Thursday, Oct. 22 is National Nut Day. (Photo by Casey Marley).Sarah Goodman - Copy Editorcopyed@insideuab.com
Thursday, Oct. 22 is National Nut Day, but for some UAB students it’s national allergy day.
National Nut Day exists not necessarily to celebrate those people who are a bit on the crazier side, but a food group that consists of healthy protein-packed nuts of all kinds. Unfortunately, while nuts are nutritious they are also one of the most widespread allergies in the U.S., and UAB students are not exempt.
Lyndsey Jackson, a junior international studies major is allergic to all tree nuts except almonds. “It’s pretty severe; if I put something in my mouth that has nuts in it or has touched nuts I feel it instantly on my tongue. [Smelling them] doesn’t really set off anything other than bad memories, like if I walk into a house and they’ve just baked a pecan pie, I think of vomiting,” Jackson said.
Jackson likes to eat at several locations here on campus, but her allergies make enjoying UAB dining complicated. At the Commons on the Green, there are menus posted at each station that list the ingredients in all foods served that day. Possible allergens are noted as well. “One of the things we offer here at UAB is our Simple Servings station which is our allergy-free station. We can assure them that they won’t find any allergens or anything like that,” said Food Production Manager at The Commons on the Green, Bobby Eaten. “The main thing is to keep the information out there for them about what the food contains. A lot of times the students can ask too, if they [see] something on the menu they’re not sure about they can ask one of the servers up there, and what the servers should do is talk with the chef,” Eaten said.
However, in Jackson’s case, The Commons’ strategy has not been completely effective. “In February or March of this year, I was eating lunch with a friend and I will never forget the day. We went to The Commons and it was one of their days where they were serving a special themed lunch, and the theme was Indian food. So, we were really excited because we’re foodies and we love Indian food,” Jackson said. “I ordered everything and we go sit down, and I take a bite of something. It might have been a yellow curry, and I immediately felt a reaction on my tongue and I went to go ask the women at the station if any of it had nuts in it and they said no. So, now I avoid Indian food because I don’t know if I have a new allergy to something they use in their food.”
The Commons on the Green displays allergens on their menus, as well as special notes for their baked goods station. The Commons used to post warnings about allergens on the napkin containers on each table, however those containers are now gone. According to Eaten, their marketing department is in charge of the display in the napkin boxes.
“I definitely think UAB should be explicit about what they put their food. I would hate to be that person, and feel excluded just because of an allergy,” Erica Turner, a professional writing student with no food allergies, said.
Recent studies from the CDC and the American College of Allergy, Asthma Immunology showed that the amount of people, specifically children, who have peanut and nut allergies has increased greatly over the past decade.
However, according to Laura Rutledge, R.D. new information changes the numbers of allergy sufferers, “It’s not that the number of people who have the allergy is going up, but it’s being reported a lot more and as new information comes out, we see the numbers change.”
According to Jackson, restaurant workers are ignoring the facts, “From my experience working in the food industry, it takes too much time to care about [food allergies] and to take precaution. For example, one time I went to Cinnabon, and they used the same tongs for a cinnamon roll that had pecans on it to get my cinnamon roll, and I ended up getting really sick that night,” Jackson said.
“When I go to places like ice cream shops I have to ask them if they could use different scoops for their toppings if they’ve used one with nuts. Those just aren’t things that they think of unless someone asks. They usually have an attitude about it.”
Approximately three million people in the U.S. reported having a nut allergy in 2013 according to Food Allergy Research & Education’s statistics. That is one in every 100 people in the U.S. with the risk of experiencing a life-threatening meal.
A severe nut allergy can cause people to experience anaphylaxis, a condition that causes symptoms such as, a skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and shock. Anaphylaxis is the most common result of an allergic reaction and is usually treated with epinephrine or Benadryl for milder cases.
“There’s a limited amount of studies done on this topic because there are currently no drugs that can cure or change allergies, so there just isn’t funding,” Rutledge said. Along with the high price of $80 per pack of two of EpiPens, students who suffer from food allergies are fighting a multifaceted battle.
“I’ve never really thought of it as a challenge it’s always just seemed like something I live with. Now, I feel like it is something that people need to be aware of, not just nut allergies but all food allergies. Eating establishments should have to tell people that their food contains this and that so people aren’t surprised when they’re throwing up that night,” Jackson said.
Currently the FDA only requires that packaging for food must list major allergens on the label. Major allergens include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
