Should peanuts be banned from public places?

Question

Since finding out that both my kids are anaphylactic to peanuts and tree nuts, I've become a little obsessed with this issue.

It really bothers me when I see people bringing nuts or peanut butter in public places like kids playgrounds. I've seen kids eating peanut butter sandwiches at a picninc table with their parents and then they go to play on the playground with my kids. I have no choice but to leave, my kids could have literally died.

Do you agree that peanuts should be banned from all public places? I won't say restaurants, because those of us with allergic kids, know not to go into certain restaurants. I mean from places like movie theatres, playgrounds, theme parks, sporting events. To me it's an issue of social responsibilty.

For those who don't think it should be banned, why not? How do you justify bringing something into a public place that could kill someone if they smell it or accidentally touch it?

10% of children are allergic to peanuts and nuts, it is not a rare allergy.

Allergies to things like wheat, eggs, milk are much more rare and are much less likely to be LIFE THREATENING as peanut allergies are.

Answer 1

It takes a lot to justify something like that. When the lives of a few are in danger, are we right to affect the lives of many?
I think yes. Lives are at stake. Would it bother us so much when we pack a lunch to take to the park to think, Now hang on, perhaps I can make a cheese sandwich instead.
Possibly you could lobby your local council - find a woman councillor - to have signs put up in public places which are designed for children and mothers, like playgrounds at parks, to raise awareness and request that parents not bring peanut products to these areas. I think you should do that, actually. Most mothers would surely understand the seriousness of this, and I think most would go along with that.
Good luck.

Answer 2

I have a friend who is anaphylactic allergic to onions, carrots, garlic, potatoes and all root vegetables, should those have been banned from public places when she was a child? My family is vegetarian, peanuts are a major source of protein for us, should we not be allowed to eat in public? When we are going somewhere that has banned peanuts we do not bring them with us (2 playgroups and my son's school). I believe that organizations that have members who are allergic should ban certain foods. I also believe that a public ban is silly. I fought the school last year and this year, they didn't want us to have peanut butter before school, we are careful and aware of people around us, but the health of my children has to be taken into consideration to. Now, most people believe that being vegetarian is a choice, we are intolerant to animal fat which restricts are diet. What I am trying, in my ramblings, to say is that education is usually the better way to go rather than banning things. Let others at the park know that your children are allergic and have them wash their hands, etc. after they have finished eating. Good luck.

Answer 3

Are you serious? Look, your situation sucks. I admit that. I wouldn't want my children to go through that. However, is it really fair to put this on the shoulders of everyone else? Your question is a rather silly one. I mean--where would it end? We'd have to ban wheat, shellfish, bees and a whole host of other things that people are allergic to that are possibly fatal. I live in Japan and I'm allergic to some kind of seasoning they put in sushi. The doctors have not been able to pinpoint what it is I'm allergic to. But I have to carry an epi pen around with me just in case. Whatever it is I'm allergic to is potentially fatal. So, should I have the entire country of Japan change which seasonings or ingredients they use in cooking or in their sushi so that I won't have a reaction? Or maybe I just need to take personal responsibility and be as careful as I can?

Answer 4

I can understand your concern... I work in a preschool for children with disabilities, and we have several children with anaphylactic responses to peanuts. Since, we have become a "nut-free" school. For us, that means that we don't serve anything with nuts for snacks, etc., but children who attend who are not allergic to nuts are allowed to bring them. I think this is a good compromise. We aren't infringing upon other children's rights to eat what they like, and we aren't offering the potentially dangerous foods to those who may be allergic. I don't think that you can ask that others don't eat a certain thing because you are allergic to it... that's not fair. But, you can be vigilant about your child's needs. At our center, teachers are aware of all children with life threatening allergies (and it is posted in each room) and will not sit someone at the same table who is having a peanut butter sandwich with a person who is highly allergic. Unfortunately, you have to be the hypervigilant one- not everyone else. Unless you have a sign posted on your child at all times that lets people know about their allergies, you can't expect others to know they have them. I dont' think it is a social responsibility for places to ban items that people might be allergic to... many people are allergic to many different things... you may not be allergic to hotdogs, but I might. Should we ban those from sporting events? What about people with alcoholism? Shouldn't alcohol be banned from sporting events as well? No, people need to do most on their own to protect themselves, and know their limits/allergies. Keep your children's epi-pen handy, and know what to do in an emergency... these are your best defenses.

Answer 5

It's much better for your kids to learn that they don't have to take those things they can't.

People may develop intolerances to any kind of things, some of these things are food, some others not. People can be allergic to a specific fragrance, to a large variety of pollen types... Some people develop allergies years after being exposed to something without noticing any problems.

I'm afraid what you suggest is not exactly a social responsibility matter. If we started cutting out any thing that is potentially damaging to someone, we'd better end up living in insulating individual bubbles. It's much better to try to keep risks at minimum by correctly informing people about what they eat, touch or wear so that they can make informed decisions.

Answer 6

I say no. Why is this any different than someone who goes out in public knowingly or unknowingly with the flu? If there is someone out there with a compromised immune system, they could fall ill and die from someone else. As the parent of the peanut allergy child, the burden to keep them safe, unfortunately falls fully upon you. Carrying an Epi Pen with you at all times is your only choice. If we were to ban things simply based on the fact that some are allergic, we would never be allowed outside our homes. There will always be a group of people who are fatally allergic to something. We can't wipe bees off the face of the earth because someone could die if stung. Good luck and continue to use the good sense of judgment you have thus far.

Answer 7

I can totally relate my son has sever food allergies himself. At the same time though we don't ban bees which millions of people are allergic to. How about shellfish? Should we ban dogs from public parks because someone might be allergic. I don't want to seem like I don't understand the seriousness of a peanut allergy because I do first hand however I just see it as totally unrealistic to ban a food item from public places. How would that be enforced? Look at drinking and driving for example, totally illegal but how many people do it everyday knowing they run the chance of killing someone. Do you really think people would think twice about eating a PB sandwich at a park? Good luck with this but if you are considering lobbying for this I predict you're gonna have a very hard time.

Answer 8

I don't think it should be banned. Many parents send there kids to school with peanut butter because it is cheap and its all they can afford. I think it is up to the parent to watch out for their kids and when the kids are of school age they need to know what makes them sick. My wife is allergic to all kinds of things, soy, tomatoes, wheat. Me am allergic to milk not lactose intollerant allergic like tounge swell. So should milk be banned? It is not like smoking that really affects people nuts are a personal choice just walk with your epi pin. My wife's best friend is allergic to nuts and takes her's everywhere

Answer 9

We should not ban anything just because someone is allergic to something. That is not fair to the other 99% of the population. We live in a society where we have freedom if we go to banning everything just because someone is allergic to something, or it bothers someone, then we will be no different than the 3rd world countries. I personally like the freedoms I have and don't want them taken from me.

Answer 10

Heck no! That's ridiculous. Nuts and peanut butter is a part of most all children's life's. Just because the 1 percent of the people are allergic to tree nuts doesn't mean the other 99 percent also have to suffer. But that would be impossible to force anyway so good luck.