I had heard that some people who suffer severe allergies to certain food can suffer reactions because of proximity to, rather than ingestion of, the food in question. For example, I once heard of a child allergic to peanuts who went into anaphylactic shock upon stepping into his classroom, where it turned out that there was a Snickers wrapper in the wastebasket. I believe that child survived. A young woman allergic to peanuts, who went into anaphylactic shock after kissing her boyfriend who had just eaten peanuts, tragically did not survive.
"A 15-year-old girl with a peanut allergy died after kissing her boyfriend, who had just eaten a peanut butter snack, hospital officials said Monday.
"Christina Desforges died in a Quebec hospital Wednesday after doctors were unable to treat her allergic reaction to the kiss the previous weekend.
"Desforges, who lived in Saguenay, about 155 miles north of Quebec City, was almost immediately given a shot of adrenaline, a standard tool for treating the anaphylactic shock brought on by a peanut allergy, officials said."
What a terrible story, but it does shed light for parents on the necessity to determine just how severe food allergies are and exactly what kind of proximity to the food can trigger an attack. It can also show that one person’s food allergy may require an adjustment in eating habits not just for that person but for family and friends.
I heard about this, but it’s still incredibly scary.
Everyone pray for the family. They must be devastated.
This reality is also good reason to make sure the matter we use for Eucharist is consistent with the expectations of the faithful. If some well meaning person puts peanut butter in the communion bread and someone with an allergy consumes it, that church would have a lawsuit on their hands.
“If some well meaning person puts peanut butter in the communion bread and someone with an allergy consumes it, that church would have a lawsuit on their hands.”
But adding peanut butter would make it doubtful matter. Surely no one would ever do such a wicked thing, right?
Years ago a boy scout died from his peanut allergy when someone put peanut butter in the chili as a remedy for slightly scorching it. (Apparently it takes away that scorched smell, but I’d sooner pitch it and start over.) You have to inquire about everything you eat.
Regarding the kid in the classroom – wouldn’t he have to be taken out of school? How can you prevent an entire class from eating anything with peanuts?
How can you prevent an entire class from eating anything with peanuts?
At my school, the teacher would send a note to all the parents and some of us kids would beat up anyone who tried to eat peanuts near our friend.
As for hypersensitive reactions, I have the same kind of reaction to both ethanol and mint. Just the smell of a glass of beer or wine or someone chewing gum gives me a migraine headache.
I am truly sorry for this family, and obviously one should make accomodations for known cases, but some of the language suggests, well, that schools/parents/whoever should anticipate every incredibly bizzare possible anomoly in advance, and heavne help them if they are so uncaring as to not to.
This is reminescent of the news item not long ago of schools in California (I think) requiring children who bring peanut butter and jelly sandwichs for lunch to dine in a seperate room. At the time it seemed to me a laughable over-reaction. But is it? Or should kids that bring PJB in their brown bags be made pariahs at lunchtime?
If I can smell someone eating peanut butter from a distance away, I would imagine that keeping kids who eat peanut butter in a separate room is reasonable. I’m not allergic to peanut butter but the taste and smell of it revulses and gags me. So, I would assume that someone with an allergy could very well have a (worse) reaction to the airborne particles.
Speaking a someone with food allergies, I can tell you how difficult it can be at times.
I’m allergic to white fish, peanut butter, melon (all types), bananas, and corn. I don’t have as bad a reaction as some–I just puke. I puke blood.
A few years ago, I was invited to a dinner party, on a Friday during Lent. Main course: white fish. Side dish: corn. Dessert: had peanut butter in it.
What I hate is that artificial krab. It’s actually white fish. My tongue can’t tell the difference, but my stomach sure can.
I think it’s only polite to ask guests if they have any dietary restrictions. You certainly wouldn’t want to feed a diabetic sugar.