Just when you might start to think that big corporations are evil, along comes General Mills to do something wonderful like introduce Peanut Butter Cheerios! I know, right, awesome. In full disclosure, I am a peanut butter fanatic despite the fact I have allergies to the dang stuff.
So, speaking of allergies, we all know that some people have violent, even deadly reactions to peanut allergies. Not everyone, sure, but some. Just last week, a first grade girl in Virginia died from sharing a friend's snack. Tragic. But a national support group called Allergy Moms is very critical of the new cereal. Hey, I understand being concerned for your kids, but we can't all of a sudden ban peanuts in any form just because a few - and statistically, it is a few - are made very sick by them. Sure, if you're the parent of such a child, life is more difficult in the area of nutrition. You have to be very careful and teach your child to be very careful. Welcome to life, it's difficult at times.
As someone who is alergic to all of the good things out there to eat, ie chocolate, peanuts, citrus and dairy, I would never want to deny anyone something because i'm allergic to it. I do agree that people do need to be aware that there are people out there with violent allergies but I have a cousin who's child is allergic to dairy, eggs and wheat. He can actually have peanuts. Are we going to deny him one of the few things he can eat just because someone else can't have it.
ReplyDeleteI have a son that has a violent allergic reaction. I don't really care about peanut butter cheerios but I need to know that they are doing everything possible to avoid cross contamination.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. I had a friend who had a younger brother who died from a violent allergic reaction (to a bee sting). I myself am allergic to peanuts, but, luckily, only mildly so. Protection of children is of utmost importance. But are companies no longer supposed to create anything with peanuts? Instead of being 'upset' the Allergy Moms group should redouble its efforts to educate people on how to look out for/avoid allergens. Not a perfect science, but what is?
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