NOTE: I don’t know what happened, but my schedule post for Friday never posted! So….here it is—on Monday. Happy Monday!
On Tuesday this week, I posted an article link on my Gratefulfoodie Facebook page, “Two Arrested Over Death of Peanut Allergy Bar Manager”. This particulate post was read almost 4,700 times! Clearly, not only did this new article from England concern me, it was concerning to others in our food allergy community. One of my personal fears since my son was diagnosed with life threatening food allergies almost 13 years ago was that someone with dark intentions would realize that common grocery store food was equal to a gun. Here is what makes my brain buzz: if these stories are shared often, will they plant the seed for those with harmful intentions OR are these stories of benefit to show the world that legal action will taken-food allergies are serious.
Note: featured image on top courtesy from Naypong via Freedigitalphotos.net
I simply don’t like that a person can walk into 7-11 and buy an item for less than $1.00 that equals a gun to my family. When my both my children were diagnosed with life threatening food allergies, that wave of feeling helpless and out of control oozed over me like a warm thick goo. I immediately woke up from fear and realized I had to find solutions or live in a bubble all our lives. Fear does crazy things when it takes hold.
BUT…I have to say, that this feel returned recently when I read this story. Thankfully, I paused and gave myself some space to feel out of control over my children’s food allergy and then I accepted that if someone is out to harm my children they will do it with food, a gun or whatever they can get their hands on. Bad things happen to folks all the time and that is just part of life–it’s all about how to manage the good things and work with the bad things that makes life beautiful, challenging and interesting. I am hoping that two men truly did not try to kill someone using peanuts and am very anxious to watch this case unfold. I predict many of us will be watching this case closely.
What thoughts did you have when you read this article?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Hi Caroline – My understanding is that the police investigation into this and 2 other recent allergy related deaths in the UK are looking into products (especially curry paste/sauces used in the restaurant industry) which are labelled as containing almonds but suspected as being contaminated with peanuts instead. The motivation being that peanut is a far cheaper thickener for the sauces than almond. I haven’t seen it reported anywhere that the arrests were linked to the delberate targetting of someone with food allergies. Here’s another report that gives a bit more information:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2610420/Two-men-arrested-father-38-dies-severe-allergic-reaction-caused-takeaway-meal-containing-peanuts.html
Claire, thank you for the addition information. If you learn of anything else, please share. I had thought that the death was directly linked to those arrests. Although, I wonder what is the recourse for substituting an allergen for a product with intentional mislabeling. I’m wondering if that is what the arrests could be linked to?
Nevertheless, it is very difficult to have a disease that leaves us so vulnerable to the actions of others. Thanks for sharing and please keep us updated on anything new you find! I’ll keep my eyes out too!