Peanut-free zone: How far should public accommodations go?
We’re writing about the Cardinals and the River City Rascals starting a new section in their stands: The peanut-free zone.
Buy me some … Crackerjack?
According to the news release from the Rascals: “In support of Gateway FEAST (Food allergy, Eczema, and Asthma Support Team), the River City Rascals have designated section 109 during every Wednesday home game as a ‘Peanut-Free Section.’ Here fans with such food allergies can come to a baseball game and avoid the hazards that peanuts can cause on their health.”
The Rascals start the peanut-free section tonight; the Redbirds start a section on July 21.
I am fortunate, as is my family, not to have food allergies to deal with. Believe me, I get how lucky I am. Let’s face it: They can be deadly.
Is this a good idea? How far should public places go to accommodate such issues? Where would it end? What makes this any different from, say, no smoking sections?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
My son has a severe food allergy to milk. It only takes him 1/2 teaspoon to have a possible fatal reaction. Until he was diagnosed 10 years ago, our family knew nothing about food alelrgies and their degree of seriousness. Everyone is saying to educate the kids to take care of themselves. Education is a given with any food allergy child - it’s the community that we’re trying to educate so that these kids can do the same things that any other normal kid gets to do. Where is the empathy for these people that are affect by such a life changing condition. Before, you comment walk in their shoes for just one meal. You’ll learn that you read every label of every ingredient that goes into that meal. You ask how it’s prepared to avoid any cross-contamination. Then you eat the meal and pray that no mistake has happened and you don’t die. Remember - these are kids - let them have their chance to enjoy and try things you did.
According to PeanutAllergy.com, and yes, there is one, .5% of the population has this “issue”. I do feel bad for theses people, but what about the 20% that have hay fever. Sure, they won’t necessarily die - So how about astroturf day for them. Tear out that pesky grass for a day and lay down the turf. I see 19.5% that agree with the idea. 6.3% of the population has diabetes - why don’t we have a sugar free section.
Personally, I will be sitting the the normal-average-american-who-is-tired-of-having-to-bend-over-backwards-for-everybody-else. Of course it will be a tiny section in the cheap seats while the kids with the obscure allergies will be in row 2 right behind the section for people afraid of Fredbird.
Actually, the normal-average-American could probably care less whether there is a peanut-free zone. The normal-average-American is incapable of sitting in two different seats/sections at once, and most would prefer to watch a ball game rather than complain about the mere existance of a peanut-free zone.
The stadium is already sugar free, provided you don’t eat the sugar. The issue with peanuts isn’t just consumption, it’s exposure. It’s not a valid comparison.
It’s funny to me how many people ignorant of what it really means to be allergic to peanuts - it’s life-threatening in severe cases, folks, and you don’t have to eat peanuts or even touch them to have a deadly reaction - to something merely annoying, like someone wearing too much perfume, or being allergic to cats. It’s more than apples to oranges, the two are so different that it is apples to corn dogs.
I am all for the peanut free days and zone. I just won’t be sitting in it.
Still, I admit I was surprised by the number of posters with peanut-allergic children who say they risked bringing their child to the ballpark prior to this rule. I know ballgames are fun and a big part of childhood, but everyone knows the place is awash in peanut dust. I understand about not wanting to raise a kid in a bubble, but it was eye-opening to me that people would even chance it just to see Izzy lose another lead for us.
Ballparks = peanuts, even more so than lunchrooms full of kids each with a PB & J-containing lunchbox or bag.
Hopefully, this new zone will help these parents take their kids to see a ballgame without wondering or worrying they will be near a legume muncher. Let’s share the ballpark, peanut lovers!
What about sunflower seeds can I still have my seeds or are these salty little gems outlawed also?
“What about sunflower seeds can I still have my seeds or are these salty little gems outlawed also?”
What did you miss that episode of Sesame Steet? Psst..sunflower seeds are NOT peanuts.
Sorry, I don’t buy that peanuts are a special case. Anaphalaxis is anaphalaxis, regardless of the cause. It’s just another form of shock to the system. What is strange here are the number of people who say their kids are allegic to peanuts and tree nuts. Peanut are legumes. Tree nuts are tree nuts. They aren’t related to each other except that they both are plants.
I would be curious to see if the kids are allergic to peanut plants, oaks, pine trees (they have nuts, too) black walnut, hickory or pecan trees or their raw nuts, or just the processed variety. Unfortunately, there is only one way to test that, and most parents wouldn’t agree to it. I also wonder if the propensity for keeping little Jacob and Megan inside and never exposing them (as wee infants) to the outside is part of this problem. Is there a big peanut allergy problem in peanut growing areas? Another interesting concept. What pesticides are used on peanuts and tree nuts? They likely would be concentrated in the nuts.
As far as people who claim their allergy is special, last time I looked, not being able to breathe, for whatever reason, is life threatening.
I think this is BS….if you have that much of an allergy to something, stay home and watch it on TV. Don’t ruin it for 35,000 other fans because of your sensitivity.
Theresa,
You keep making the same stupid points (are points really points if they aren’t valid?) over & over… but just sound more & more dumb each time.
What I’ve read on these comments is that parents are saying their kids have peanuts AND treenuts == meaning, they have both kinds of allergies (kinda like a person who has an egg allergy plus a dog allergy).
You clearly don’t have a life, you just keep posting crap that makes no sense & blah, blah, blah, it always comes back to you.
I could, along with the other people who have tried, try to argue some of these confusing thoughts you’ve posted, but really, I think you’re bored & are wanting to just argue yourself.
Will you leave these people alone if we give you a special seat?
PLEASE save the space on this page for people who have interesting & authentic comments.
Go Cards,
Gil
I don’t get some of you people…
Like “Dr Love” (ironic name), How is it ruining it for the “35,000″ fans?? They don’t have to sit in the peanut-free section!
And, an allergy that can make a person die is not a ’sensitivity’…
Have you read the previous 137 comments??
Why all the whining from the non-allergic, non-understanding peeps?? No one is ruining your game; it’s ONE section, ONE game, how is that hurting you?
I don’t have peanut allergy or a child with one but I can understand their concerns! And to the people who have issue with this, I don’t get the problem.
My momma used to always say, ‘Quit crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.’….maybe the Cards should ban peanuts in the whole park, then you’d really be crying your giant tears on your big pillow. Big babies.
Let these kids have ONE game in ONE section, sheesh.