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Southwest discontinues peanut snacks over allergy concerns
The Hill ^ | July 10, 2018

Posted on 07/10/2018 2:55:38 PM PDT by SMGFan

Southwest Airlines will discontinue its peanut snacks effective August 1 to accommodate travelers with allergies. The company confirmed the announcement in an email Tuesday to The Hill. “Peanuts forever will be part of Southwest’s history and DNA. However, to ensure the best on-board experience for everyone, especially for customers with peanut-related allergies, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue serving peanuts on all flights beginning August 1,” Southwest said in the statement.

“We hope that our free pretzels (and the wonderful portfolio of free snacks on longer flights), served along with our legendary Southwest Hospitality, will please customers who might be nostalgic or sad to see peanuts go,” the company added.

“Our ultimate goal is to create an environment where all customers—including those with peanut-related allergies—feel safe and welcome on every Southwest flight.”

The airline currently serves other free snacks, including various chips and cookies. Southwest said the airline would still permit individuals with a peanut allergy to board aircrafts in advance so they may clean seats and trays. Travels with the allergy should continue to disclose it when purchasing flights, Southwest said.


TOPICS: Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: peanuts; southwest; southwestairlines
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well, if this was the only problem left to fix then great. All problems solved.
1 posted on 07/10/2018 2:55:38 PM PDT by SMGFan
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To: SMGFan

I was just on United (haven’t flown in ages) and was surprised to see the same thing.


2 posted on 07/10/2018 2:57:18 PM PDT by TheZMan (I am a secessionist.)
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To: SMGFan

The prevalence of self-reported peanut allergy in this cohort of US children not selected for any disease was 4.6% (Table 2), higher than previously reported estimates of self-reported peanut allergy among US children of comparable age (Table 1). Similarly, we observed a 5.0% prevalence of “clinical peanut allergy” according to sIgE-based criteria that previously resulted in a 2.7% prevalence among comparably aged children in the 2005–2006 NHANES study.7 Within Project Viva, the 4.9% prevalence of peanut allergy defined by both sensitization and prescribed epinephrine auto-injector was similar in magnitude to the estimates defined by self-reported allergy and sIgE-based “clinical allergy” criteria.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4149917/


3 posted on 07/10/2018 3:00:32 PM PDT by Rio (I was deplorable when deplorable wasn't cool.)
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To: SMGFan

Please note I am NOT minimizing these issues.

I am sure that I, growing up in the 60s and 70s never heard of peanut allergies nor autism. I know they are unrelated but I note their growth seem to have been concurrent. It is also interesting to note that child endangerment in general seems to have also risen (no facts or data — these are off the cuff observations).

I am not alone in asking what the heck is causing all this? Are they related? Is it pollution? Water? Rising expectations?

Anyway I don’t care that much about losing peanuts on flights (I assume they will substitute pretzels which is what AA did eons ago).


4 posted on 07/10/2018 3:01:06 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ("please pass the winnamins" (/Principled on 6/27/2018))
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To: freedumb2003

I think it’s parents being so paranoid of germs, they literally make their kids grow up in a “plastic bubble” so their immune systems never totally develop.


5 posted on 07/10/2018 3:02:19 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: TheZMan
Yep. Thats it for me. No more flying!!

My last flight was in 2003. I havent been to an international airport in 6 years. I think Im better for it. But I would be pissed to not get peanuts.

6 posted on 07/10/2018 3:04:11 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: SMGFan
I mostly fly United. (Sorta forced.) I haven't been given anything with peanuts in at least five years. (But sometimes I bring on a small bag the smelliest peanuts I know.)

ML/NJ

7 posted on 07/10/2018 3:05:16 PM PDT by ml/nj
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To: Delta 21

I might fly more now, since I know longer have to sit next to someone with peanut breath for 4 hrs.


8 posted on 07/10/2018 3:06:04 PM PDT by scottinoc
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To: freedumb2003

There’s no doubt that allergies are on the rise and in part due to our overly clean environment.

However, while peanut allergies were not known when I was growing up, it was common to hear about some kid who *choked to death on peanuts*.

I wonder now if, in many cases, that was an undiagnosed peanut allergy and subsequent anaphylaxis and they just didn’t know what it was.

Cause these days, you just don’t hear about kids *choking to death on a peanut*.


9 posted on 07/10/2018 3:06:32 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: freedumb2003
I seen a graphic of the number and kinds of vaccinations "required" now as to what they were when we were kids and its crazy the amount and frequency that they pump our grandkids full of magic vaccines.

Let the Vax/Anti-Vax war commence.

10 posted on 07/10/2018 3:08:16 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: dfwgator

There’s truth to that.

Exposure to bacteria at a young age trains the immune system.

Studies have shown that country kids have fewer allergies than city kids, that the youngest in a family has fewer than the oldest, and that dairy farm kids, who usually drink well water, raw milk, and play about the not so clean barnyard, have the fewest of all.


11 posted on 07/10/2018 3:08:40 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: SMGFan

Considering how life threatening peanut allergies can be to someone sensitive, it’s probably a good idea to not hand them out in a confined place with no access, or no quick access, to emergency medical care.


12 posted on 07/10/2018 3:10:26 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: SMGFan

It’s not about allergies, it’s about cheap, cheap, cheap pretzels.


13 posted on 07/10/2018 3:11:57 PM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: SMGFan

Southwest has the best free snacks. Peanuts was the lowest on the list of my choices.

Want free drinks on SWA? Bring some good quality candy like Ghirardelli or Lindor chocolates for the flight attendants.


14 posted on 07/10/2018 3:14:10 PM PDT by WASCWatch
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To: metmom
Considering how life threatening peanut allergies can be to someone sensitive, it’s probably a good idea to not hand them out in a confined place with no access, or no quick access, to emergency medical care.

How many instances of peanut allergy related problems have been reported on Southwest flights? There may have been some but I've never heard of any.

15 posted on 07/10/2018 3:15:21 PM PDT by CedarDave
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To: scottinoc

Pretzels will work, I like them even better. GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING!

If no snacks are provided I bring my own but you probly cant get a tiny bag of chips past the TSA goons.


16 posted on 07/10/2018 3:17:29 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: SMGFan

So are peanuts going to be banned on the plane? How do you stop people from bringing “peanut” related items on the plane?


17 posted on 07/10/2018 3:18:03 PM PDT by pnz1 (#IMNOTWITHHER)
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To: Delta 21

>>Let the Vax/Anti-Vax war commence.<<

The problem with the Vax hypothesis is it depends on correlation = causation.

Like “where does talent come from” (in a scientific sense) this is the kind of thing that drives me nuts (except when I am thinking about wife, work, house, family, finances, NK nukes and the talks, islamic radicalism. SCOTUS, etc.).


18 posted on 07/10/2018 3:18:26 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ("please pass the winnamins" (/Principled on 6/27/2018))
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To: WASCWatch

Bribe the crew beforehand! Thats the secret!!


19 posted on 07/10/2018 3:19:18 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: Delta 21
Pretzels will work, I like them even better. GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING!

Had this been the 70s the "something" would have been a great substitute:


20 posted on 07/10/2018 3:21:35 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ("please pass the winnamins" (/Principled on 6/27/2018))
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