AIBU to think peanuts should not be eaten on the Tube?

[SuperGinger]

I was on the Tube yesterday and the man next to me had an open packet of peanuts which he was eating. It's such a common allergy and I know quite a few people, including my own brother, who would have had a serious reaction if they had been on that Tube.

Should I have said to him he shouldn't eat peanuts on thevTube even though I would not be impacted because I was worried about other potential sufferers in the carriage, as it's a very confined space and it was rush hour.

AIBU - It's a free world
YANBU - peanuts are a very common allergen and people should not eat them in confined public spaces.

Yes.

Peanut and tree nut allergies are common – they are the most commonly known foods to cause anaphylaxis.

https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/fact-sheet/peanut-and-tree-nut-allergy/

You need to read that full website. I mentions 14 common allergens, I don't see where is says one is worse or more common than others.

https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/about-anaphylaxis/14-major-food-allergens/

Exactly. That's the issue they are all common foods none are illegal, in the interests of equality you ban one, you ban them all.

What makes the underground less safe than a over ground train, bus or tram?

Essentially it would end up as a ban on eating on all public transport.

I thought the leading cause of anaphylaxis fatalities was milk protein now?

Certainly all allergens are potentially fatal

And reactions vary between people (and in the same person on different days ) so sweeping statements about certain allergens being more serious are just wildly misleading.

In fairness I do factor in "how quickly could help arrive" when assessing risks (along with how well /stressed is my child on a given day ). These factors are far bigger indicators of fatal reactions than the particular allergen.

So on a ferry /plane/train I would never let mine risk food I hadn't prepared myself.

That makes perfect sense, for a parent or person will allergies POV.

But to try and certain food from public transport is bonkers. False sense of security for people and you could never enforce it.

Then consider poor food education lots of people have little clue what's in what.
Oh what's pasta made from?

Rice Crispies not that long since they did the 'did you know every grain is a grain of rice'

Agreed

I never expect them to be banned.

I do think eating on public transport (save for long journeys) is a bit unnecessary though. And certainly that being mindful what you are eating and not making a mess /washing hands etc is a basic courtesy that extends far beyond a kindness to people with allergies

No, how ridiculous of you.

OK eat peanuts on the tube risking someone’s life then…

The tube isn’t where any eating should occur. It’s a cramped public place that’s teeming with germs and smells and sounds of eating annoy and aggravate as well as potentially harm. Those of us who live in London stare on in disgust at the lack of etiquette displayed by tube eaters.

I’ve shared a link to an official charity that states that nuts are the leading cause of their charitable focus (anaphylaxis). If you still feel hoity toity and want to eat your Snickers on public transport go ahead.

Eating IS banned on most public transport. Buses and the underground are plastered with signs saying no food or drink to be consumed 🙄

That link doesn't say peanuts are the leading cause anywhere.
The website says there are 14 major allergens. It doesn't single one out as worse or more common than others.

Maybe where you are, not everywhere else.

DD is allergic to nuts but the rest of us eat nuts regularly as slight exposure to them helps stop her allergy from getting more serious, and could even help reverse it.

I'm anaphylactic (sp) to apples.
I would just move away from someone eating an apple.

no charities claim that nuts are more dangerous. All the UK allergy charities are against nut bans

I agree with you by the way about eating on the tube being grim. But it's ignorant and dangerous to insist one allergen is more dangerous than others

Oh stop with the drama… nobody’s life is put at risk by eating peanut products on the tube.

My DD is anaphylactic to pea protein - do I scowl at people eating protein bars, shakes etc on the go? No, absolutely not. It’s not as if they’re going to force her to have a bite!!

The world cannot revolve around allergies - that would be physically impossible due to the scale and range of foods. It is up to allergy sufferers to keep themselves safe - wiping surfaces, disinfecting hands before touching face/eating, carrying emergency medication such as EpiPens, reading ingredient labels and making restaurants/cafes aware. Complacency and dependence on others doing the ‘right’ thing is actually far more dangerous.

i don’t eat on the tube but this wasn’t something I had considered. Unlike an airplane you can move away.

People can have airborn peanut allergies… so breathing in the air of that tube car can now kill them. People shouldn’t eat on the tube. The allergic person can’t wipe down the enclosed air..

Wow, that's an unusual one.

The page I linked to said the sentence I pasted on the same post. Right there which is why I shared it.

Under the section ‘What are peanut allergy and tree nut allergy?’ In the fourth paragraph.

You really do need to go back and check your facts before lecturing others - obviously quite large gaps in your ‘knowledge’... This type of misinformation causes immense, unnecessary stress for those dealing with allergies. It has been scientifically proven that peanuts do not cause airborne reactions as the protein molecules are too large to aerosolise.

The only allergens where airborne transmission is a concern are milk & fish.

YANBU but not for the reasons you state. Eating in public (other than in an eating establishment, obvs) is gross. Peanuts smell awful, so double disgusting.

Fair enough. I still don’t think it’s very fair to eat them on the tube and get residues everywhere. It’s not like people can’t wait until they exit the tube to eat.

I know! Started when I was pregnant with my son!