Air Canada Sticks Up For Nut Lovers

So in a bizarre and ridiculous ruling this week, the Canadian Transport Agency has ruled that Air Canada must create 'nut free buffer zones' for passengers who may be allergic to nuts.

These nut free zones will be the seats immediately to the left and right of the affected person, as well as the entire rows in front of and behind them. This means that any nut lovers who may be sitting within a 5 foot radius of a allergy sufferer will not be permitted to enjoy their mid-flight peanutty snack.

This was a solution which was offered by Air Canada itself, and agreed upon by the Transport Agency in response to a complaint issued by two women, Sofia Huyer and Rhonda Nugent.

Apparently, the ruling is still not satisfactory for either woman. Huyer, in the complaint she submitted to the transport agency said she felt that nuts of any form should not be served on any aircraft which she may be flying in.

She also said that she was "startled and astonished" that the Transport Agency agreed to the suggestion.

Seriously? This woman needs to back off. She deserves a dose of reality, and I for one would have liked to see the Transport Agency give her the proverbial middle finger.

Don't get me wrong, I sympathize with people who have severe nut allergies, and once witnessed the near death of a close friend who accidently ingested nuts due to a careless restaurant that mistakenly promised a nut-free dessert. That being said, the chances of someone having an allergic reaction simply from someone sitting 10 feet away eating peanuts is slim to none. Apparently the Transport Agency brought in medical experts who agreed that this scenario is extremely unlikely, especially with the specialized, high quality ventilation on air planes.

Additionally the Transport Agency stated: "Simply put, it is neither practical nor possible to ban all substances to which any person may be allergic in a mass transportation system, nor is it feasible to eliminate all risks,"

But where does it stop? Are we going to eliminate bulk sales of nuts from grocery stores because someone may stroll through the aisle and inhale a nut particle? Are we going to sell peanut butter and nut related products only in special stores which do not allow minors? Enough is enough. Already we can't allow our children to eat a simple peanut butter sandwich because the substance has been banned from most schools.

And what many medical experts will tell you if you ask: we are making nut allergies worse and more deadly by doing this. Studies have repeatedly shown that a large percentage of young children display mild symptoms of nut allergies. This is both common and normal. Traditionally, as these children are exposed to nuts and nut products more frequently, the symptoms dissipate, the allergy goes away. By panicking and removing any and all contact from nut products, we allow the allergy to develop and get more dangerous.

The world is not wrapped in bubble wrap people. Certainly we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of people in daily activities, but at what point do we try to preserve simple things that contribute to the quality of life?