Less than one percent of the overall population have peanut allergies but sometimes the concerns about the issue override the facts and that is something the National Peanut Board (NPB) is working to address.
Sherry Coleman Collins is a registered dietitian nutritionist consultant with the NPB who discussed how they are doing that. “We really have a well-rounded approach to addressing peanut allergies,” she said. “We reach out to the media to make sure they have the right information. We reach out to school nutrition professionals and we have a great new website called “PeanutAllergyFacts.org” that will be specifically focused on the consumer.”
Sherry says they address concerns about casual content, being in the room with peanuts and peanut butter, and the fact that odor doesn’t cause a reaction. “We talk to them about airborne anaphylaxis, which is a bit of a misunderstood issue. Many people think that because someone has a peanut allergy they can’t even be near a peanut butter sandwich, and that’s not the facts at all.
