Take Me Out To The Ballgame, But Hold The Peanuts, Popcorn

Hartford Courant ^ | May 20 2002 | KATHRYN MASTERSON

[2Trievers]

A year ago, Nicholas Jones' peanut allergy forced his family to bolt from a New Britain Rock Cats baseball game just minutes after arriving. Earlier this month, the 6-year-old sports fan threw out the first pitch of a game.

Through a special arrangement with the Class AA Eastern League team and a local support group for people with severe food allergies, families with allergies were recently given their own "food-free" section of New Britain Stadium.

The section was cleaned before the game and extra ushers were posted to keep people with food out of the area.

[2Trievers]

Puuuuuuuuuuuulllllleeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeee!

[csvset]

[SamAdams76]

When will they have a liberals-free section of the ballpark? So I can finally see a game unencumbered by the antics of sanctimonious liberals?

[cgbg]

New Britain is one of the most disgusting nightmares of a city in the entire country. I wouldn't want any children I cared about to cross the city line. Peanuts and popcorn--how about muggers and rapists!

[brityank]

My reaction used to be similar -- until I had to call an ambulance for a colleague at work.

We met in the cafeteria and got coffee and a donut, mine glazed his coconut. His first bite caused an immediate reaction; his lips puffed up and his lower face turned red. Seems the coconut donut had lain next to a peanut one, and that one bite was all it took, and in seconds. He was out of work for three days, so it isn't just a mild reaction.

Kudos to the team and their management, and notice that the government didn't get involved and they sold out the seats.

[mewzilla]

If baseball goes on strike this season, peanut allergies will be the least of fans' worries...

[over3Owithabrain]

Kudos to the team and their management, and notice that the government didn't get involved and they sold out the seats

Exactly. And note too that the families of the allergy sufferers came to the park early to personally clean their seats.

[Godel]

I dont want to be cruel but maybe people that have allergies that severe should stay away from public events. Something just strikes me as wrong when hundreds of thousands of people have to change their lives to accomodate one person. If a whiff of peanut from 100 ft away is enough to kill you, well, maybe you were just meant to die. Everyones time comes eventually. Nowadays there is a trend to ban all foods than anyone could possibly be allergic to from school cafeterias and public places. Since when do we inconvenience 100,000 people because of 1? I'm sorry but thats insane. I want my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

[ZinGirl]

notice that the government didn't get involved

YET...the government didn't get involved YET. just wait until it gets more publicity....and the families get tired of cleaning filthy seats & bleachers themselves. just wait until they say to themselves, 'wait a minute, I paid just as much for my ticket as those other people....why should I have to clean these seats?'...and they'll call their representative, blah, blah, blah.

[ShadowAce]

How were you inconvenienced? They got their own section at the park--don't sit there. One section in a stadium is not an inconvenience--it's merely a consideration.

[Rebelbase]

You've got to be kidding, right?

[texson66]

Could someone please explain why there are such allergic reactions to common foods? Is there an environmental issue lurking here? Genetic?

((Airlines have already banned peanuts on flights. What's next? (They havent banned cats in the cabin...I'm allergic to cats)!)

[brityank]

YET...the government didn't get involved YET. just wait until it gets more publicity...

And at that time I'll stand there and tell them to stuff it where the sun don't shine.
"Government is the problem; it is never the solution."

[Aggie Mama]

I agree with you. Until you've seen the shock that one goes into with a severe allergy, you just can't get it.

[Aggie Mama]

Wow, I've never seen such an incredibly callous statement. Remember, what goes around comes around.

[2Trievers]

You paint with a VERY broad brush for the Hardware Capital of the World. LOL &;-)

[Godel]

How were you inconvenienced? They got their own section at the park--don't sit there. One section in a stadium is not an inconvenience--it's merely a consideration.

What next a special bubble section for those without working immune systems, a special section for vegetarians, a special section for lepers. Seriously whats so bad about watching the game on television. Sorry I just don't see the point in inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people for one person. This is just like those public schools that have banned peanut butter from every single kids lunch because one kid has an allergy. I don't think 99% of people should suffer because of one.