Ellen Phiddian
Cosmos science journalist
People with nut allergies might breathe a little easier on tightly-ventilated airplanes, with new research finding they don’t pose a risk through the vents.
A study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, finds no evidence that nut allergens can spread through the air on planes.
This means, according to the researchers, that banning nuts on a plane flight might not be the best way to keep those with allergies safe.
“There is a common misconception that allergic reactions can occur due to inhalation of aerosolised peanut and tree nut particles, and any risk can be mitigated by requesting all other passengers not to consume nuts during the flight,” write the researchers in their paper.
But when they reviewed the scientific literature, they couldn’t find evidence to support this idea.
They say reactions to aerosolised foods were very rare, and peanut residues were very unlikely to spread through aircraft ventilation systems.
Instead the researchers looked elsewhere for the proteins that trigger nut allergies, and found they are most likely to hang around on surfaces like seats and tray tables. These residues may have been introduced by passengers eating nuts before they get on the flight.
“The most effective measure is for passengers to wipe down their seat area,” write the researchers in their paper.
They found that food-related allergic reactions were between 10 and 100 times less likely during a flight than on the ground.
This could be due to the fact that people with allergies take more precautions when they’re flying, according to the researchers.
Alongside wiping down seats, the team recommends that both airlines and passengers at risk of anaphylaxis carry adrenaline (or epinephrine) injectors, and that airlines have clear, readily available food allergy policies.
The review was commissioned by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.
