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Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:54 am
by Mr. M
Might as well. it's only a matter of time.

Federal Officials Consider Peanut Ban On Planes

Federal regulators are considering a snack attack on the nation's airlines that would restrict or even completely ban serving peanuts on commercial flights.

Advocates say the move would ease fears and potential harm to an estimated 1.8 million Americans who suffer from peanut allergies. Peanut farmers and food packagers, however, see it as overreaching and unfair to their legume.


more here




My personal thoughts on this matter.

"DOT Department of Transportation believes that a severe peanut allergy counts as a disability." So does that mean I can claim disability for my allergy to onions? How about people that are allergic to strawberries, pollen, dairy, ect. We have GOT to put a stop to this. The government is taking TOO MUCH CONTROL. These whiny people that can't take care of themselves, expecting the government to pass laws so that they don't have to do anything. Why should I have to do without something just becasue you can't have it? GROW UP, be an adult. No one is FORCING you to eat, breath or even be around peanuts. Want a peanut free zone? get a plastic bubble. Banning peanuts from planes would be as dumb as making separate flights for people that are allergic. I am so tired of hearing people complain becasue the world does not rotate the way they want it to. GET OVER IT. You are not the only person in this planet. We do not all bow down to your every command. YOU are the MINORITY. You adapt to our world or you stay home.







**lets keep this discussion on the adult level**

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:28 am
by DragonFox98
I actually agree with you. Whatever happened to accountability and being responsible for one's actions?

My husband is actually disabled. The fact that these people want to be labeled as "disabled" strictly because of a food allergy is laughable. We've been fighting with the SSA for over a year, struggling for them to recognize his disability. UGH. The nerve of some people.

My son was actually forbidden to eat PB&J from the cafeteria at school or bring homemade PB&J in for lunch last year. The reason...one of the kids in his class had a severe peanut allergy. ONE. This is what bothered me. My son loves peanut butter sandwhices (no jelly, thank you very much, he thinks it makes the bread yucky). Now, why can't that kid eat separately from the others instead of imposing sanctions on the entire rest of the class? Just my opinion.

I can see the problem and difficulties one must face if they have a severe allergy, but as Mr. M said...stay at home or learn how to deal with it, don't impose on others. Again....accountability and responsibility.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:56 am
by CptnSkippy
I have a peanut free house. My son has a deathly allergic reaction to peanuts.

At his school, he just doesn't trade with his friends (the preschool had two or three kids, so he was in the one peanut free room). He's aware of his allergy and won't try anything that he doesn't know what it is. One time he wouldn't eat a pack of jelly beans because they had the 'Peanuts' characters and logo on them.

However, flying is a different story. The air is recycled. It's not like we can open a window and get fresh air, and god help us should he go into a reaction, guess what... that whole plane is going to the nearest airport. I have had two Captains inform us this is exactly what is going to happen without a second thought. Is having peanuts instead of pretzels worth the risk of inconvenience?

I actually had a lady yell at the flight hostess because she started to get out peanuts and then switched to pretzels. The hostess politely informed her that she would be happy to give her peanuts at the end of the flight. Guess who was the first person off the plane and running up the plank? I called after offering her peanuts, but she didn't want to stop. Southwest was very accommodating to us, and that's why I would book through them. Does it need to be a law? Perhaps not. Much like other things in life, you could let your dollar decide.

When it comes to the rest of the world, we read package ingredients, discuss with chef's, and handle it ourselves. As far as flying, I haven't flown with my son in six years. It's easier to drive.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:28 am
by Mayonnaise
As a fan of Airline Peanuts, I was totally on the "personal responsibility" side of the argument, until I read a study where they consistantly found peanut dust in airplane air-filters. I don't know how, but SOMEHOW those peanuts are getting pulverized and airborne in a recycled air canister. That's not a matter of personal accountability anymore. So long as they can't stop those little suckers aresolizing... they should at the least be removed from flights containing passengers who have notified that they have allergies... and this from someone who counts on those peanuts for protein when riding back to back flights all day.

8^)

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:58 am
by kurtisnelson
CptnSkippy wrote:Does it need to be a law? Perhaps not. Much like other things in life, you could let your dollar decide.
I have the same view. We can't always let the needs of the few outweigh the want of the masses. No one forces someone to fly, so if there is a problem with you flying simply don't do it. It's not like people have a "right" to fly or to be accommodated by any non gov't entity. I personally think the ADA is larger than it needs to be, if a company doesn't want to spend the large amount of money that they have to to be compliant and in exchange lose out on the affected customers, let that be their choice. It's like the Segways in Disney lawsuit. If Disney says no personal Segways, so be it. It's their land, and you don't have a right to visit Disney.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:10 pm
by hobie16
I'm torn on this issue. I like the peanuts but I don't want someone going into anaphylactic shock so the plane has to make an emergency landing to get them medical care.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:29 pm
by CptnSkippy
hobie16 wrote:I'm torn on this issue. I like the peanuts ...
Especially the honey roasted!

I used to keep a jar of peanut butter in my office (then brush my teeth before I got home).

Since I've been here in Orlando with the family back in South Florida, I think I've had more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at work (or bagels with peanut butter) than I ever did when I was in school. :D:

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:33 pm
by Amphigorey
Really? You guys are complaining that the ADA goes too far because you might not be able to have peanuts on a plane?

My sympathy meter isn't even pinging here. I mean, come on.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:40 pm
by PatchOBlack
Put me in with the "better safe than sorry" crowd on this one. Apparently, sever peanut allergies, to the point where death is a distinct possibility, is not that uncommon. Thus, in a closed environment such as a plane, particularly since if something does happen, it isn't going to be easy to get emergency assistance, I would say placing a ban on peanuts isn't such a bad idea. After all, the inconvenience of not satisfying one's urge for some peanuts pales against the possibility of someone being killed by those same peanuts.

Re: Planet earth decides to ban life...

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:50 pm
by darph nader
Just curious,being peanuts are actually a bean,not a nut,what other foods in the bean family would these people be allergic to? :confused: