Nut-free zone ordered on Air Canada

[quickflight]

If we want to do something good we need to band together against those jet fuel snacks and bring back the dad's cookies... WHO'S WITH ME!!!

[BoostedNihilist]

NorthWest is going the other way (laugh)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSGOGAOiiJQ

Wonder what they do with the nuts...

[onspeed]

Good news, It's nice to know these people will be able to get on an airplane without having to worry as much about where they sit.

On a side note the Asthma Society of Canada is also trying to get Air Canada to reverse their decision on allowing pets into the cabin. I know that there had been some talk of getting Transport Canada involved in a similar manner to this.

[linecrew]

Perhaps ACA should consider bringing back proper (and of course nut free) full mean service. That way non-allergic passengers won't be tempted to bring their own food onboard which is likely 'tainted' with peanut allergens as an alternative to the overpriced garbage served on the flights now.

[HavaJava]

Perhaps ACA should consider bringing back proper (and of course nut free) full mean service. That way non-allergic passengers won't be tempted to bring their own food onboard which is likely 'tainted' with peanut allergens as an alternative to the overpriced garbage served on the flights now.

Uh huh...and if they did, I bet you'd be first in line to complain about how much more the ticket prices are than Westjet or the charter companies. Either that or you'd rub it in Air Canada's face that they are losing money on the operation.

[flying4dollars]

She wants all nuts banned from all airlines.

Good grief...some people need to give their heads a shake.

[fanspeed]

i paid for my seat and i like nuts... I don't want to be in their buffer. Maybe they should try taking a bus next time, or there own private "nut free" car. I wonder how many tax dollars went into writing that waste of time.
While I can and do appreciate the government accommodating other cultures and the disabled, they need to print into the laws a certain amount of "suck it up Princess" so the whiners, and middle age soccer moms stop wasting everyones time and money.

When will i get my "rolls of fat coming over the armrest" free zone. Oh and I'm definitely allergic to B.O. and babies, especially crying ones.

Wonder who'd be bitching the loudest if he/she had an allergy.

[_dwj_]

As bmc said it's not that simple. I know a woman with a severe nut allergy; she doesn't have to eat them to have a reaction, she just has to be in proximity to them or someone who has eaten them.

It is highly unlikely that she is actually having a reaction to the nuts just from being in proximity to someone who has eaten them. People believe they have reactions to various things like MSG and cellphone towers, but when they are tested they only show reactions when they are TOLD that they are ingesting MSG or the cellphone tower is on, not when it actually is.

I don't think there is any actual evidence that having a peanut free area actually protects people. See this article from the NY Times:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/1 ... -hysteria/

The only research I can find is this double blind study showing inhalation of fumes from peanut butter causes no reaction, and skin contact only has a minor, local reaction:

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-prev ... ze=largest

Another study looked at self-reported reactions from airline passengers, and found no severe or life threatening reactions due to inhalation:

http://www.jacionline.org/article/PIIS0 ... 0/fulltext

[Adam1100]

i paid for my seat and i like nuts... I don't want to be in their buffer. Maybe they should try taking a bus next time, or there own private "nut free" car. I wonder how many tax dollars went into writing that waste of time.
While I can and do appreciate the government accommodating other cultures and the disabled, they need to print into the laws a certain amount of "suck it up Princess" so the whiners, and middle age soccer moms stop wasting everyones time and money.

When will i get my "rolls of fat coming over the armrest" free zone. Oh and I'm definitely allergic to B.O. and babies, especially crying ones.

Wonder who'd be bitching the loudest if he/she had an allergy.

I do have allergies... but as everyone else should I "suck it up." I don't expect to be accommodated by everyone else or by companies trying to make money.
if it was in there commercial interest to do so they would have become "nut free" already cause I'm sure this is a waste of money for the company as well. instead all the real nuts go running to the government to complain, and apparently come here too.

[felix0315]

I dont know much about the air conditioning systems on board airplanes
but assuming that the AC works as a single system
the 'zone division' would seem rather ineffective as there would be no way to prevent a nut free zone anywhere on the plane, even if you tried dividing the people up.
And even if the AC isnt a single system, it would still be ineffective because you're still not properly 'quarantined' from 'nut fumes'.

so, having said all that, i really dont get why this order has to be implemented. theres really no point :S.
i mean, if it is proximity that people worry about on a plane, just tell the others around you that you have an allergy, and they should respect your condition.

im not trying to start a war...i'm just going by logic here

[rigpiggy]

My wife runs a cookie company, Labels abound warning of nut contamination. the cost of running two kitchens was prohibitive, she still gets requests.

[xsbank]

I thought a "nut-free zone" meant a line beyond which CATSA employees could not pass?

Nut allergies are life-threatening for some. I love nuts, but I don't need 'em on a flight a lot less than I don't need somebody going into anephalactic (too lazy to look up spelling) shock and diverting to Winnipeg (shudder) or Toronto.

[beaverbob]

Good grief,

If Air Canada has to create nut free zones Nobody from Catsa, CTA and only 1/2 of Avcanada could fly with them. Thier planes would be half empty. I know one coastal Beaver pilot that would never be allowed on board.
Bob

[SeptRepair]

What an absurd request. As a recovering alcoholic ( just kidding, trying to make a point here) I demand all alcohol be removed from all flights so i'm not tempted if I see another person having a drink. Can't people just go without for a few hours while i'm in there presence? Everyone around me can be so selfish.

[805ITT]

Is it really that hard to offer a nut free environment. All of the newspaper articles say that it is just Air Canada that has to offer this zone that is requested by a customer but Westjet already doesn't serve nuts on there aircraft. This one isn't a dog pile on AC.

My son is "big needle" allergic to peanuts and if he was to come in contact with a part of a nut because someone sneezed in a row behind him after eating a peanut it would be a death sentense of over an ocean somewhere. As a parent knowing that the aircraft or at least the few seats around us don't have nuts would take some of the stress out of travelling.

This is a good move on their part and AC could spin it well to increase buisness.

[ettw]

i paid for my seat and i like nuts... I don't want to be in their buffer. Maybe they should try taking a bus next time, or there own private "nut free" car. I wonder how many tax dollars went into writing that waste of time.
While I can and do appreciate the government accommodating other cultures and the disabled, they need to print into the laws a certain amount of "suck it up Princess" so the whiners, and middle age soccer moms stop wasting everyones time and money.

When will i get my "rolls of fat coming over the armrest" free zone. Oh and I'm definitely allergic to B.O. and babies, especially crying ones.

Don't you get this? A nut allergy can be fatal in VERY SMALL DOSES. I don't know anyone who has died as a result of contact with BO, babies, etc, etc. It can be FATAL!!!
I just get sick of this "what about my rights" when it comes to issues of mortality. This is "somewhat" imposing on you if you really really want nut products on board but is lethal to those who are allergic.

Really fed up,

ETTW

[bushwhacker]

After thinking this subject through ,here is a simple solution.
Turn the first class section into a nut free zone. Also the zone where obese passengers that don't fit into coach seating can sit .
That way by being denied peanuts, they might lose some weight and therefore become healthier.

Its a win win situation.

[linecrew]

Perhaps ACA should consider bringing back proper (and of course nut free) full mean service. That way non-allergic passengers won't be tempted to bring their own food onboard which is likely 'tainted' with peanut allergens as an alternative to the overpriced garbage served on the flights now.

Uh huh...and if they did, I bet you'd be first in line to complain about how much more the ticket prices are than Westjet or the charter companies. Either that or you'd rub it in Air Canada's face that they are losing money on the operation.

Your facetious radar is off, please turn it back on....

[countryhick]

I do have allergies... but as everyone else should I "suck it up."

Will your allergy result in a trip to the morgue or just give you a runny nose.

If you have a nut allergy DON'T EAT THE F--KING NUTS

Wow, astounding, why did we not think of that, I 'll mention that to the allergist to see if it would work, pure brilliance.

Here is the deal folks. Anaphylactic allergic reactions are very real, can occur extremely fast, and can be caused by the smallest amounts of allergen. And they can KILL. Residual amounts of an allergen can be left anywhere. Door knobs, seats, telephones, tray tables, anywhere. The intent of a safe zone is to reduce/avoid exposure to these trace amounts.

For those that don't (or refuse to) understand, perhaps you can understand this. Imagine spending every moment of your life with a gun to your head. That is my child's reality.

[_dwj_]

Don't you get this? A nut allergy can be fatal in VERY SMALL DOSES. I don't know anyone who has died as a result of contact with BO, babies, etc, etc. It can be FATAL!!!
I just get sick of this "what about my rights" when it comes to issues of mortality. This is "somewhat" imposing on you if you really really want nut products on board but is lethal to those who are allergic.

Really fed up,

ETTW

Has anyone ever died (or even had a severe objective reaction) from skin contact with a nut?

[Prairie Chicken]

This is getting to be a distressing discussion. Is it just me, or are we seeing a division of opinons based upon age? Those of us who grew up before allergies were common & severe, versus parents having to cope with the current reality? Being rather long in the tooth myself, I too object to having to give up some of my 'rights'. However, times have changed and I think it is time we recognize that some people, through no fault of their own, do have health limitations and we should do what we can to allow them to live as normal & mobile a life as possible.

Having said that, I doubt the environmental systems on heavy a/c are designed to respect a "nut-free buffer".

As far as I know, peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes. So, is there a reason why nuts (cashews, almonds, etc.) can't be served on an a/c? Also, I see far less of this sort of problem in Europe than in N. America. Why would this be?

I'd be interested to know more about why people today are developing more intolerances to all sorts of things. Obviously it is a malfunction of their immune systems, but why? Vaccines? The contaminated food we eat?

Anyhow, my sympathies to those who have to deal with such serious issues on a daily basis.

[snoopy]

http://chef21blog.com/peanut-allergy-–- ... ed-to-know

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/foodborne ... llergy.pdf

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... -5,00.html

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7566/494

http://www.todaysparent.com/healthsafet ... nt=1089969

http://www.beyondapeanut.com/Peanut_All ... ation.html

http://www.beyondapeanut.com/peanut_all ... icles.html

It would appear that the controversy over peanut, and other food allergies extends far beyond the boundaries of this forum. There are some interesting statistics about allergy fatalities in a few of the above articles - those few statistics show there are not many deaths from peanut allergies, however the number people suffering from food allergies (including peanuts) definitely appears to be rising.

While I believe some of the reactions/policies that specifically target peanut allergies are biased and somewhat knee-jerk, consideration definitely must be made to accommodate and respect people's health - child or adult - with ANY allergy. If someone identified they had a food allergy and might die, would you not immediately out of respect for human life and good social conscience go out of your way to help them to the best of your ability?

Just watching this thread unfold into poisonous and hateful comments from both sides further reinforces my theory that humans are generally intolerant of any differences - real or perceived; political, social, physical, idealogical - in any group of people; preferring to attack and rid themselves of diversity rather than try to understand, respect and accommodate.

No wonder we can't improve the aviation industry in Canada - we can't seem agree on anything! What is that saying... "United we stand, divided we fall"?

Cheers,
Kirsten B.

[snoopy]

Here are a few more articles from http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&clien ... =&aq=f&oq=:

This one in particular:
http://www.allergicliving.com/features.asp?copy_id=311

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_allergy

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/foods ... chool.html

http://southeastfarmpress.com/mag/farmi ... allergies/

Cheers,
Kirsten B.

[BE02]

I think the bigger problem here is that the Nut-free zone was only ordered on Air Canada. Where is the equality in that? The actual rule is just another example of the way our society is going.. Not that I agree with it

[Localizer]

Don't you get this? A nut allergy can be fatal in VERY SMALL DOSES. I don't know anyone who has died as a result of contact with BO, babies, etc, etc. It can be FATAL!!!
I just get sick of this "what about my rights" when it comes to issues of mortality. This is "somewhat" imposing on you if you really really want nut products on board but is lethal to those who are allergic.

Really fed up,

ETTW

Sorry to push this issue Ettw, but the percentage of people who will die from inhaling the odor of a peanut is less than 1%. I do agree that peanut allergies are sever none the less. But to go as far as making an airline ban all peanuts .. and try to prevent passengers from bringing them onboard or restrict area's that passengers eat them .. thats just plane crazy. It sets the airline up for a lawsuit first of all, that really is outside there control. Secondly what about the rights of the majority travelling public? I know a lot of people with this allergy .. adults and children .. they are pilots or fly a lot commercially. None of them have ever had a problem because they take precautions; pack there own meals to take with them; they don't accept anything from anyone onboard; they advise the cabin crew of there condition and give instructions on how to operate there epi-pens. They basically cover there ass, best they possibly can.

To force something like this on an airline, that has no authority to screen passengers for contraband nuts is nothing more than setting the corporation up for a lot of court battles and wasted money. There has to be some onus on the passenger to take preventative measures.

If it starts here with an airline .. what next? Ban peanuts in the workplace? movie theatre? baseball game?

Cheers!