EasyJet
bans peanuts on all flights
(CNN) - EasyJet has announced it's banning the sale of peanuts on flights.
Not only will the British-based budget airline no longer serve peanuts,
passengers are also being asked not to consume products containing nuts in
order to protect travelers with allergies.
The move comes after mounting consumer pressure, which has seen airlines such
as Qantas, Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways remove peanuts as
snacks from all flights.
However, most say they cannot guarantee a "nut-free environment" due
to "cross-contamination."
This means customers with peanut and peanut-dust allergies still need to
indicate their allergies when booking flights and at the airport. EasyJet,
which primarily serves European markets, has a specific option on its booking
page for such requests.
"The safety and welfare of all of our customers and crew is our highest
priority so we have a number of procedures in place to assist customers
traveling with a nut allergy," a spokesperson for the low-cost airline
said in a statement to CNN Travel.
New nut policy
"We ask that any customers with a nut allergy notify us ahead of travel
and we will request that other passengers traveling on the flight do not
consume any products containing nuts that they have brought with them onboard.
"We have also stopped the sale of peanuts onboard and will be removing the
last product from our inflight range which contains nuts in the coming
months."
While the airline concedes that it's "not possible to ban nuts on all
flights," as other passengers may bring them on-board despite being
requested not to, it will take action in extreme cases.
When a passenger who suffers from a severe nut allergy, which can result in
anaphylaxis, is traveling with us we will request that other passengers
traveling on the flight do not consume nuts that they have brought with them
onboard," the spokesperson added.
According to a study by medical journal JAMA Network Open, one in 10 adults in
the US have a food allergy, with peanuts and shellfish among the most common.
In 2017, a separate study published by in the World Allergy Organization
Journal found that around 2.2% of onboard medical emergencies were caused by
allergic reactions.
Still, not everyone supports removing certain foods from the friendly skies.
Last year, Southwest's decision to remove peanuts from its flights caused some
pushback, with the National Peanut Board, a peanut industry group, vehemently
disagreeing with the airline's decision.
"We were disappointed to learn about Southwest's decision to stop serving
peanuts, which even the airline considers an iconic part of its history and DNA,"
the board said in a statement.
"It is an unnecessary step that will disappoint many of Southwest's
customers. It is also out of sync with the latest science, which shows
education and preparation -- such as allowing passengers to pre-board flights
to wipe down their seats -- do the most to benefit the one percent of Americans
with a peanut allergy."
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