Media Fails to Recognize All Anaphylactic Food Allergies

Written by Harriet Spitzer Picker

Last night, I was angry. Really angry. I couldn’t take in the NY Times piece, “Boarding Now: Parents of Children with Food Allergies” by Roni Carin Rabin. So much of her article bothered me. She and other writers still fail to recognize that food allergies are so much more than just peanuts and nuts. I spoke with this same author in 2017 after her earlier article, “Travelers with Nut Allergies Clash with Airlines”, to no avail. Let me highlight some of my issues with this latest piece.

“Some are so sensitive that merely touching a surface contaminated with an allergen can set off a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, which causes swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure, shock and constriction of the airways. The reaction can be fatal”. Contact reactions do occur, but it is extremely rare that the above scenario would happen unless one touches his or her face, or has open skin for it to enter blood.

Another issue is this: “The D.O.T. considers severe allergies a disability under the act if they impact a passenger’s ability to breathe or “substantially impact another major life activity.” So what about asthma? What about the person who can’t be near perfume or animals? What protections do they have and where does it stop?

The whole NY Times story vaguely talks about food allergies but really focuses on life with peanut and nut allergies.

Currently, not one airline has an overall food allergy policy that addresses all food allergies. That means if you have a fish, dairy or other allergy, you have nothing to point to, in terms of accommodations. In fact, most airlines think a dairy allergy is lactose intolerance, not a potentially anaphylactic allergy.

In truth, it really isn’t that hard for most people with food allergies to fly if they follow a few tips that most board certified allergists recommend.

1. Never ever eat airline food. Best to bring food from home.

2. Wipe your seat and table. (A good idea even for those with no allergies, to minimize germs)

3. Always have your medications, and have back-up medication too.

The bottom line is this — the more the media focuses on just peanut and nut allergies, the more those with other food allergies are minimized and overlooked.

Harriet Spitzer Picker is a Certified Asthma Educator and Food Allergy Specialist. She is also the founder of Positive Parenting with Food Allergies.