Food Allergies | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | ACAAI Public Website
Teacher With Nut Allergy Horrified To Be Offered A Mask So Flight Could Serve Deadly Snack
Amy Pearson was jetting off from Heathrow Airport to visit her sister Molly, 24, in Kuala Lumpur last month but she claims her flights with Qatar Airways and Malaysian Airlines were petrifying
Amy and her sister Mollie in Malaysia (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
A geography teacher feared she would die when two airlines insisted on handing out peanuts to fellow plane passengers, despite warning them she had a deadly nut allergy.
Amy Pearson was jetting off from Heathrow Airport to visit her sister Molly, 24, in Kuala Lumpur last month. The 25-year-old told her travel agent, and the airline had given her the all clear to fly, ahead of her flight on Monday, August 10, but when she arrived at the Qatar Airways check-in desk, Amy claims the airline were not aware of her allergy and made her sign a liability waiver before boarding the plane.
Amy said on both her Qatar Airways and her connecting flight on Malaysia Airlines, she informed the cabin crew about her allergy but the airlines refused to stop selling nuts on board. She says she was left petrified and claims she was left with nothing but a plate of fruit to eat for the entire 14-hour journey. She added that there was also no announcement of her allergy was made to alert other passengers, who unaware were able to tuck into snacks that could have cost her her life.
Malaysia Airlines even allegedly handed out complimentary peanuts to fellow travellers around her, while Amy was handed a face mask to wear in a bid to stop her from going into anaphylactic shock. Following the incident, Amy says she will never fly with the airlines again and says she feels 'discriminated against' by the companies. She is now raising awareness of her flight experience to ensure other holiday goers with airborne allergies can fly safely and enjoy travelling.
Qatar Airways website states that passengers with allergies may be required to sign a waiver of liability before flying, while Mayalsian Airlines website states that they will continue to serve nuts even if passengers have an allergy. Amy, from Boston in Lincolnshire, said: "Every other time I've been on a flight every one has been fine with my nut allergy.
Amy was told to wear a mask to stop airborne allergens (Image:
Kennedy News & Media) Schoolteacher Amy was petrified (Image:
Kennedy News & Media)"[Other airlines in the past] have made an announcement to tell people to not eat nuts on board and wouldn't serve nuts on board. When I got there [to the Qatar Airways check-in desk] at Heathrow airport I let them know that I was the passenger with the nut allergy. They said they were not aware of this and I told them that I was told to make them aware of it when I got to the airport.
"They then made me sign a waiver to say that if I died on board, it was not their fault. I was petrified. I got on the plane and told them I had a nut allergy again. They said they [Qatar Airways] couldn't cater to this and if I read the small print it would say this. I spoke to people around me [on the plane] that I had a severe nut allergy and asked them to not eat nuts around me and they said of course.
"The Qatar Airways staff told me that air circulates on a plane and they [the nuts] could just be in the air. I had never been on a flight this long before so I didn't know how I was going to react. I asked them to say it over the tannoy that I had a nut allergy and they said they couldn't do this as it wasn't up to them to dictate what people could eat on board. My nut allergy is anaphylactic. I carry an Epipen on me and had four with me on the flight.
"On the Malaysia Airlines flight, they give out packets of peanuts as a complimentary snack to give to their guests and they wouldn't not serve them. I was furious. They offered to give me a Covid-style face mask to wear. On their app it said that they provide special meals so I put on that I had a nut allergy. However, on both flights to Malaysia, they didn't have a meal for me and all they could offer me on the second flight was a plate of fruit which is all I had in 14 hours.
"I was petrified on the flight. Luckily on the second flight I had a row [of seats] to myself. I sat still the whole time. I didn't want to touch anything and didn't use the toilet." Before flying home to England on August 29th, Amy says her travel agent reminded the airline about her nut allergy and claims she was told she would be treated better on these flights.
But after boarding her first flight home, Amy claims she was almost not able to fly home and was made to sign a second liability waiver to make the journey. Amy said: "On the last few days of my holiday I was stressing about how I was going to get home. [Before travelling home] I contacted my travel agent and asked if they could ring the airline to make sure it was better on the way back.
"They [the airline] assured my travel agent that I would be treated much better on the return. I boarded the plane and told them I was the one with the nut allergy and they took me off the flight as they are not sure if I can fly. At this point, I am crying because I have just said goodbye to my sister for a year and I am now being told I am stuck in Malaysia.
"They said they needed to ring HQ to see if I could fly. I had to sign another waiver to board the plane and they were horrible. When I got to Qatar I decided to not even mention my allergy as it didn't change anything and they just made it worse. On the flight I just spoke to the people around me [to not eat nuts] and luckily I got home safely."
Since returning back to her teaching job, Amy is keen to raise awareness of her treatment by Qatar Airways after paying over £1,500 for her flights. Amy said: "I would never fly with them again. It's not fair. If I knew that they were like this I would have never flown with them.I'm a geography teacher and I want to promote people to go and see the world and travelling is the best thing to do but it shouldn't be stopped by a nut allergy."
Qatar Airways declined to comment but referred to the company's allergy policy online. A Malaysia Airlines spokesperson said: "Malaysia Airlines provides clear and transparent information and guidance regarding peanut and tree nut allergies to passengers via the medical guidance section on its website to support them in making an informed decision when choosing to fly. As stated on our website, Malaysia Airlines is unable to guarantee a peanut/nut-free environment in our aircraft or airport lounges, and we do not prohibit passengers especially those with allergies from bringing their own meals on board."
Peanut Allergy
You have a peanut allergy when your body's immune system overreacts to peanuts. Normally, your immune system helps protect you from germs and other harmful substances. But if you have a peanut allergy, your body responds to the proteins in peanuts as though they're dangerous. Your immune system works hard to fight them off, which triggers an allergic reaction.
A peanut isn't actually a nut. It's a legume and belongs to the same family as peas and lentils. A peanut allergy is different than a tree nut allergy. Still, up to 40% of people who are allergic to peanuts are also allergic to tree nuts such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts.
Peanuts are often hard to avoid. They can sneak their way into recipes or packaged food items. But even a trace of peanuts can be harmful. That's why people with peanut allergies need to be extra careful about what they eat.
More than 6 million Americans are allergic to peanuts. Roughly 1 in every 50 kids has a peanut allergy, making it the most common type of food allergy in children. Some grow out of it, but others have a peanut allergy for their whole lives. It's the third most common food allergy among adults.
It's not clear why, but reported cases of peanut allergy have increased in recent years. A 2017 study found the number of children with peanut allergies had increased by 21% since 2010.
When you eat or inhale peanuts, your immune system makes antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals called histamines. The histamines trigger the allergy symptoms you notice.
Doctors don't know exactly why some people have immune responses to peanuts and others don't. Some things that can increase your risk of peanut allergies are:Your age. Peanut allergies are more common in toddlers and babies. As you grow, so does your digestive system. That's why older people are less prone to peanut allergy reactions.Other allergies. If you're allergic to other foods, you're more likely to also have a peanut allergy. People with other types of allergies, like hay fever, also have a higher risk.Family history. You may be more likely to have a peanut allergy if someone in your family has one.Eczema. Eczema is a condition that causes dry and itchy skin. It can raise your risk for peanut allergies.Prior peanut allergies. Some people outgrow peanut allergies, but they could come back when you're an adult if you had them as a kid.
Most often, you'll notice signs of a reaction within 2 hours of eating peanuts. Your symptoms may be different each time. They can range from mild to life-threatening.
Some common symptoms of peanut allergies are:
Peanut allergy and anaphylaxis symptoms
Sometimes, peanut allergies trigger a very serious reaction called anaphylaxis. This can happen even if you've had only mild reactions before.
Some signs of anaphylaxis are:
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. You'll need immediate treatment and a visit to the emergency room. If you or someone you're with has symptoms of anaphylaxis, use an epinephrine auto-injector pen right away and call 911.
To diagnose a peanut allergy, your doctor will first ask about your symptoms and medical history. Then, they may suggest a physical exam along with:
It's important to avoid peanuts as much as possible when you have a peanut allergy. If you do come in contact with them, here are some medicines that can help:
Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy
In oral immunotherapy, an allergist gives you very small doses of peanuts that are gradually increased over time. This can help train your immune system to stay calm around allergy triggers. It can't stop a reaction, but it may lessen your odds for serious reactions in case of accidental exposure.
The FDA has approved peanut allergen powder (Palforzia) for oral immunotherapy in children ages 4-17.
Oral immunotherapy isn't a cure. You'll still need to avoid peanuts, and you should still should carry two epinephrine auto-injectors at all times.
Antibody treatment
The antibody treatment omalizumab (Xolair) is given as a shot. It binds to the IgE proteins in your blood that prompt allergic reactions. This makes your immune system less reactive to allergy triggers.
Some studies have found Xolair can lower your risk of food allergy reactions and protect you from accidental peanut exposure. Like Palforzia, Xolair is not meant to be used in place of emergency auto-injector treatments.
Living with a peanut allergy means staying away from peanuts, which can be tricky.
For one thing, you'll need to get good at reading food labels. U.S. Law requires all packaged foods sold in this country to say whether they contain peanuts.
Even if they don't contain peanuts, foods that come into contact with them during processing can be dangerous. This is called cross contamination. The label will tell you if this is a possibility. It might say something like "made in a factory that uses nut ingredients." Restaurant foods aren't required to have this labeling.
If you live with a peanut allergy:
Tips for parents of kids with a peanut allergy
To help protect a child with a peanut allergy:
Foods that often have peanuts
Some foods that may contain peanuts include:
Many people who are allergic to peanuts can safely eat refined peanut oil but should avoid the unrefined type. Ask your allergist whether any peanut oil is safe for you. Peanut oil is sometimes listed as "arachis oil" on food ingredient lists.
Other things that can trigger a peanut allergy
Some foods and products aren't covered by the U.S. Allergen labeling law. This means they could contain peanuts or be made in a factory with peanuts but don't say so on the label.
Here are some items to look out for:
Anaphylaxis is the complication most people worry about when it comes to peanut allergies. It can happen seconds or minutes after you've been exposed to peanuts. It might start with symptoms that look like those of a milder reaction, but get worse in a hurry.
Basically, your body goes into shock. Your immune system sends out a blast of chemicals. This causes your blood pressure to quickly drop and your pulse to weaken. You might have trouble breathing or pass out.
You need epinephrine right away. Call 911 if you don't have epinephrine on hand. Without proper treatment, anaphylaxis can be deadly.
There may be a few ways to help prevent peanut allergies. For starters, you can give your kids peanuts when they're young.
Research has found 17% of babies who don't eat peanuts develop a peanut allergy by age 5. But only 3% who eat peanuts have allergies by the time they turn 5.
Newer guidelines from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) say parents should give most babies foods that contain peanuts when they start solid foods. This is usually when the baby is about 4 to 6 months old. This recommendation applies to:
The NIAID notes that high-risk babies should have a blood or skin-prick test before they eat food with peanuts. High-risk means they have a history of serious eczema or an egg allergy. The test results can help doctors determine if it's OK for the baby to have peanuts.
If doctors decide that peanuts are safe, guidelines suggest babies should eat 2 grams of peanut protein, three times a week. That's the same as about 2 teaspoons of peanut butter. Babies should never be given whole peanuts, as they can choke on them.
When you have a peanut allergy, your body's immune system reacts to peanuts as though they're dangerous. This causes reactions that can range from mild to life-threatening. People with peanut allergies must avoid peanuts. Treatments like oral immunotherapy and antibody treatment can help reduce the risk of serious reactions, but they're not a cure.
What is a level 4 peanut allergy?
A level 4 peanut allergy means it's labeled "strongly positive" on the Peanut Institute's allergy rating scale. The rating is assigned based on the level of IgE antibodies found in your blood during testing.
Here are all the peanut allergy levels:
How to cure peanut allergy?
There's no cure for peanut allergy. But about 20% of people outgrow it. Others become less sensitive to peanuts over time. Also, newer treatments, like oral immunotherapy, can help you better tolerate peanuts. This may protect you from an accidental bite of a food that contains peanut.
What else am I allergic to if I'm allergic to peanuts?
You may or may not have other food allergies. People with peanut allergies are often also allergic to:
Passenger With Peanut Allergy Feared She'd Die On Plane After Airline Handed Out Nuts — Despite Her Warning
A UK passenger with a deadly peanut allergy thought she'd die after two airlines handed out peanuts on a 14-hour journey — despite her notifying them of her allergy in advance.
UK passenger Amy Pearson, who has a deadly peanut allergy, thought she'd die after two airlines handed out peanuts on a 14-hour journey despite her disclaimer. Kennedy News & Media"I was petrified," Amy Pearson, 25, told Kennedy News of the frightening incident, which occurred last month while she was flying to see her sister Molly Pearson, 24, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "I sat still the whole time. I didn't want to touch anything and didn't use the toilet."
The Lincolnshire native allegedly suffers from a severe airborne nut allergy, which could cause her to go into anaphylactic shock — a life-threatening allergic reaction — if exposed. She reportedly carries an Epi-pen wherever she goes.
(From right to left): Amy Pearson with her sister Molly Pearson. Kennedy News & MediaAs a result, the geography teacher had to inform airlines of her condition before flying, claiming that most agreed not to serve nuts while she was aboard.
Pearson said that ahead of her latest flight, her travel agent informed Qatar Airways — her carrier during the first leg of the journey from the UK to Qatar — of her condition and she was given the green light to fly.
When the Brit arrived at the check-in desk, she informed them that she was the passenger with the peanut allergy.
However, the clerks on duty said "they were not aware of this" and even made her sign a waiver that stipulated that it was "not their fault" if she died, Pearson recalled.
Pearson boarded the plane and informed the flight attendants of her allergy, but they refused to stop slinging nuts on board.
Where Pearson was forced to stand while staffers determined whether she'd be able to board the plane for the first leg of her flight back to the UK. "I'm just in shock and really disgusted by the way they're prepared to treat people," said Pearson. Kennedy News & Media"They said they [Qatar Airways] couldn't cater to this and if I read the small print it would say this," she said. She added that they wouldn't honor her request to announce her condition over the intercom, claiming that they couldn't "dictate what people could eat on board."
At that point, Pearson said she was reduced to pleading with the people around her, who fortunately agreed to abstain from eating nuts. However, the Qatar Airways crewmembers told her "that air circulates on a plane and they [the nuts] could just be in the air," she recounted.
"I had never been on a flight this long before so I didn't know how I was going to react," said Pearson, who fortunately had four Epi-pens with her.
To make matters worse, this was just the first leg of a 14-hour journey (her longest ever), the second of which was with Malaysia Airlines.
Unfortunately, just like on Qatar, crew members handed out "packets of peanuts as a complimentary snack" despite Pearson informing them of her condition.
"On their app, it said that they provide special meals so I put on that I had a nut allergy," lamented Pearson, who was allegedly given a "COVID-style" face mask to protect her against the peanut fumes.
She said she sat still the whole time and wouldn't touch anything or even go to the lavatory for fear of contamination.
As neither airline acquiesced to her request for a special meal, the beleaguered flyer was relegated to eating a plate of fruit — which was all she ate during the entire 14-hour trip.
Unfortunately, it turned into Groundhog Day on the return leg to the UK, where crew members assured she'd be treated better, only for them to yank her off the aircraft shortly after boarding.
"They [the airline] assured my travel agent that I would be treated much better on the return," said Pearson. "I boarded the plane and told them I was the one with the nut allergy and they took me off the flight as they are not sure if I can fly."
She added, "At this point, I am crying because I have just said goodbye to my sister for a year and I am now being told I am stuck in Malaysia."
Staffers said they needed to ring headquarters to see if they could fly, and even made Pearson fill out another waiver so she could board the plane.
Upon arriving in Qatar, the pedagogue didn't say anything to the crew, only imploring her fellow passengers to once again to abstain from eating nuts. When she reached out to the airlines to complain, she received automated responses.
Pearson, who is now back home safe in the UK, has vowed never to fly with either airline again, declaring: "It's not fair. If I knew that they were like this I would have never flown with them."
"I'm a geography teacher and I want to promote people to go and see the world and traveling is the best thing to do but it shouldn't be stopped by a nut allergy," the teacher added.
Pearson claimed she was discriminated against given that every other airline she flew with had catered to her allergy.
"[Other airlines in the past] have made an announcement to tell people to not eat nuts on board and wouldn't serve nuts on board," she said.
She said she's using her incident to "raise awareness of the issue so that other people don't have the same problem."
Both Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines referred Kennedy News to their policies regarding passengers with peanut allergies.
"We do our best to accommodate passengers with special allergy needs," Qatar writes on its site.
"However, as our flights are open to the public, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment."
They stipulate that passengers "are responsible for carrying any necessary medication with them onboard" and that they "may be required to sign a waiver of liability."
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Airlines website stipulates that the airline will not implement peanut-free or nut-free buffer zones and/or remove the service of peanut or nut snacks.
They will also not make onboard announcements refraining passengers from consuming peanuts/nuts.
"We recommend that passengers familiarise themselves with the peanut/nut allergy policy and protocols of any airline they are traveling with prior to making their booking, to ensure their needs can be accommodated," an airline representative told Kennedy.
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