He will DIE if he eats them and we have to carry an epi pen everywhere we go. I want your opinion on this though. I went to Wal-mart yesterday and there was this lady there giving samples of side dishes for Thanksgiving. I didn't have my son with me (thank God) and I picked up the sweet potato and tasted it. It was very good and I noticed a little crunch to it. I asked if it was nuts and the lady said yes, pecans and I said it tasted very good but I have a son that could die from eating nuts because he is allergic so I wasn't going to be able to buy it. She then told me that the nuts were on the top and I could scrape them to the side and then let him eat it. I couldn't believe her ignorance in this matter. I was in such disbelief that a grown woman could of suggested that! I told her it wasn't worth the risk and walked away. Am I over-reacting to being this upset about this?
2006-11-13 02:58:58 · 12 answers · asked by Corona 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Allergies
Why would you think you were over reacting? You have a child with a life threatening allergy, and unfortunately people are so "self-absorbed" (for lack of a better term) these days they are ignorant. More importantly she should have never suggested you to scrape the nuts off, assume the food is then safe, and allow your son to have to consume the dish. I would have been upset too! The federal government has placed mandatory ingredient warnings on the labels of food. I strongly believe they should place those same warnings on demonstration tables where product samples are given. I too have a son with a severe peanut allergy and just a slight trace of the food will trigger a reaction. I empathize with you, and want to applaud you for standing up to her and her ignorance. Life threatening allergies should not be taken lightly and you are your sons only advocate. The situation could have been so much worse. Keep your son safe and avoid those nuts!
2006-11-13 05:27:49 · answer #1 · answered by herbestgirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone realizes the severity of allergies. I personally am allergic to nuts, as well as both my children, and I find that especially around the holidays I have to continually remind my FAMILY that they can't have nuts. The general population seems to find it hard to believe that anyone can be allergic to nuts since so many people love them. You have to read ingredient labels on EVERYTHING anymore! I ate some cheese crackers a few days ago and my mouth started burning. When I read the ingredients it contains peanuts!!!!
Good luck with your child. Try to be patient with the ignorance of others.
2006-11-13 03:45:02 · answer #2 · answered by startwinkle05 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People without food allergies have no understanding of the severity. I have to question EVERY food I eat at showers and parties and people think I'm being a freak. I just don't want to die! No, you didn't overreact. Make sure your son is soooo careful this time of year. So many people put nuts in things without even realizing it.
2006-11-14 13:17:01 · answer #3 · answered by jojo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey.. I don't think you were over-reacting at all. It is your child you were concerned about! I don't think the woman had a clue how serious your son's allergies are; maybe she has never even heard of food allergies that could be that deadly.. or maybe she is not a "mom". A Mother might have re-acted to you differently. She probably needs to be taught how serious food allergies can be. Maybe Wal-Mart needs to be warned if they give out food samples that they also need to have a sign up "Allergy Alert"
2006-11-13 03:10:25 · answer #4 · answered by Ana 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You will find many people that are very ignorant about food allergies. I am sorry this happened to you. I probably would have taken the extra minute to correct her, as I have done many times. You DID NOT over react! Are you a part of www.kidswithfoodallergies.org? You should check it out. LOTS of great people with LOTS of good ideas.
2006-11-13 03:05:37 · answer #5 · answered by tessasmomy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You think that is bad: one time in a store they had hot dog samples. I asked the lady if they contained chicken or turkey and she said, "No." I was still suspicious and I found the package in the trash can and read the label. They had chicken in them!! She had explicitly told me they did not. I almost turned her in. I am very allergic to poultry.
2006-11-13 07:39:34 · answer #6 · answered by pennypincher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are overreacting because not everyone realizes that anything that a nut touches is off limits to someone with a severe allergy. You would have been better off explaining this to her so she would know that scraping nuts off is not enough for someone with a severe allergy. She obiviosuly didn't know any better and you missed an opportunity to do some important teaching.
2006-11-13 03:04:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
i do too
the only thing you can do is get an allergy test and try getting a medication or anything. i have lots of food allergies and i try to avoid them by having other foods next to me
and dont let ur kid eat lots of junk food, they cause many allergies. and yes i ate lots of them :/
2006-11-13 07:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by emont_1029 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really i have a severe milk allergy and ignorent people tell me i can scrape off cheese. I too have to carry epipens! I get just as (pardon my language) pissed off at them as you are now.
2006-11-13 03:05:52 · answer #9 · answered by My dad ate my homework 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are over-reacting. Not everyone knows about cross contamination. As for her job and her life she may not have any idea because it doesnt require it for her job, and she may not have children that are allergic to nuts. Walmart probably does not educate their employees on matters like these.
Did you ever stop and realize why she's working at walmart? Its not because of her degree in rocket science now is it?
2006-11-13 03:04:40 · answer #10 · answered by yesssssssss 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋