FoodAllergyInfo.com

From Arizona’s YumaSun.com: If Vicki Kerley seems reluctant to share a hug, her friends know not to take it personally. “I’m not a huggy-type person and I really don’t like to shake hands with anyone, because I never know who’s been dipping into the peanuts,” Kerley said. The Yuma resident is a certified scuba diver who has explored the Earth’s waters, trekked through rainforests and jungles and traveled to Africa on an animal photography safari. But the seemingly invincible woman can be unexpectedly defeated by something quite small: a peanut. Kerley is severely allergic to them. – Read the rest of the story here.

From Reuters: Peanut allergy has proven to be a tough nut to crack. While there’s still no way to make peanuts completely safe for people who are allergic to them, an experimental therapy may make them less deadly, report researchers from Germany and the US. – Read more here.

From Washington state’s KXLY.com:  A Spokane mother says she doesn’t feel safe letting her child outside to play in the yard because of squirrels. Michelle Areta says those squirrels leave nuts in the yard of her home; nuts that her son is deathly allergic to. Michelle has a tougher job than most mothers as her two-year-old son Niema has a very severe peanut allergy that could kill him. A Spokane mother says she doesn’t feel safe letting her child outside to play in the yard because of squirrels. Michelle Areta says those squirrels leave nuts in the yard of her home; nuts that her son is deathly allergic to. Michelle has a tougher job than most mothers as her two-year-old son Niema has a very severe peanut allergy that could kill him. – Read more here.

From USA Today - It’s much ado about peanuts. The Transportation Department has asked the public for weeks to comment on whether the once-popular, but increasingly rare, snack for passengers should be banned or restricted on airline flights for the sake of those who suffer serious allergies. But whichever way public sentiment falls, there can be no ban on peanuts without scientific proof to back it up. – -Read the details here.

From WashingtonPost.com: Federal regulators are considering restrictions, or even a complete ban, on the serving of peanuts on commercial airline flights. Advocates say the move would ease fears and potential harm to the estimated 1.8 million Americans who suffer from a peanut allergy. Peanut farmers and food packagers, however, say it would be overreaching and unfair to their legume. — Read more here.

While this KansasCity.com story is about new airline rules in general, it does mention an effort to ban peanut snacks because of the danger to allergic passengers. There is a 60-day window of opportunity for the public to comment on the ban. Check it out here.

From Reuters UK: Among children and teenagers with asthma, those who also have peanut allergies may have more or more-severe asthma attacks, a new study suggests. - Check out the details here.

From the U.K. EatOutMagazine: Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards team successfully prosecuted Su Yung Chow, trading as the New China House Takeaway Restaurant, Derby Road, Chesterfield. Chow yesterday pleaded guilty to two offences under the Food Safety Act 1990 and was fined almost £3,000. Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard Chow supplied unsafe food by failing to declare the presence of peanuts in a Koon Do spare ribs meal to Matthew Baker, a customer with a nut allergy, even though he had asked when placing his order whether or not the meal contained nuts. — Read more here.

From MiamiHerald.com (Florida):  Jelly Belly Candy Co. is recalling 7.5-ounce cylinder-style packages of 49 Flavors Jelly Belly jelly beans because the package is incorrectly labeled. The mislabeled packages failed to list peanut butter and peanut flour in the ingredient statement. People who have an allergy to peanuts or a severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these ingredients. The Jelly Belly 49 Flavors cylinder packages were shipped to about 200 independent stores nationwide from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30, 2009. Consumers who have a peanut allergy and purchased the product should return it to Jelly Belly Candy Co., One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, Calif., 94533. For more information call 800-522-3267.

From the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network: International Bazaar Inc. is recalling “Kroger Hazelnut Spread” due to undeclared peanut. The product was distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West
Virginia. The 13-oz. plastic jar bears a “Sell by March 2011” date and UPC 11110-87825. Consumers may return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call (937) 278-3533 ext. 102.