Court orders Air Canada nut-free zone

[anat0l]

I recall a recent news report about a school that had 20-odd students with a peanut allergy. They had a fete or similar where international foods where being served. The Satay Chicken was so popular that all but 2 students ate it.

Well that's just asking for trouble isn't it? Why would those kids with allergies eat the satay full knowing that it would not work with them?

I haven't Googled for the article, but I'm not imagining that the kids were not told and/or didn't know that the peanut sauce had peanuts in it (assuming that the satay was served with a peanut sauce). In addition, I'm willing to bet none of that food at the fete was prepared in a verifiable peanut-free environment.

I have a food allergy myself (not peanuts) and it needs to be taken seriously, but I regularly get told to just make do or don't eat.

It is wrong that catering is provided for those with cultural diets, but not for those with allergy-restricted diets.

Not the best response, I know. It's a shame airlines don't tailor for specific diets like this any more. They probably shouldn't tailor for allergies that aren't entirely fatal where the food can be put aside, but for ones like nuts where it must be separated out completely there's a different thing.

Then again, with the latter, there could be heaps of different culinary selections as a result (I have no idea how many things people could be severely allergic to, but I don't like to look or contemplate the list). At least one other member of this board is allergic to something else, but since they fly premium class a lot, the problem appears to be mitigated.

Besides, I know QF is pretty lousy at providing alternative diets for anyone except for diabetic and vegetarian (which is the same meal!), and I think lactose-free. Other airlines I realise offer choices like Halal, bland, fruit only, etc.

This will be a challenge for AC.

Where to put the Nut Free Zone.

If they place it at the back of the plane, the No-Nuts will cry fowl and say they are being discriminated against by being given poor seating. Because they don't want to sit there, they'll not disclose their "condition" and sit where they want, which brings us back to square 1.

+1 here. I don't like the sound of that, then of course those that "hide" their condition and then get a reaction from something that happens where they sit will surely kick up a stink. The airline would need to put in their CoC that someone with a nut allergy must disclose that before boarding at check-in.

 

[Hvr]

Are we interpreting this the right way? Maybe this is the first step to a women only airline? :mrgreen: Or one for eunuchs?

If the latter is correct I ain't flying any more.

 

[trooper]

I'm with Mal....

Allergic to nuts?

Fine, we'll make the whole airline nut-free!

Allergic to animals?

Hey, sucks to be YOU!

I am BTW almost completely unimpressed by the argument that a nut allergy may (MAY!!) be life threatening while an allergy to animals is "merely" unpleasant/uncomfortable...

The principle - that of removing possible harm to another - is the same...

The stringency with which it controlled might reasonably vary between the two.... but to dismiss one completely (as apparently IS policy) is IMO simply unfair.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I remember being on an SQ flight from CDG to SIN in the A380 in July, and 2 crew members (1 french, 1 english) got on the PA 4 or 5 times each, prior to pushback, advising that there where pax on board with peanut allergies and that no peanut products were to be eaten on board, even if you had bought them on yourself.

From the SQ website-

Passengers with Nut Allergy

Singapore Airlines will use reasonable efforts to accommodate passengers’ requests for meals and snacks to be free from nuts. A nut-free special meal refers to a meal, which does not contain peanuts and tree nuts, and their derivatives. Tree nuts include almonds, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, pistachios, walnuts, pecans and macadamias.

However, please understand that we do not offer nut-free flights, as it is not unusual for passengers on our flight(s) to be served meals and snacks containing nut or nut derivatives and we have no control over passengers bringing their own products containing nut or nut derivatives on board our flights.

We will also not be able to guarantee against accidental cross-contamination that may occur within flight kitchens in our network and the possibility of residues of nut or other nut oils being passed on to the upholstery and other surfaces, or circulated via the air conditioning systems.

Should you require a nut-free meal, please contact your travel agent or local Singapore Airlines office to make arrangements for your nut-free meal at least 48 hours before flight departure. Kindly note that we are unable to cater nut-free meals for flights from Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and you may need to arrange an alternative route through your travel agent or local Singapore Airlines office.

Once again, we request that you take all necessary precautions bearing in mind the risk of exposure. If you have any concerns about your fitness to travel, we recommend that you discuss your travel plans with your doctor, bringing along this information.

 

[Reggie]

Imagine Future Check-ins

Window or aisle?
Forward or Rear?
Nuts or No Nuts?
Recline or no-recline?
Armrest or no armrest?
Person overflowing into your seat or non?
Binge drinking or teetotaler?
Light on all night or darkness?

I'd love to hear someone ask for rear and no nuts

 

[anat0l]

From the SQ website-

Interesting information.

No nut-free meals ex-CDG? Something wrong with dealing with the Parisians?

 

[Reggie]

From the SQ website-

However, please understand that we do not offer nut-free flights, as it is not unusual for passengers on our flight(s) to be served meals and snacks containing nut or nut derivatives and we have no control over passengers bringing their own products containing nut or nut derivatives on board our flights

Very interesting that they have that on their website, yet made the demand (I use demand because it weasn't requested), over the PA for the whole plane, not just the cabin with the affected pax. More interesting was when the FA's handed out the mixed nut snacks to the J pax with our drinks.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Interesting information.

No nut-free meals ex-CDG? Something wrong with dealing with the Parisians?

Well there are some seriously nutty Frenchmen around you know!

 

[joeymelb]

The Court didn't go far enough! The judge also need to order Air Canada to create a "Terrorist Free Zone" to ensure passenger safty.

Political correctness has gone too far on this, if someone wants a nut-free flight, he/she should chart his/her own flight. What's next? Court orders MetLink or CityRail nut-free zone?

 

[simongr]

I am on the fence on this one. No nuts is not that big a deal (assuming it is just peanuts rather than nuts per se) and I am not bothered by a lack of nuts (although I am sick of getting offered cashews).

 

[Nigelinoz]

I am on the fence on this one. No nuts is not that big a deal (assuming it is just peanuts rather than nuts per se) and I am not bothered by a lack of nuts (although I am sick of getting offered cashews).

I prefer nuts to have a good coating of chocolate on them,preferably hazelnuts with Belgian chocolate.

 

[simongr]

I like your idea of nuts coated with chocolate but without the nuts

 

[joeymelb]

Correct me if I am wrong... doesn't the nut allergy applies to all sort of nuts (including tree nuts and some seed products - e.g. Sesame)?

By declaring a nut-free zone, that means passengers who wish to consume - e.g. - Ferrero Rocher will deemed offending the court order... Even some inflight catering (like Chinese stir-fries usually contain traces of nuts from peanut oil, sesame oil) will be seriously affected...

Seriously... passengers with allergy are probably better off flying with LCCs like Qantas or RyanAir, at least they know there won't be any offer of food let along drinkable water.

Edit: I apologise for referring to Qantas as LCC. Qantas definitely doesn't charge like LCCs, just their inflight and on-the-ground service.

 

[oz_mark]

Seriously... passengers with allergy are probably better off flying with LCCs like Qantas or RyanAir, at least they know there won't be any offer of food let along drinkable water.

I'll skip over the comment that Qantas is an LCC, to mention that if you are allergic to mushrooms, RyanAir may not always be the best place to be (Mushrooms cause second mid-air emergency for Ryanair jet - Telegraph). If it can happen with mushrooms - it can happen with nuts