You can read it here.
The gist of it is that he feels that bans in schools and on airlines are unnecessary.
“Unfortunately, life is not risk-free,” said Dr. Bahna. “A minority of people are severely allergic to peanuts, but it is not reasonable or possible to expect schools or airlines to be peanut-free. Consideration should be also given to the freedom of the vast majority of non-allergic persons. Also, peanut is not the only food that can cause severe allergy.”Here's my favorite quote from the release:
"Regarding the airlines, Dr. Bahna suggests that people and parents of children with severe peanut allergies check to be sure the airline carries emergency treatment and educates their personnel about food allergies."I swear, I almost did a spit take. Who is this bozo kidding? What airline carries emergency treatment? Just to be sure, I've emailed/IM'd a few airlines to see what they actually carry on board.
If you'd like a good laugh, read the part about how to keep kids safe at school. He really is delusional and really knows nothing about how schools work, especially with overcrowding and budget cuts.
On one hand, I really do get what he's saying, but boy he could have spun this differently. His PR rep should be shot (and you know I mean that figuratively not literally).
I've never really been one for school bans (although if my school turned around and said they would be peanut free I would be stoked), but when it comes to being locked in a plane for hours with no escape I sing a different tune. If I'm over the Pacific, I'm feeling much better if there aren't any peanuts on board a flight we're on. And I totally get it about other allergies - what about the other members of the top 8? Or outside the top 8 like sesame or latex? Should those be banned from the skies too? Where does it end?
There has to be a happy medium. But a condescending press release isn't really the way to go about opening up a dialogue about it.
And he certainly didn't win any friends in the peanut allergy community.
