Peanut Rebuttal

To the editor: My name is Emily Avakian, and I work for the National Peanut Board. I wanted to take this opportunity to correct some misinformation that was featured in The Township Journal in a letter to the editor titled “Peanut reactions a dangerous allergy,” written by Amy Brennan. While we understand that you, as an editor, are limited to what changes you can make to a “letter to the editor,” we did want to provide some insight into the misconceptions that the parent had who responded, and were thus communicated to your readers. The National Peanut Board (NPB) is a farmer-funded research & promotion Board. America’s Peanut Farmers care very deeply for consumers. The National Peanut Board (NPB) and all the U.S. peanut farmers and families we represent do not want anyone to ever be harmed by our products. In fact, at its inception, the original Board concluded that if one person became ill by consuming our products, it was one too many, and to that end made a commitment to do as much as possible to mitigate food allergy—peanut allergy in particular. From funding research to establishing a Scientific Advisory Council to educate and guide us, we have amassed an extensive food allergy research library. Our Scientific Advisory Council is comprised of leading food allergy researchers from the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. Additionally, NPB works very closely with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness, providing advocacy and education, and advancing research on behalf of all of those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. It is with access to these resources that I would like to clarify some information regarding peanut allergy. Approximately 100-150 people die per year from all food allergies, not just from nuts; additionally, there are eight food allergens responsible for 90% of food-related allergies. They are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, wheat, and soy. Any reaction to a food has the potential to be serious, even fatal; whether it is to milk, eggs, fish, nuts, soy, wheat or any food to which a person is sensitive. Additionally, I feel that it’s important to distinguish the reactions that a food-allergic individual might experience upon “inhaling” an allergen according to Michael C. Young, MD and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. According to Dr. Young, all individuals with peanut allergy, regardless of severity, can have reactions to vapors airborne peanut particles, but the allergic symptoms to airborne exposure typically consist of itchy eyes and runny nose, not unlike an airborne exposure to pollen or dust. For anaphylaxis to occur, the peanut protein must be ingested, come in contact with mucous membranes of the mouth, or find its way into the bloodstream such as through a cut in the skin. Again, according to Dr. Young, an open jar of peanut butter at room temperature should have no significant vapor phase and therefore should not be a source of airborne peanut protein. The study that researched casual contact entitled, “Relevance of Casual Contact with Peanut Butter in Children with Peanut Allergy,” by Steven J. Simonte, MD, Songhui Ma, MD, Shideh Mofidi, MS, RD, CSP, and Scott H. Sicherer, MD sought to determine the clinical relevance of exposure to peanut butter by means of inhalation and skin contact in children with peanut allergy. What the study found was that casual exposure to peanut butter is unlikely to elicit significant allergic reactions. The results cannot be generalized to larger exposures or to contact with peanut in other forms such as flour and roasted peanuts. The study performed by Dr. Simonte on the effect of peanut butter inhalation also examined the effect of skin contact with peanut butter on peanut-allergic children by double-blind placebo. The same thirty-three children with severe peanut allergies were the subject of the skin contact study. In this study a measured amount of peanut butter was applied to the skin for one minute and wiped off and was observed. Three subjects had localized redness, five had localized itching without any visible redness or rash, two had a single hive. None of the mild local reactions required treatment. The authors concluded that 90% of peanut-allergic individuals would not experience systemic or anaphylactic reactions to skin contact exposures to peanut butter. Editor, we understand the sensitivity that must be taken when addressing peanut allergy and nutrition with respect to children, and a parent’s concern for the safety of their child is their number one priority with which we empathize. I just wanted to be sure that we provided you with accurate information as your publication reaches parents and schools all over Orange, Sussex and Passaic counties. Regards, Emily Ann Avakian (Editor’s note: Avakian is Issues Management and Communications specialist with the National Peanut Board in Atlanta, Ga.)