“Peanut butter jelly time?” No. How about peanut butter ending time? It’s time we put a stop to the consumption of peanut butter, or at least slow its popularity. The allergy to peanut butter is rising, and so its popularity should be falling.
Peanut allergies are rising, being the second most common food allergy behind cow’s milk. It is also the most likely food to cause anaphylaxis and death. In a study, it is discovered that 150 to 200 people die in the U.S each year because of a food allergy. Peanut allergies make up 50 to 62 percent of these fatal cases. If you don’t want to contribute to this rising number, make sure to wash your hands after handling food with peanuts and choose a different snack when you’re around somebody with the allergy.
Everywhere you go, huge signs promoting “peanut butter this, and peanut butter that,” draw many into trying it for themselves and giving it out to others. A candy often seen in trick-or-treat bags is Reese’s Peanut butter cups, a combination of chocolate and peanut butter. While it’s certainly delicious, it can also be deadly.
As somebody allergic to peanut butter, I can tell you how harmful this popular food can be. Even the smell of peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction in many people. When in enclosed spaces or near someone with peanut butter, they can experience severe reactions simply from being in the same room. For me, the smell of it makes it nearly impossible to breathe, and others find it even more unbearable. I get it; peanut butter is delicious, but you could send someone to the hospital.
Now, I’m not saying that you should stop eating it completely. It tastes good; I liked it before I developed the allergy. However, being more aware of who you’re near and whether or not they could die from a treat you’re about to eat is important. Eating peanut-filled food is perfectly fine, but I would recommend getting as far away from someone allergic to peanuts as possible if you absolutely have to eat it. If you are best friends with this person and absolutely cannot be separated from them, just wait until you can be.
Another issue is that people often bring items containing peanuts in without labeling them. I often check labels for peanuts when I’m not familiar with a food, but when there are none, it makes it difficult for those of us who could die from one bite. When at a party or a potluck, or some other place where you bring food, please label it if it has a common allergy in it. I really do not want to have to ask my friends and family to taste-test everything I want to eat before I touch it. It doesn’t just apply to peanuts either; if it has any common food allergy, such as tree nuts or shellfish, please label it. It doesn’t take that long, just pull out a note card and write “Contains peanuts.”
Peanut butter seems to linger everywhere it’s eaten, whether it’s just the smell or it dropped out of your sandwich and is sitting on the table. If I touch that, it is the endgame for me, and every other person allergic to peanut butter. So, if you ever do have peanut butter, make sure to clean up after yourself. Just in case somebody allergic to peanut butter happens to walk in after you.
Peanut butter is a great food and makes packing lunch really easy for everyone, but it could be fatal just from one whiff of it. So, next time you’re packing your lunch, perhaps consider who you’re going to be near that day and whether you’ll be putting someone’s life at risk. If you’ll be near somebody who can die from peanut butter, perhaps think of a different option for your lunch.
