I've been busy traveling and writing - and blogging was way down on the list. But reading a recent news release (Dec. 10,2008) from the British Medical Journal on "nut hysteria" brought a big smile - and the need to share this with friends.
Dr. Christakis at Harvard Medical School wrote that "measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist"
I love peanuts! They're great for snacking (preferably in small bags to limit my intake). I used to pick them up in Continental's Presidents Club in between flights - and over the past year or so was told by various personnel in the lounge that they were no longer available because "so many people are allergic to them". Really?
Statistics from Dr. Christakis: In the US each year, 45,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents, 10,000 are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries from sports activities and 150 die - from ALL food allergies.
Hmmm - wonder how many of the 150 died from eating or being near peanuts?
Christakis wrote that a peanut on the floor of a school bus led to evacuation, decontamination and the school reassuring parents that they were "nut free".
Maybe we're getting a bit too nutty.
Fueled by media - we've become pathologic about our fears. How about less hysteria and more reason?
