have severe allergies to tree nuts. I have been in the hospital before with people saying prayers for me.
However, it is not an airborne allergy so I have no problems on planes. Still, I understand that for other people it can be dangerous and think it would be selfish to need peanuts on a flight.

So, let me get this right. You can expose me to a life-threatening reaction because you can't go 5 hours without a snack? You have to have a protein boost because you are in danger of your life? A bag of pretzels won't sustain you for an hour or two – you need protein in order to live? You wouldn't give up a snack for the sake of someone else? And, if I did have an allergic reaction because of you, you would probably be the first one to complain when we had to make an emergency landing because of it. Happy snacking!

Wow... I'm really amazed at the lack of compassion in some of these comments. Aside from the individuals with an allergy to gluten (who have still remained understanding), I am shocked to see how many people are unwilling to give up a peanut snack for a mere few hours. What a terribly selfish attitude, when your actions may contribute to adversely affecting the life of someone with a peanut allergy by bringing on illness or death. Until you have lived with a life threatening allergy you should rethink your thoughtless ways.

Peanut allergies are your problem, not my problem. I am so tired of coddling the sick and the weak. We spend more money on the dumb kids than the smart kids. We spend more money coddling the weak than serving the healthy. If your allergies are life threatening, I don't see why I should be the one that must live in a plastic bubble. If a smell can make you die, you aren't meant to live.

YOU have the issue, not the other 200 people on board. Why make everyone suffer for you? Don't fly - its not a right.

Oh and I am a vegan and it offends and sickens me to see others eat meat. Should I force everyone to be vegan?

Too much whining in America.

With so many people that are allergic to nuts, I really question why the airlines feel it is necessary to serve them. My daughter is allergic and over the years it seems the airlines are bringing nuts back more than ever. I have no idea why. Cookies, pretzels, chips...there has to be an alternative. Besides, aren't nuts more expensive. I have lost all respect for airlines to begin with, but this is really the icing on the cake.

I have been allergic to peanuts and tree nuts for 5 years diagnosed now and I cannot believe some of the comments left. By saying that you would sacrifice a human life to preserve the convenience of an airline and yourself is ludicrous. If eating peanuts over human life is that important then drive yourself. Eating peanuts next to someone with peanut allergies is like stepping on their face to eat a snack that you could conveniently sidestep and eat fruit or any other type of cracker.

Having an anaphalactic reaction to green onions and brother who is allergic to shellfish, I can sympathize with the allergic and the aggrivation that comes with requesting special treatment. However, how on earth would they ever enforce a no-nuts policy on flights? Get TSA involved? Have them check the ingredients of every food and drink item for every person on every plane? And once you got to the airport, how would you ever deal with all of the peanut residue shedding off of everyone's clothing who had been on peanut flights?

And if we accomodated the peanut allergy group to that extent, what then would we do for other allergen groups with equally legitimate beefs? As someone said, some are allergic to wheat, others to tree nuts, nixing crackers, almonds, pretzels and the like. What about the latex allergic folks? For them should we ban seat cushions, compression socks, hair scrunchies, and elastic waistbands in everyone's underclothing? Oh, and please don't bring condoms in your carry-ons.

Surely you don't think we could stop at simply peanuts.

Truly if my son were allergic to something commonly eaten in an enclosed space like a plane, he would never get on one (and fyi, we are stationed 1500 miles from our closest relatives). I can't think of anywhere or anyone whose visitation would be worth more to me than the safety of my child. I would drive, or charter a private plane if it was all that necessary.

I'm severly allergic to corn and all corn products, along with beef, shellfish and crustaceans, a huge number of medications, and lots of flora and fauna and their various pollens. My corn allergy has become more severe in the last few years, requiring constant vigilance and an epi-pen. I can't be around people when they eat corn chips. I found that out when one of my college students opened a bag of Fritos at break in my class. My husband can no longer enjoy a bag of microwave popcorn. We can no longer go to the movies. Eating out is a challenge because corn and corn products are in everything. So mostly we're home bound and I've learned to be a very creative cook.
I think most of the nasty comments made here are made by people who have been fortunate enough not to have allergies. Maybe I can shed some light for them. Allergies are not a choice. Most of us would do anything to get rid of them. Many of us have endured weekly injections sometime in our childhood just to be able to tolerate being outside during spring or summer. Imagine if it were your child. You feed your child a normal food and your child starts wheezing. Her lips become blue and her breathing stops. You know that you have only a precious number of seconds to get it started again with an injection of epinephrine. You do that by jamming a needle into her little leg and holding it there for a count of 10. She gasps for air. Now you have 20 to 30 minutes to get her to the hospital where she can continue to get care. Otherwise, the allergen will still take her life.
Now imagine that you're at 30,000 feet over an ocean.

Why would you put your right to eat peanuts over that child's life?

I am a vegetarian and I always carry (though I don't always eat) granola bars, which are usually cross contaminated or contain nuts. I also have low blood sugar so eating a food like pretzels or crackers or going without eating is not an option. No one seems to care when my food gets cross contaminated by meat (I am strongly morally and environmentally opposed to killing animals) and I don't see people refraining from using Sulfa drugs around me (which will set off breathing problems if I ingest even the tiniest amount).

I don't think the airlines should SERVE peanuts or nuts, but they shouldn't be allowed to prevent people from bringing food or drinks on. (Especially water – since you're supposed to have 8 oz for every hour).

Elizabeth - Then you know what, you don't fly or wear a mask.

The needs of the one do not outweigh te needs of the many. I do feel bad about your nut allergy. I grew up with allergy's and never asked people to forgo anything because of my allergy. The airlines have taken everything away and the nuts are one of the few things that are left. So fly an airline that does not serve nuts. As I look for the ones that do.

My son has severe nut allergies. He is only 6, but he has already realized that to many people, a snack is more important than his life. It's a sad reality, but many people in this world are uncaring, and it is what it is. Food is very important to people, and I am trying to help him understand that it's not personal, it's just that many people are obsessed with what they eat. He is also starting to notice that many of the people he runs into like this are overweight, so it's a good lesson on healthy living and the place food has in it.

I also hope that his experiences will help in building compassion in a world where it is often lacking. I think that with the struggles with the economy, many people are just in a bitter place right now, and feel like they have no control over their life anyway, so being told they can't eat peanuts is one more thing that will throw them over the edge. We have only flown a few times with him and peanuts were not served. He has no issues being around peanuts in general as long as he doesn't eat them, but I am dreading the day when 300 people open little bags of peanuts all at once around him in a contained space.

I am appalled by the cruel insensitivity of some of these posts. How dare you tell people not to travel or that you don't care. It may be an inconvenience for some of you who travel long flights, or have diabetes or love nuts but for those who have nut allergies or have allergic babies and children you are not inconveniencing them you are threatening their lives. It is the same as saying, "I don't care if the bomb I'm carrying on the plane threatens those around me, I have my bombsuit on so I am ok."

There are infinite, non-nut snack options, just choose something else. Don't TRY to hurt the growing number of children with life-threatening allergies around you.

I've had terrifying experiences flying with my son. The airlines crews have been very uneducated, rude and insensitive. Even after taken every precaution, we have not had a positive experience so have stopped traveling. This means my children never will see their grandparents again as they are too old to travel to us.

What is the big deal? Airlines can serve pretzels, dried fruits, jerky, cheese and crackers...

I wish all passengers would not bring on their own nut products but you can not take that right away. You can educate people so they may make more considerate choices. However, the problem on planes is the volume or most passengers opening nut products in a short period of time in recycled air!

My child's school has peanut/treenut allergy in 15% of its population! This is a problem that will not lessen. Don't threaten the lives of our children. PLEASE!

I'm severley allergic to pretty much everything, weather it's fruits, veggies, pollen, gluten, wheat, animals, or nuts. And I have had some pretty scary reactions... but the way to avoid those is to play keep away. And when I can't go over certain people's houses because they have a cat I don't complain about it. I seem to be the minority here but I have a ton of allergies and I couldn't imagine asking someone who doesn't have those allergies to change their way for me, it's not their problem. I carry my inhaler, antihistamines and an epipen with me at all times. It's my responsibility to make sure I'm looking out for myself not to complain how others who have NO IDEA what it's like to have these allergies to change. It just seems absurd, if someone hasn't seen it 1st hand then there is no way they could ever understand and I think it's a waste of time to try to get that way of thinking changed. Cause what would you do in my case? Cant' have the gluten, can't have the peanuts, can't have any fresh fruit or veggies.. Ask the airlines to start serving steamed veggies for me so I can eat them. I'm allergic to an enzyme in those foods that is easily broken down by cooking it. It's just absurd. People everywhere have tons of different allergies and you can't start limiting things because of them. When I was a little kid I didnt' need the school to be peanut free or fresh fruit/veggie free I knew i couldn't eat those foods.. so why do you have ban it from the whole school. It's just ridiculous! People need to take responsibility for themselves! Stop crying about the airlines food choices.

I'm sorry, this is the same paranoia that has caused schools to be nut free so 1000+ students can't enjoy peanut butter sandwiches because of a chance of contamination by one or two students? Apparently, there are questions that even the small of nuts can cause allergic reactions, but because of general paranoia, we have become a culture afraid to live. I had a roommate who was deathly allergic (so he said) to shell fish. If he had flown, would the flight have stopped serving lobster in first class, even though he's in the back row of economy? Sheeesh...every, please put it all in perspective.

to 'carol' down below...just becuase someone is a diabetic, don't assume they can't eat pretzels. that is just another ignorant and FALSE statement that too many people the world over happen to believe. i've been a type 1, insulin dependant diabetic for just about 13 years and you have no idea how many people TELL me i can't eat cookies, crackers, apples, bread, a candy bar...whatever. here's a newsflash: a diabetic person can eat whever they want. they just have to WATCH what they're eating and MODERATE how much of it they're eating. as much as people ASSUME that as a diabetic i can't eat certain foods, i at least try to explain in to them in layman's terms that, yes, in fact i CAN eat anything any 'normal' human would eat. and no, im not some 'out of control', 'unhealthy' diabetic, my A1c levels are where they personally should be, as are my kidneys, protien counts, heart, extremeties and eyes.

i would have no problems skipping over a package of penuts or cashews or whatever if someone on my flight had an allergy to it. food allergies are just not something people, much less large airline companies, should fool around with.

yet another circumstance where education would do a WORLD of good to all parties involved

My food allergy is an uncommon one but nonetheless a problem especially when traveling. I am allergic to mushrooms. Severely so that if any of my food has come in contact with them in any way. shape form or fashion, I will have an anaphylactic reaction. As I currently live in Europe, flying home to the States is especially problematic. Seems every meal the offerings all have mushrooms. I often end up just eating the bread and butter because the mushrooms often have come in contact w/the food on the tray. I have asked for special meals (fruit plate, etc) Often it somehow either ends up given to wrong person or didn't show up in computer or some other excuse. I know I can't expect them to stop making food w/mushrooms but would like to ensure that my requests are honored when requesting a special meal.

QUESTION: Has anyone with inhalation sensitivity to any of the foods mentioned actually used a mask on a commercial flight? A child's face is probably too small to use one, but any adults out there that would recommend it because they know it worked, and if so, what did you use? It sounds like a promising solution. Perhaps airlines could offer them to a food allergic passenger.

ALSO: Has anyone had trouble getting their meds passed through security? (Particularly on an international flight.) And do we know plans the airline have should anaphylaxis occur on board. Do the airlines have EPI's on board, they able to use or do they have to be "certified" to help administer the shot?

Also seems a great niche for a private jet service to offer food allergen-free (food-free) flights.

MAVM; I have been on international flights to mexico and have never had a problem with epi-pens. I brought ALL my meds with me including 4-epi pens (i didn't want to check any of them incase my bags got lost- and you don't want to be in mexico the land of guacamole one of my more severe allergies without an epi pen!) And no one ever questioned anything. They have to allow all medications. Just put them all in a clear zip lock bag and take it out of your carry on when your bags are being scanned – put in the bins with your shoes. And your good to go!

I am incredibly disappointed with some of the posts I have seen here. I thought that mankind was moving beyond selfish ignorance and was in the process of obtaining a general respect for mankind. I was also under the impression that we live in a country (and a world) that values freedom, security and equality. A nut free airplane is such a minor request in the grand scheme of things. Are you willing to put down a bag of nuts for a few hours or even a day so that another human being may be afforded the same privileges and securities that you and I posses?

When I fly, I expect a smoke free flight. That is what is best for me and my lungs. I am sorry that smokers and uncomfortable, and I understand that they need to frantically puff before they board their plane. I actually commend airports that have "smoking sections" because they accommodate those with a need. Perhaps airports should create "nut sections", so those of you who cannot give up their nuts can chow down right before their flight.

If one of my fellow passengers requires a flight that is free from nuts to ensure his/her health and safety, I will willingly oblige. I am completely capeable of finding an alternate snack to satisfy me.
They have as much of a right to fly as I do. It is incredibly selfish for me to expect that another human being not be able to EVER fly because I won't give up my nuts for a minute portion of my life. I have that choice whereas those with a nut allergy give up nuts forever and not of their own volition.

I also have no problem with my child's school being peanut free. My children can enjoy their PBJs at home if it means that other children may receive an education without the threat of an anaphylactic reaction.

Also, to clarify a few things...you can bring food onto a plane. Only beverages must be purchased once you are through the gate. For those of you who have celiac disease or are diabetic, I have the number of a dietician you can call to aid you in alternate snack ideas.

I can't believe the ignorance of some people who have commented above. How would you feel if someone sitting next to you died because you were eating peanuts?

I too have the same deathly allergy to all nuts and seseme, canola etc. It is gruesome, since no one else understands that the "epi-pen" which those who don't need it ask all the time " do you have it?". Of course, I carry an epi-pen, but it gives you only 15minutes per shot, while you are in uncontrollable convulsions, and praying you will be able to breath/swallow sooner than the last result – deadly collapse.
I just was going to fly my airline of choice this afternoon, when after Air Canada kindly announced there was a passenger who was allergic to nuts, please board with any nut items tucked away for the flight; and the steward told me before I entered the airline, they absolutely would be selling/serving cashews on this flight. I had to say sorry, I'm not going on the flight, and I had to return home. Yes, I know the risks of flying, but I don't understand the need for "all nuts" to be served, and nibbled on during the flight. We as passengers put up with alot – smelling body odor, open footwear, soiled diapers, extra large bodies, and we don't say anything! But when it is life or death, why can't others understand? There isn't any other "way" to travel when you need to get over an ocean, over 5 thousand miles of land, or mountains. Flying shouldn't be a frightful experience healthwise, it is bad enough dealing with the allergy on land! Please continue to educate the vast frequent flyers.....because I can't just give up travelling for business or/and pleasure. Thank you for all your help and support. Holly!

Late, but I wanted to follow up on this.

Alternative snacks that are the least likely to cause problems for other people while travelling:

1. Sunflower seeds! There are some sunflower allergies, but compared to peanuts and tree nuts (sunflowers are a seed, not a nut), sunflower seed allergy is very rare. There is very good sunflower butter available for sandwiches, I've even seen sunbutter on planes in the snack kits.

2. Fresh apples or pears. Apple and pear allergy are reasonably rare.

3. Rice crackers. We get very good ones from Costco, for traveling I would take the ones with sesame, not the ones with cheese powder.

4. Peanut-free sesame snaps. Sesame allergies are rarer than peanut or tree nut allergies, because again, they're seeds.

5. Dried fruit

6. Potato chips, baked or fried: Potato chips that are really simple and contain maybe salt, canola oil and potatoes are unlikely to cause anyone trouble, and you can get them as low fat as you are willing to tolerate. If you want to get more adventurous, try sweet potato chips or taro chips.

7. Pumpkin seeds: buy them already shucked and toasted.

8. Corn-based cereal, dry. Things like Gorilla Munch or corn pops are less likely to be reactive than wheat based cereals. Just don't get the peanut butter versions. They make a good snack, even without milk

9. Daifuku... this Japanese treat is very filling, rice and red-bean based, and if you find the ones without eggwhite, surprisingly hypoallergenic. While you're at the Asian food store, try some toasted nori (another great traveling snack), sweet puffed rice snacks, etc.

Those are just some ideas for things that are likely to be safer to eat in an enclosed space.