I have a question for everyone. Does anyone know of an adult who suffers from a peanut allergy?
My prior supervisor is allergic to peanuts and shellfish.
When my daughter was 5 months old, we discovered that allergies to milk and soy were the cause of some severe health problems she had. The specialist who finally diagnosed it told us that eczema was one of the number one pre-disposers for childhood food allergies. Eczema runs rampant in my husband's family.
I couldn't believe the "stupidity" that we had to deal with, from family and friends who just didn't understand it. One person gave her buttered popcorn, and later gave her french fries without checking the ingredient label (they contained both milk and soy). At Thanksgiving last year, relatives didn't understand why she couldn't have most of what was on the table because they weren't making the "sour cream = milk", "butter = milk", "yogurt = milk", "whey = milk" connections. Once I had to start reading the labels on EVERYTHING, I was amazed at some of the products that had milk, that you wouldn't expect.
Luckily enough, she outgrew the soy allergy at 12 months and the milk allergy at about 17 months. Her daycare was great at handling it. Instead of asking other parents not to bring things in (for parties or whatever), they would put a permission slip on the door. All I had to do was read the ingredient list, say "NO", and then bring in something she could have instead. (Vegan cupcakes for birthdays, etc.)
Is your implication that it must be exaggerated or fake? If so, you are wrong. Watch your young child be rushed to an emergency room as he turns blue, and tell me its fake.