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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Peanuts in holiday homes?

54 replies

WaltzingToWalsingham · 27/07/2021 19:20

We're going on holiday next week with my friend and her family. My friend and I have been planning the meals and preparing a shopping list. I added a bag of peanuts to the list, because my DC like to snack on them. My friend says we shouldn't have things like peanuts in a holiday house, because it might be used after us by somebody who is highly allergic to nuts, and they could have anaphylactic shock on holiday, an unfamiliar location where they don't know the nearest hospital, might not have phone reception to call an ambulance etc.

I do kind of see her point, but is the "no nuts in a holiday house" rule really a thing? Should we also avoid using other common allergens - milk, eggs, other nuts? What about gluten - will my use of gluten-containing bread in the toaster put people with coeliac disease at risk? Should I be extending this principle to items we consume in my own home - no peanut butter for breakfast in case a tiny amount is spilt on a school jumper and is then carried into the DC's nut-free school? On the other hand, what do people with severe allergies do about going on holiday etc? It must be almost impossible to clean a holiday house so thoroughly that no air-borne traces remain.

What do you do, MNers?
YABU = you avoid taking allergens such as nuts to holiday houses
YANBU = you take whatever you like on holiday

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 27/07/2021 19:23

YANBU. Take what you want. Clean up after yourselves and the homeowner will clean too

LST · 27/07/2021 19:23

No idea. I've never considered not taking nuts in a holiday home... Watching with interest

Caspianberg · 27/07/2021 19:24

We are holiday home owners. Our Ds has a severe peanut allergy. I just assume any guest before may have had nuts and everything is cleaned well ( as it would be regardless).

DogsSausages · 27/07/2021 19:25

Does the home owner have any advice or disclaimers. I dont think the toasted bread is an issue.

PragmaticWench · 27/07/2021 19:26

I have a child with anaphylaxis to several allergens, plus coeliac disease. Keeping all environments clear of all allergens is impossible and some allergy consultants believe that schools being nut and peanut free is actually increasing the number of allergies.

Malbecfan · 27/07/2021 19:27

Nope, not in mine. I would say that the onus is on people with the allergy to point it out at the time of booking if they require special deep cleaning, and that should be factored into the price they pay. I have never known a nut allergy sufferer to ask for deep cleaning prior to arrival and we have had some stay here.

I can completely see why schools have no nuts policies, but holiday accommodation is different. Your friend is a bit bonkers.

Tlollj · 27/07/2021 19:27

Well I don’t know about holiday homes but my grandson isn’t allowed peanut butter for breakfast because of someone with a severe allergy at his school.

Usual2usual · 27/07/2021 19:29

My DS has a peanut allergy, I don't expect other people to live their life or change their behaviours for him.

When I go to holiday accomodation I wipe down touch points and would give plates etc. a wipe down before we use them.

chunderwunder · 27/07/2021 19:30

I think it's a bit disingenuous to lump all potential allergens in with peanut allergy. A coeliac isn't going to go into anaphylaxis using a holiday home where someone toasted a crumpet two days before.

But a stray peanut that the hoover missed could well be serious for someone with a severe allergy. I think your friend is being very thoughtful actually and I'll take that on board if ever I use an Airbnb or similar.

NakedAttraction · 27/07/2021 19:30

@Caspianberg

We are holiday home owners. Our Ds has a severe peanut allergy. I just assume any guest before may have had nuts and everything is cleaned well ( as it would be regardless).
This. Surely the place is thoroughly cleaned between guests?!
Usual2usual · 27/07/2021 19:31

@Tlollj

School is totally different as all children have a right to safely attend school and have an education.

TooHotToHoot · 27/07/2021 19:32

@Tlollj

Well I don’t know about holiday homes but my grandson isn’t allowed peanut butter for breakfast because of someone with a severe allergy at his school.
Is this something your grandson's parents have decided to do or is it something the school has requested?
toomuchfaster · 27/07/2021 19:36

@DogsSausages

Does the home owner have any advice or disclaimers. I dont think the toasted bread is an issue.
Toasted can absolutely be an issue so my SIL would just avoid a holiday home toaster. It may not be anaphylaxis but it would ruin her weeks holiday so she doesn't risk it.
gogohm · 27/07/2021 19:39

Never heard of no nuts in a holiday rental. We eat lots of them and my db (who often ive holidayed with) is vegan and lives on them

Avenueofcherryblossom · 27/07/2021 19:39

A coeliac would never use a toaster in a holiday home because of cross contamination. It is second nature for them to take steps to protect themselves. Just enjoy your holiday.

gogohm · 27/07/2021 19:43

@Tlollj

This was addressed on Mumsnet before, schools cannot tell children what they can eat at home but they can regulate packed lunches and insist on hand washing on arrival (second nature now). Some schools have tried to overstep the mark but anecdotal evidence suggests that it is counter productive and makes allergies worse

Almostascot · 27/07/2021 19:44

It’s never occurred to me not to have nuts in a holiday home. I would never leave dropped nuts lying on a sofa or carpet though. Surely if you were to follow that logic you could never eat nuts outside your own property. My friends son has a very severe nut allergy and once had a reaction (although it was a mild one) in the presence of a friend who had crunchy nut cornflakes an hour before they met. So I’m always very careful not to have any nuts before I meet them. It must be so worrying for the parents of children with severe allergies (Or adults with allergies) but in my experience they are always very good at minimising the risks.

I’m coeliac (an autoimmune disease rather than an allergy) and a gluten crumb from a toaster would do me harm. But I always take toaster bags when I’m away as it is my responsibility to keep myself safe. So I wouldn’t worry about toast.

HalloHello · 27/07/2021 19:45

Have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. The chances of someone with THAT severe of an allergy would be unlikely to holiday away from home if they really couldn't chance being in sniffing distance of somewhere where there was once a peanut... They'd never be able to leave the bloody house.
It is up to those with severe allergies to keep themselves safe in this situation, no one else. That is why some foods/cafes/restaurants 'can't guarantee' they're nut free.

YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 27/07/2021 19:46

Why are you being so flippant about a peanut allergy?
While I dont think you should worry about bringing peanuts to the holiday home, they way you are flippant about it says a lot. Peanut allergies are incredibly serious. You could have asked the question without making it sound like you think its all a big joke.

Caspianberg · 27/07/2021 19:47

We have no toaster here in holiday rental, but oven/ fridge/ dishwasher would all be fully cleaned. All cutlery/ plates/ glasses etc have always gone through dishwasher between guests so I can fully clean the empty drawers and then back in. Everywhere else in home is cleaned, wiped, furniture moved etc.. every single time.

You would be amazed how many things people leave behind ‘lost’. Found a toothbrush charger behind curtains last week.

LibertyFLiberty · 27/07/2021 19:52

We're in a holiday home at the moment & have got a pack of peanuts here. I've never heard of that one before. Take a pack and relax 😁

MaskingForIt · 27/07/2021 19:56

Peanuts aren’t nuts, so there is no problem.

FortniteBoysMum · 27/07/2021 19:57

Never even thought about allergy issues when been away. Common sense is if someone knowingly has allergy issues they will be carrying an epipen and will likely research hospitals near by first. My son when he was little suffered seizures so I always knew where the nearest a and e was incase of emergencies.

Original poster
WaltzingToWalsingham · 27/07/2021 19:57

@YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer Eh? I most certainly am not being flippant or treating it as a joke. I have friends and relatives with allergies. If you look at my OP, you'll notice that I do see my friend's point, but I hadn't heard about this rule before and was interested in how much of an issue it actually is, and where people draw the line.

OP posts:
AlmostSummer21 · 27/07/2021 19:58

@Caspianberg

We have no toaster here in holiday rental, but oven/ fridge/ dishwasher would all be fully cleaned. All cutlery/ plates/ glasses etc have always gone through dishwasher between guests so I can fully clean the empty drawers and then back in. Everywhere else in home is cleaned, wiped, furniture moved etc.. every single time.

You would be amazed how many things people leave behind ‘lost’. Found a toothbrush charger behind curtains last week.

Sounds wonderful! Where abouts is it??