Health scares?

Question

In the mid 70s parents were advised not to let their children eat peanuts. Not because of allergic reactions, but because a child under three might inhale them. Now we're told that the massive increase in nut allargy is due to the fact that children don't eat nuts from an early age. Is this an advertisement for peanut butter?
We are often told fairy tales about food, or hear them from an unsubstantiated source.

Orlando. Where did you grow up? Back in the 70s my kids had been round the world for the first time. We regularly ate in restaurants, with the children, and I cooked my first traditional British meal for Christmas 1976. (Yes, Turkey and I was 33).
OK having been born during WWII my first encounter with bananas was horrific - they were dried, but we did have peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and even Brazil nuts - although they were normally still around at Easter, 'cos no one knew how to open them at Christmas)

Answer 1

I would say that the amount of mollycoddling we do today has a hell of a lot to do with it, since nowadays kids are kept TOO clean - they need to be exposed to dirt to have their ammune system kick in and strengthen itself.

I do think that the nut allergy has a connection with children not eating them at an early age. I mean come on, they're a part of a healthy diet, why WOULDNT you let your kids eat them??

Answer 2

It was not just peanuts that you did not give young children it was anything that might cause them to choke. This was not just for the 1970's but in general. Nuts were a luxury food item or a seasonal food, people did not consume the vast quantities nuts, crisps or confectionary that they do today. Dried fruit and nuts in cake was a treat. The only people that regularly consumed nuts usually did so as part of a vegan diet, yes there were veggies then.
Food allergies are much more readily recognised and discussed nowadays though they have always existed. It should also be mentioned that an intolerance is not the same as an allergy. Peanut Butter was also a treat. People eat a much more varied and richer diet than they did in the 1970's. It was uncommon for the average person to eat out other than in a works canteen. Prepared food was also considered an indulgence and less available. All these things should also be taken into consideration.

Answer 3

It's a big dilemma isn't it?

Yes, we were told not to let very young children to eat small nuts that could be inhaled. We were also told not to let our young children eat hot dog for the same reason.

And many who are now allergic to Peanuts probably are because they didn't start eating the young.

Parenting has to do with good old common sense. I'm not going to hand a two or three year old a cup fo nuts tell them to go sit and eat them... I'll give him a small hand full at the table and help him eat them. If something happens I'm right there and can correct the problem. (Side note: my daughter at 2 could not eat mashed potatoes, or french fries. She choked on them. Solution don't feed them to her.)

Same goes in every other situation. Common sense says that there is no way that I can walk through or fall through the three panes of glass at the top of my vintage back door. But If I walk into a shop to have new glass cut and I tell them it's for a door, they will not sell me glass panes because it's illegal to replace glass windows in any door. Because some one once walked through a slding glass door. Apples to Oranges.

Answer 4

It is possible...kids get sick more easily because they get a vaccine and atibiotics for everything and therefore have no natural atibodies against everything...I'm a very healthy young woman because my mom, even as a doctor, let my body fight the diseses myself. I only went for help when I a severe virus and couldn't keep liquids and food down, I needed an IV for fluids for about an hour or two and the next day I was fine again. It's something that should be considered.