Cite Health Risks, Salmonella Outbreak As Reasons They Prefer
Pretzels
Concerns over allergies and a federal investigation into safety
conditions at a Georgia-based processing plant resulted in a minor
uprising at Northwest Airlines this month, when the carrier started
serving peanuts onboard its planes.
CNN reports Northwest, peanut-free for years, introduced the
snack food this month onboard its planes to bring the carrier's
policy inline with that of Delta Air Lines, which bought out the
Minneapolis-based airline last year.
Northwest introduced peanuts on February 1... right in the
middle of a national salmonella outbreak tied to peanuts processed
at Georgia-based Peanut Corporation of America. The health scare is
the second involving peanut products in as many years.
Since then, several Northwest loyalists -- many already
less-than thrilled to see their hometown airline taken over by
Delta -- have deluged message boards at Northwest and local
publications like the Minneapolis Star Tribune, expressing their
fears about peanuts onboard airliners.
"This is a very disappointing development," responded one reader
when the Star-Tribune broke the story. "My wife's allergy is so
severe that if someone is sitting next to her and eating peanuts,
the odor is enough to trigger an allergic reaction."
"Northwest is really out of touch with its customers and the
reality of allergies to peanuts," added another. "What's wrong with
pretzels?"
Based in Atlanta, Delta has served peanuts onboard its planes
for years... reflecting Georgia's position as the top
peanut-producing state in the nation. As with another carrier where
peanuts are a snack staple -- Southwest Airlines -- Delta has faced
a steady stream of complaints from passengers concerned about
peanut allergies.
Over 3 million Americans suffer some form of allergy to peanuts
or tree nuts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. The most severe reactions leading to difficulties with
breathing, hospitalization and, in rare occurences, death. Even a
small amount of peanut dust introduced into the air can lead to a
reaction, if an allergy sufferer is seated nearby.
Delta maintains those with peanut allegies can fly safely
onboard its planes, as long as the passenger alerts the airline to
their affliction.
"We'll create a buffer zone of three rows in front of and three
rows behind your seat," the airline's Web site says. "We'll also
advise cabin service to board additional nonpeanut snacks, which
will allow our flight attendants to serve these snack items to
everyone within this area."