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Would you eat a packet of nuts on a plane?

482 replies

Purpleturtle45 · 28/09/2025 22:11

I thought it was widely understood that you don't eat nuts on a plane. The woman next to me just cracked a packet open!

OP posts:
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Sunloungerhogger · 28/09/2025 22:57

I usually only fly BA, and they do an announcement (and they otherwise serve nuts in business). Because I know they do an announcement, I would assume if no announcement then fine to eat nuts. If asked not to I obviously wouldn’t eat nuts.

Timeforabitofpeace · 28/09/2025 22:55

You’re in more danger from using WiFi on the plane.

Purpleturtle45 · 28/09/2025 22:54

Interesting points of view, I'm shocked at how many airlines serve nuts when there are no many alternatives.

My son doesn't have an allergy but one if my nieces does so I am quite vigilant so it's on my radar (pardon the pun 🤣).

I guess all you can control is what you do and I personally wouldn't see any reason why I would need to eat nuts on a plane so I wouldn't bother.

OP posts:
Namechangefordaughterevasion · 28/09/2025 22:53

I've flown a lot over the last two months. On one flight we were warned before boarding and then again during the the safety announcements that a fellow passenger was allergic and so we should avoid nuts. Which we did.

On all the other flights there were no warnings, no announcements and( in business) nuts were served.

theclive · 28/09/2025 22:52

Not thatong ago they served free peanuts on the plane.
I would absolutely eat nuts on a plane unless told specifically not to.

cygnusgenie · 28/09/2025 22:52

Unless asked not to, yes I would.

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 28/09/2025 22:51

I was so grateful for how attentive the flight crew were when we last flew (both ways). They came to see us before the flight. Checked our emergency plans and meds and made a very clear announcement.

I wouldn't expect anyone to avoid nuts unless specifically asked to do so. People who don't live with allergies just understandably wouldn't think of it in the same way as those with severe allergies.

Bumcake · 28/09/2025 22:50

LaurieFairyCake · 28/09/2025 22:16

Yes, unless told not to. I eat nuts constantly, in public all the time.

Are you a squirrel?

I was half way through an almond chocolate cookie last time the ‘no nuts’ call went out on a plane, that was awkward.

MagicalMystical · 28/09/2025 22:50

TortillaChipAddict · 28/09/2025 22:39

Yes, my daughter is anaphylactic to milk. So for her village hall birthday party we didn’t serve dairy milk with the tea and coffee (that we provided as a courtesy - we catered the whole thing ourselves) as she reacts on contact and I didn’t want her to have to worry about spillages at her own party. One parent bitterly complained the whole time that we had offered her oat milk instead of dairy milk even when we explained it was to prevent the birthday girl having a trip to hospital.

Some people! Ffs 🤦‍♀️

Here4thechocs · 28/09/2025 22:50

No, I wouldn’t cos I KNOW I can always eat my nuts later, when I won’t be risking anyone’s life.

LadyoftheMercians · 28/09/2025 22:49

Purpleturtle45 · 28/09/2025 22:14

In recent years?

Yup

I would eat nuts unless asked not to

LunaDeBallona · 28/09/2025 22:48

Yes I would, I did a couple of weeks ago flying BC with BA.
If there was an announcement I wouldn’t obviously.
However, if I had a child with such a severe allergy I wouldn’t take them on a plane unless I personally had the equipment and training to help them in the case of severe anaphylactic shock.
I just couldn’t take the risk- I think of that young girl who died on a plane from sesame seeds on a Pret A Manger sandwich she took on a plane - like someone said up thread, an ambulance isn’t goi g to get to 30,000 feet in 20 mins.

LemonLemon25 · 28/09/2025 22:47

Alot if Asian airlines issue them as standard with tge ore dinner drink shortly after take off.
I was based in KL 2018 and 19 a flew Malaysian Airwsts lots both back and forth to the UK but also on domestic and short haul in that region. Nuts were issued EVERY single time.

It maybe suffering now? But doubt it. Other airlines in that region were tge same. Cathay Pacific for sure was another.

warmapplepies · 28/09/2025 22:46

Of course, unless I was specifically asked not to.

toastofthetown · 28/09/2025 22:44

I think that part of the issue with people obeying the nut free announcement is that people might not understand because they don’t speak the language, or the microphone is blurry (I often struggle to hear announcements on planes and never know when we’re landing or why we’re delayed) and even if people understand the message and intend to comply, they might forget or not realise that their vegan cheese, or bar of Milka, or pesto, or cake/pastry they picked up at the airport contains nuts. I consider myself pretty clued up on allergens from working in the food industry but I only realised the other day from a Reddit comment that Bepanthen nappy cream isn’t nut free so I’d have happily used it on the flight if our plane was nut free earlier this month without a thought that it might not be suitable.

DramaLlamacchiato · 28/09/2025 22:43

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 28/09/2025 22:33

I was thinking about this the other day. Surely we’re getting to the stage in society where it’s just completely unacceptable to eat nuts on a train, or basically anywhere in public at all? Because someone could die!

Oh come off it

ilovesushi · 28/09/2025 22:43

I wouldn't. There are a ton of other snack options. Why chose something in an enclosed crowded environment that a small proportion of people may have a fatal reaction to.

mumisfull · 28/09/2025 22:42

My son carries epipens for his peanut allergy. On a plane, cabin crew made the ‘no nuts please’ announcement for us.
I overheard a parent in the row behind telling her children ‘that means you can’t eat your peanut butter bars kids but it’s fine because we’ve got other snacks’. I can’t tell you how much that meant to us (and I did thank the family when we landed). Just a small thing really as only a short flight but it made a big difference to us.

I do wonder if the people who insist on eating nuts on a plane would be the first to complain if the plane was diverted for a medical emergency …

Zippidydoodah · 28/09/2025 22:40

There is an announcement telling people not to eat nuts if there’s someone on the plane with a nut allergy. Otherwise I think it’s ok.

Sleepingone · 28/09/2025 22:39

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/09/2025 22:25

People can be life-threateningly allergic to eggs, banana, milk, pet pander, nuts, seafood… Why nuts, specifically, OP?

People behave as if it’s the only allergy and that it’s always deadly.

Nuts and peanuts have the most fatalities from anaphylaxis.

BeMellowAquaSquid · 28/09/2025 22:39

BusWankers · 28/09/2025 22:25

But you must go to places that have nuts all the time?
.. cafes, coffee shops supermarkets, restaurants, public spaces etc

Edited

It’s very restricting but we carry EpiPens and inhalers everywhere. No you can’t prevent it but you can avoid it especially at 35,000ft. It’s so embarrassing for dd but thankfully most restaurants and people are very accommodating. As she starts to be given more freedom and independence we are constantly on edge, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

TortillaChipAddict · 28/09/2025 22:39

TheNightingalesStarling · 28/09/2025 22:33

Personally no because I don't like nuts.

However it is slightly frustrating how nut allergies are considered worse than every other anaphylaxis allergy. Milk for example... People would complain bitterly about no milk in their tea on a plane, yet it has the potential to have the sane effect.

(I wouldn't eat anything we are asked not to... but it should be announced we'll before the flight rather than at the last moment when people already have items bought for the flight(

Yes, my daughter is anaphylactic to milk. So for her village hall birthday party we didn’t serve dairy milk with the tea and coffee (that we provided as a courtesy - we catered the whole thing ourselves) as she reacts on contact and I didn’t want her to have to worry about spillages at her own party. One parent bitterly complained the whole time that we had offered her oat milk instead of dairy milk even when we explained it was to prevent the birthday girl having a trip to hospital.

curious79 · 28/09/2025 22:38

Yes absolutely, unless asked not to. I would respect the rules for that flight. I’ve been on a flight where they have announced that someone is deathly allergic to something so have not been serving it.

WhatMe123 · 28/09/2025 22:37

It's not the air flow it's the need to attend a&e as an emergency due to anaphylaxis if near nuts/eaten peanut protein which can be on surfaces
On land you call an ambulance but you can't do that mid flight
Epi pens only get you so much time, that's why your prescribed two at all times you still need medical treatment asap for a true peanut allergy. The Adrenalin in a single epi pen normally lasts an adult 10-30 mins so if over the Atlantic then thats a maximum of 20-60 mins to get to a&e

Allthatshines1992 · 28/09/2025 22:36

Purpleturtle45 · 28/09/2025 22:11

I thought it was widely understood that you don't eat nuts on a plane. The woman next to me just cracked a packet open!

The airline will announce if someone has an allergy to them before your flight takes off.