New Hope for People with Peanut Allergies

If you don't have a peanut allergy or know anyone with one, you may not realize how this type of allergy impacts daily life. Some people have a mild allergy to peanuts, with annoying symptoms such as itchy, irritated skin, or hives. However, there are many others who have more severe and even life-threatening reactions. These people must live and eat very carefully because peanuts are in so many foods and peanut butter is one of the most popular foods in this country.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, approximately 1.5 million people have severe peanut allergies. Their reactions range from swelling of the tongue and throat, which can result in suffocation, to anaphylactic shock. They don't even have to necessarily consume or touch a peanut; for some, their reaction can be triggered by smelling a peanut or even touching someone who has eaten peanuts in some form. They must carry Epinephrine kits with them at all times and scrupulously avoid any contact with the legumes that the rest of us take for granted. Their lives are restricted in many ways because of their allergy. Imagine never being able to fly, take public transportation, and having to ask all of your friends, family, and even your school administration to not buy peanuts or peanut butter and not to even eat them at all.

Recent research shows that peanut allergies are common and growing in occurrence in young children. This allergy is attributed to early and frequent exposure to peanuts. Doctors now advise women to not eat peanuts and other common allergic foods during pregnancy in order to reduce this risk.

Now imagine that scientists have found a way to process peanuts that removes the allergen and renders them safe for all, without any negative side effects. Well it's now not just a dream, it's a dream come true for peanut allergy sufferers. At the N.C. Agricultural and Technical Statue University, scientists have completely eliminated peanut allergens in roasted peanuts. They also claim that the taste is the same and they're easier to process. The subjects in the study consumed the processed peanuts and had no reaction whatsoever.

This new discovery will not only benefit those allergic to peanuts but others as well. The same scientists are now looking into removing allergens from other foods. It's a sure bet that many producers of peanut butter and other peanut products will eventually want to switch to this new process. Not only will it be safer for everyone, it will also bring in a whole new group of customers and reduce the threat of lawsuits. While it's probably not possible to guarantee that every peanut will eventually be processed this way, we can hope that there will be some sort of labeling or identification system in place to ensure the utmost consumer safety.