You might be packing your bags, considering where you get your charger for the phone, and try to reach the seats by the time the aircraft starts flying. But if you’re allergic to nuts, then flight becomes a piece of complicated work. Many airlines ask passengers not to eat nuts during the flight. However, new research reveals that this request may not be as effective as we thought when it comes to keeping allergic passengers safe.

What’s the big deal with nut allergies on flights?
Nut allergies are very serious for many people. Actually, one in 50 kids and one in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy, as the charity that helps people with severe allergies, Anaphylaxis UK, has reported. If a person with a nut allergy comes into contact with nuts or even tiny fragments of nuts, a dangerous reaction called anaphylaxis can develop. Such a reaction may prove fatal and is best treated within minutes, through medical assistance.

Airways and airlines are often advised to broadcast to passengers to “not eat nuts on board.” But, according to allergists, it may not be enough for allergy experts to simply ban nuts because allergic reactions during flights will still occur. A recent review conducted by allergy specialists reveals most allergic reactions aren’t caused by the presence of nut particles floating through the air in a cabin.

Is Airborne Allergy Danger Real?
You may wonder whether airplane air does indeed contain nut particles. In an interview, Professor Paul Turner-an allergy expert at Imperial College London-explained that such evidence is nonexistent. The way the air in an airplane works, he argued, is not as you would think it might. Air does not just float around in an airplane; it changes every three or four minutes. That means any dust or food particles are filtered out pretty fast, so that air within the cabin is much cleaner than you would otherwise expect.

“People don’t have to worry about airborne nut particles going through the airplane’s ventilation system,” says Professor Turner. “Plus, most people with food allergies don’t react to the smell of food, even if they are allergic to very tiny amounts.”

Where Is the Real Risk?
So if nut particles in the air aren’t the problem, then where is the risk? In fact, it’s much easier than you might have assumed. The greatest danger to passengers with a nut allergy is usually a residue that has been left on their seat, tray table or entertainment screen from another flight. Tiny bits of nut can easily be transferred from one person’s hands or face to the next.

Imagine this: if a passenger with a nut allergy boards a flight after someone who just ate a peanut snack, they could incidentally come into contact with leftover nut particles; this can cause an allergic reaction and that is why it’s so important to keep things clean.

Cleaning Your Space Matters
Experts recommend getting allergy patients seated first, advising passengers who are allergic to nuts to be board ed first, so they can take their time cleaning the place with antibacterial wipes or baby wipes before settling in. says Turner, professor at, food allergic passengers who clean up their space are much less likely to react accidentally throughout the flight.

“Cleaning the area around the seat, from tray table to entertainment system, really makes a big difference for preventing allergic reactions,” he explains. This simple act can help make flying safer for those at risk.

Be Prepared: Always Carry Your Meds!
If one suffers from a severe nut allergy, it is necessary to prepare before anything happens. As reported in this review, people likely to experience anaphylaxis should carry two adrenaline pens for all times. The pens may best serve as a means to counteract their possible allergic reactions.

Air travel also plays a significant role in keeping passengers safe. Airlines must make transparent policies on food allergies on their websites and ensure adrenaline pens are onboard to remedy emergencies.
With these measures, in the event a passenger is suffering from an allergic reaction while flying, help would be on hand.

Safety Measures in Air Travel
Travel with a nut allergy is stressful. “Air travel should be safe and accessible to everyone,” says Simone Miles, chief executive of Allergy UK. “That means understanding and supporting the needs of people with severe allergies, often traveling at high levels of anxiety,” she adds.

Either the airlines or the passengers will have to step forward together to make flying safer and prevent the tragedy from re-occurring.

Knowing the correct risks and adequate precautions will allow people afflicted with nut allergies to travel more comfortably and confidently.

Final Word on Flying and Nut Allergies
Conclusion Conclusion In conclusion, even though airlines ask passengers not to consume nuts on board on a flight, this will certainly not be sufficient to prevent allergic reactions. The airplane cabin must be kept clean, and on entering the cabin, allergic passengers must board before others so that they may attend to their seating area; moreover, proper medical supplies on hand should exist.

The next time you take that flight, remind yourself safety is all a team play. When you find out a passenger is allergic to nuts, be kind and try to accommodate them. And everyone deserves a safe and fun flight, right? If we work together, the skies will be a better place for all of us—nut allergy and all!