I’ve had people tell me they will DIE if they have the dust from someone who just ate peanuts, sit next to them.
Is it really that deadly? I mean I know allergies can cause shock and make you die, but seriously, that little bit?
What about the person who took a bath in Midnight Velvet toilet water?
Cologne can trigger allergies as well...
Will the madness ever stop???
We worked at a prison and we used to provide the wards bags of peanuts during special movie nights as incentives, circa 1974. We had the warehouse deliver a case of peanuts to his office when we got back. We kept our jobs and actually got along with the guy. Seeing someone in shock like that is serious and I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone.
I’m visting the USA, and notice many bulletins, and on food preparations, SAYS THIS WAS PREPARED IN KITCHENS WHERE THERE ARE NO NUTS. In all honesty, do they think they know WHY all of these peanut allergies all of a sudden are showing up..It does seem to be common, what gives?
Second hand peanuts killing children, second hand smoke killing children, what's next?
Peanuts are nasty and yes for many who have it the allergy becomes sever enough to kill with only a miner exposure to the dust (the dust is actually the protein people are allergic to).
from junkfoodscience.com:
“One of the most commonly held beliefs is that the odor from peanut products, such as peanut butter, can result in an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, said Dr. Michael C. Young, M.D., assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, allergy and clinical immunology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Young is also the peanut allergy expert, helped to develop the first guidelines for schools in managing food allergies as a member of the Massachusetts Dept. of Education Task Force on Anaphylaxis, and authored The Peanut Allergy Answer Book. In an article [available here] for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, he said: “It is important to examine the scientific basis of these ideas before accepting them as fact.”
As he explained about the popular myth that the odor from peanut products could bring on a severe allergic reaction:
There are, in fact, a number of case reports in the medical literature of patients who report symptoms of difficulty breathing, chest tightness, skin rashes, itching, and various other symptoms—all from smelling peanut butter or being in the presence of peanut products. However, a recent blinded, placebo-controlled trial of children exposed to open peanut butter was unable to document any reactions.
Based on these reports of allergic reactions resulting from “inhalation”, many parents express concern that the mere presence of any peanut product can contaminate the surrounding airborne environment resulting in an entire room or area being unsafe for a child with peanut allergy. In evaluating these reactions from “airborne exposure,” it is important to remember several facts. First, allergic reactions to food are triggered by specific food proteins. Without contact with protein, there is no allergic reaction.
The study Dr. Young referenced was conducted by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. They took thirty young children with documented severe peanut-specific allergies (using IgE antibody testing and clinical anaphylaxis, contact reactions or positive reactions on double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges). These children underwent double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized exposures to peanut butter through skin contact and inhalation. Neither the children or researchers knew which exposure contained the peanuts or placebo (scent was masked with soy butter, tuna and mint) and contact exposure used soy butter with histamine. There were no serious reactions. They concluded that “casual exposure to peanut butter is unlikely to elicit significant allergic reactions,” even in at least 90% of highly sensitive children with peanut allergy.
Dr. Young’s article goes on to explain how food particles containing proteins can become airborne, such as during the peanut shelling process which can create a cloud of peanut particles, or releasing particles under pressure in an enclosed space; or high heat processing of peanuts; all of which can affect food industry workers. So, while there are case reports of severe asthma from airborne exposure to food in these extreme situations, “the typical inhalation reaction would be similar to that suffered by a cat-allergic person exposed to a cat walking into a room: itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.” As he said, the “chance of a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction from airborne exposure is very small.”