Comments to Joel Stein's Op-Ed piece on Peanut Allergies in Los Angeles Times this month
I'm one of those rare folks who actually find it interesting to see how many others were either pro or con, and just why.
For whatever it's worth, my posts are #22, #23, #72 & #113
For the record, I kept adding comments on the LAT site, but didn't see them. so, for some inexplicable reason started using another name to get see it that would work.
Not quite sure why 'Enid Blatsby' was the best I felt I could do at the time.
1. Ah Joel Stein, you work so hard to make yourself so ignorant. I refuse to read you anymore, but I think I'll start urging the times to give you the axe.
Submitted by: Shane
5:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
2. love it...this article couldn't be truer. yes peanut allergies are bad and can be fatal but for god sakes its quite rare. I grew up not long ago in the 80's/90's when no one ever worried about what particular food they were allergic to and we all survived. To ban peanuts from school because a tiny percentage are allergic seems silly
Submitted by: JP
5:07 PM PST, January 9, 2009
3. There's this funny little thing called "gene expression" that you might learn about if you took a decent introductory biology course. Could be what you're confusing with "fast mutation." Not to say that people aren't perfectly capable of over-reacting either though.
Submitted by: Celeste
5:03 PM PST, January 9, 2009
4. Just nature's way of culling the herd.
Submitted by: C. Darwin
4:59 PM PST, January 9, 2009
5. By the way, a peanut is NOT a nut, but a Legume (see Fabaceae in Wikipedia). I am allergic (yes, really) to Cashews and Walnuts (real nuts), but Peanuts are my friend.
Submitted by: Chuck
4:58 PM PST, January 9, 2009
6. Christakis' theories are off base. The difference between deaths from food allergies and lightening strikes is that food related deaths are preventable. Why do we go through security checks post 9/11? The world is big and the threat is low in all but a few places. Terrorism deaths are preventable and the hassle is price for safety, which is the exact same perspective of a parent with an allergic kid. Why not ask why parents react this way? Ask any parent who has lost a child. You're focused overblown reactions to support your own agenda, which is that food allergies are not a big deal to you.
Submitted by: mhardy
4:56 PM PST, January 9, 2009
7. I had a reaction to peanuts on an airplane! It was scary and frankly, I didn't even have to eat them (I just had to sit a couple rows up from someone shelling them). You can ask the five doctors that were on the plane for proof if you like!
Submitted by: Jane
4:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
8. perhaps your write and perhaps you wrote this to create some upheaval, but to be honest no matter how scared and neurotic parents are, it's even scarier when it turns out they're right. And I would suggest reading an article of genetic engineering, particularly soy in 1996. You'll find out the higher cases might have a biological reason.
Submitted by: Sam
4:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
9. This article just shows how ignorant you are. Live one day in the life of a person with food allergies and see how many things you take for granted. Watch your child on the brink of death and you'll understand why these parents are so overprotecting.
Submitted by: AllergicToEverythingButNuts
4:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
10. Joel, Joel, Joel... CLEARLY neither you nor your children (if you have any) have any food allergies. I'm sorry, but you really have no idea what you're talking about. People never 'get it' until they actually SEE me react to something and/or have to accompany me to the hospital. THEN the light bulb goes on. And I've had a ton of allergies (nuts of every kind included) for more years than you've been on the planet. It's comments like yours that DETER those who already don't get it from EVER understanding what it's all about. Very irresponsible "reporting."
Submitted by: Helaine
4:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
11. Tell you what. Next time, God forbid, I have an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts, I'll give you a call and send you thetape. As a 21 year old college student who has been dealing with ignorant people like yourself for the better part of my life, I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not you. What a waste- I like your name though.
Submitted by: Samantha
4:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
12. Ethics, integrity, and merit are three foundations you lack on top of medical credentials.
Submitted by: Shepherd
4:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
13. I'm sure Mr. Stein researched this topic extensively before writing, but instead of making it a comprehensive health analysis of all the allergenic hypochondriacs that ruin everything for the rest of us, he decided to make a witty and informative article. If it offends you so greatly-don't read it! And it's quite obvious that Mr. Stein isn't referring to the people who do have serious nut allergies (or being insensitive to them; reading comprehension clearly failed you people). Honestly, if you're going to be so ignorant as to claim that your child's health is more important than the anxiety of COUNTLESS other children is just plain selfish.
Submitted by: @ignorant people
4:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
14. actually, the current belief is that growing up in too clean of an environment while very young leads to food allergies. bleaching countertops, boiling nipples and the like actually causes young children to develop very strong reactions to foods. that's the real reason why food allergies are prevalent in the developed world and not so much in the developing world. food allergies are virtually unknown in Africa.
Submitted by: a guy with peanut allergies
4:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
15. As one who has had a series of allergic reactions and have blown-up like a balloon (not from nuts), it isn't fun. They still cannot not specifically / put the finger on what I am allergic to, since it may be a combination of things. I just keep an Epi-pen handy (only needed it once) and prednisone in the event of emergency. Parents get empathetic over their youngsters, but folks, once the doctors pump you full of the cocktail to take the swelling down, we're all fine, until the next time.
Submitted by: Steve M.
4:27 PM PST, January 9, 2009
16. Thank you, Joel, for your well-thought-out and reasoned article!
Submitted by: HadItWithWhiningYuppies
4:27 PM PST, January 9, 2009
17. Yo Joel, You stopped being funny about three years ago. Simers should give you a kick in the pants.
Submitted by: Deez
4:17 PM PST, January 9, 2009
18. You have proven the point of your article judging by the reaction of the commenters. The number of readers here who claim to have, or know someone who has a peanut allergy would extrapolate out to about half of the City of Los Angeles. For the legitimate 1%, I feel for you. For the others, I would like to introduce you to Roger Owens. A
Submitted by: Jif
4:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
19. Hilarious. As usual. Keep up the good work, Stein.
Submitted by: moots
4:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
20. I have no idea how common (actual) peanut allergies are, or how many people are just taken in by mass hysteria. But I do know that saying, "Our genes haven't mutated in 10 years" is kind of silly. Are particular genes 100% responsible for peanut or other food allergies? Or could food allergies work like just about everything else: a combination of genetic and environmental factors cause them? Maybe 50% of people have a genetic predisposition to peanut allergy, and in 20% of those people, exposure to this combination of substances can lead to a peanut allergy expressing itself.
Submitted by: Ben
21. Where do you get off saying "we don't see this in African American communties." I am an African American with a severe peanut allergy. I'm also an attorney, and I guarantee that if any school were foolish enough to reduce or eliminate its precautionary measures regarding peanut allergies, the persons responsible will get dragged into court so fast, the'll get whiplash.
Submitted by: JD
4:07 PM PST, January 9, 2009
22. You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
Submitted by: E. Blatsby
4:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
23. Wow, people with zero understanding of the facts can still work for the Times!
Submitted by: E. Blatsby
4:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
24. also. Your child does NOT have ADD. he's just stupid.
Submitted by: Dave
4:01 PM PST, January 9, 2009
25. Peanut allergies may be rare, as may life-threatening responses to food--such as seafood--are, but there are PLENTY of reactions to food, allergic and otherwise, that cause discomfort and chronic illness ie. wheat allergies, that go ignored because people like Mr. Stein would like to write such occurrences off as off as "yuppie hysteria". Our food supply, increasingly subject to hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, is bound to cause a greater and greater number of reactions in both children and adults.
Submitted by: Audrey
3:58 PM PST, January 9, 2009
26. Is Joel Stein a doctor? He speaks pretty definitively on a medical matter and it's printed in a newspaper... I think he MUST be a doctor.
Submitted by: Susan
3:57 PM PST, January 9, 2009
27. self-righteous much?
Submitted by: zatch
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
28. it's mind boggling that 75% of the people posting there are sufferers or are immediately related to a sufferer. I'd have to say that if anything, to me, this backs up the argument that this could well be a figment of many peoples imaginations. If only less than 5% of Americans have a peanut allergy, why does everyone here have an allergy story? Could it be that the symptoms that you/your brother/third cousin/friend is suffering might be caused by something else entirely?
Submitted by: colinjay
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
29. Better safe than sorry. Slow news day, maybe?
Submitted by: Chuck
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
30. I love the names of the people attacking the sarcastic opinion piece. Yuppie names if I have ever seen them. Get over yourselves.
Submitted by: RED
3:54 PM PST, January 9, 2009
31. Frankly, I'm 28 years old, suffer from severe peanut allergy - which is a life threatening medical condition - and don't have rich parents. Also, I almost died when I was a kid and another kid at school started eating peanuts right next to me. So, Mr. Stein, I suggest you do a little more research before writing about things you don't understand.
Submitted by: mmat
3:48 PM PST, January 9, 2009
32. i hope you die of an allergic reaction. or at least go brain dead from one. which i guess really wouldn't be much different an existence for you. but at least we'd finally be spared from such idiotic 'journalism'.
Submitted by: you're an idiot
3:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
33. I do think it is ridiculous that I buy organic peanut butter that is labelled "Made in a facility that processes peanuts". Seriously. I mean isn't that what I'm paying twice the price of Skippy for, to get peanuts?!?
Submitted by: tsarina
3:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
34. It's disheartening to see someone with a public platform like yours exhibiting so little empathy for others. No one chooses to have a peanut allergy. Maybe you'll understand if someone close to you gets this disease...but I'm not optimistic that you ever will. Callow, callous...and no class. Goodbye, Joel.
Submitted by: David
3:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
35. Joel: Research is still being done on what causes the allergies -- yes, it seems to occur mostly in Europe & N America Australia, but there is suggestion it is related to how the nuts are processed. Bully for the jewish kids, but I don't think stereotyping that it only happens to "yuppie" kids is accurate - it has nothing to do with income.
Submitted by: David
3:44 PM PST, January 9, 2009
36. Mr. Stein and all you other doubters, you are idiots. Try watching your two year old go into semi-coma and throwing up from eating nuts. Then try and stay calm watching him for two hours slowly come out of his semi-coma after giving the benadryl--because you didn't know he had a concocted yuppie nut allergy.
Submitted by: TS
3:44 PM PST, January 9, 2009
37. The hysteria over nut allergies is diverting attention from a much more serious and urgent matter: the sapping of the purity of our bodily essence through fluoridation of water.
Submitted by: Gen. J. Ripper, USAF (Ret.)
3:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
38. Allergies are not caused by genetic mutations. What's your scientific source for that Mr Stein, or are you just making things up, rather than read a proper review of the actual science? Fact: The propensity to develop allergies is related to the lactobacterial flora in the intestines of newborns. That flora is strongly affected by hygienic conditions and also external factors like climate. Obviously, rich nations have better hygienic conditions.
Submitted by: AlexM
3:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
39. Allergies aren't just from genes, also environment. Science doesn't understand causes of peanut allergies so recommendations for pregnant women not to eat peanuts, and to give kids no peanuts before a certain age, may make it worse, & recent studies agree. That also explains differences between different cultural or ethnic groups. The study comparing Brits and Israelis noted that there is an Israeli baby snack that includes peanuts but no equivalent in britain-the early exposure may reduce allergies. I don't agree with bans for no reason, IF there is a kid in the school with a peanut allergy, the school has the right to ban them.
Submitted by: milo
3:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
40. Joel, you are an IDIOT. Sure, there has been an major increase in peunut allergies, but it is related to environmental factors, ie pollution, radiation, or govt testing (just kigging about the govt. testing). It has nothing to do with parental allergic hypochondriacs. I've driven my brother to the hospital in Anaphyltic shock, and it wasn't in his yuppie mind. ps He is a serious yuppie, but he has almost died a couple times.
Submitted by: Dave
3:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
41. I'm allergic to cats. Maybe anyone with cats should be required to have their kids change clothes and decontaiminate each day before school to keep me safe? Thanks Joel for pointing out a real trend. Kids need to be aware of and attend to their own needs, not have others' freedom encroached upon to make the world "safe" for the special kids.
Submitted by: I'm Special
3:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
42. For THE FACTS, see www.foodallergy.org. My son has an extreme peanut allergy & nearly died after a minor taste of a peanut product. He's had several emergencies since by ingesting peanuts not identified as an ingredient. I know the terror of an unrecognizable swollen face and worse, throat. It will not be outgrown & travel by air will always be risky. Thankfully, schools are now recognizing the danger in this GROWING allergy and some airlines are doing the same. Joel-eat pretzels or any snack easily available before boarding a plane. Printing this dangerous piece is a horrible move by the Times.
Submitted by: Margo
3:26 PM PST, January 9, 2009
43. Thanks Joel, for a thoughtful and entertaining column. I hope you have a helmet and pads ready for the verbal thumping you're about to take. Because yuppies are not only hysterics, they are also tediously verbose.
Submitted by: gc67
3:21 PM PST, January 9, 2009
44. Genetics aren't the only cause of allergies. Allergies are an immune reaction, and anything that messes with the immune system (chemicals, lack of immune challenges when young, too many antibiotics) can change the rate of allergies in a population. The increase in the rate of allergies can be as easily explained by "yuppies" not allowing their kids to play in the dirt all day as it can by "psychogenic illness". Spreading the idea that allergies are "all in your head" is a real disservice to people who actually have food allergies, and the results can be fatal. You ought to be ashamed, but somehow I doubt you will be.
Submitted by: Kathy A.
3:16 PM PST, January 9, 2009
45. As an allergy suffer, who has been in shock on many occasions, you are simply an ass. I wish upon you the experience of going into allergic shock. The feeling of all blood pressure leaving the body, the feeling of breathing stop, the world turning purple as the brain shuts down and fades to black, wondering if you'll live through it. Then waking up in an ER hours later. All because someone thought throwing peanuts at you was funny. How doing something different for a change, like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism_ethics_and_standards and researching your topic before spouting such drivel.
Submitted by: Shawn G.
3:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
46. Hey Joel, A) Peanuts aren't nuts, they're legumes. B)Do you have kids? Do they have allergies? If you answered no to either question, please refer to point C. C) Shut. Up.
Submitted by: Electrobrain
3:11 PM PST, January 9, 2009
47. If we ban everything to which anyone is allergic, there will be no food left to feed our children in schools... We should not start down this road there is no end...
Submitted by: Chris
3:11 PM PST, January 9, 2009
48. I had the same naive view until I gave my infant son his first PB&J sandwich and we ended up in the emergency room. He almost died. Since then people have had a very skeptical attitude - they simply don't understand the grave danger - I almost started wondering if I was inventing things until my sister inadvertently gave him peanut butter on vacation - back in the ER. The reason peanut allergies have tripled is not because of hysteria.
Submitted by: Polomoche
3:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
49. Sigh. So uninformed, and yet SO certain you're correct. Wow. Food allergies are terrifyingly real. And unpredictable. For years, the only reaction you may have to eating a peanut or other allergenic food is mild itching, hives, runny nose whatever. And then you may go into full blown anaphylactic shock. There is no way to predict how severe a reaction will be- only the likely hood of a reaction. I've seen the abject terror in the eyes of my toddler as we rushed to the ER during a reaction, while he was struggling to breathe. Don't tell me that's all in my head, because I have an education you self righteous boob.
Submitted by: You're a Jack*ss
3:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
50. Fatal allergies are God's way of saying your surplus
Submitted by: 6billion&counting
3:00 PM PST, January 9, 2009
51. Unlike a lot of other commenters I share your opinion. Put away the antibacterial gel for a day folks and you'll see you'll still be alive tomorrow.
Submitted by: Jay
2:59 PM PST, January 9, 2009
52. Ha ha. Good stuff. Sure, some folks have a real issue with nuts, but fercrissakes, why should I care about it? Why do I need to hear about it? Unless I am feeding you, or I am your parent, I don't care. Be responsible for yourself, folks.
Submitted by: r mutt
2:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
53. I really hope this article is a joke. While I wont die from peanuts, I certainly will experience medical complications from eating them. Joel, you're tragically misinformed.
Submitted by: Casey with allergies
2:49 PM PST, January 9, 2009
54. Why did I give this guy the page hits he's asking for when he spews idiocy like this? (Also : Stein, just give it up. Klosterman's better at it than you are and not quite as irritating.)
Submitted by: Noah
2:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
55. May Joel Stein wake up tomorrow morning with a mouth full of fish sticks. What a waste of precious pixels.
Submitted by: Arlo Pickens
2:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
56. I was born and raised in South Asia, and never did I see anyone having a peanut allergies there. We used to gulp down roasted peanuts everyday during school break, and we did just fine. I think the peanut allergy is either a hype, or a result of living in too much sterilized environment. Kids living indoors all day in neopsorin sprayed, bleach cleaned environments are simply not exposed to the real world micro-organisms, and that bubble-living just weakens their immunity. Take your kids outdoors ... let them get dirty in mud, soil, real world.
Submitted by: Third world dude
2:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
57. Joel, This is a very uncompassionate op-ed. My 11 year old son has a very severe peanut allergy. AND he has anaphylaxis to: tree nuts, garlic, mustard, all legumes (beans), soy protein, seafood and much more. This is not hypochondria, these allergies are real. In fact when we moved from So Cal to NC our new allergy doc thought there is no way someone could be that allergic to such small amounts of peanuts and thought my son's issues might be mental. He recanted when he saw the test results. They put 1/10,000 of an amount of peanuts on his skin and he almost started going into systemic shock with in less than 1 min.
Submitted by: MMC in NC
2:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
58. Wow. A lot of people have absolutely no sense of humor. Great hilarious aticle, Joel. And if a peanut can help to stop the lineage of some of the psychotic idiots commenting on this article, I am going to start throwing some around the city to try to take a few of these freaks out.
Submitted by: Cull the Herd
2:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
59. #3 mill is a yuppie
Submitted by: jay
2:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
60. Have you ever seen someone go into anaphylactic shock as a result of peanuts? They basically get help very quickly or swell up and die. Your blatant use of ad hominem attacks like, "this is only a problem in rich lefty communities" does nothing more than prove you're a poor journalist. You could make similar claims that "we only see black people with sickle cell, it must all be in their heads", but real data has proven that yes, you only see sickle cell in black people, but it has more to do with genetics than with the snide thoughts of a wanna-be journalist.
Submitted by: Aaron
2:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
61. The reason we don't see many food alllergies in other countries/cultures, is that the U.S. is one of the most prevalent places for heavy antibiotic use, which causes liver damage.
Submitted by: FutureUser
2:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
62. Once again Joel Stein amazes with his puerile, borderline-adolescent take on a serious matter, as if his gratingly immature style was not enough to aggravate. Why this obnoxious, half-informed little weasel has risen to such prominence is beyond my capacity, or indeed beyond reason itself.
Submitted by: Michael Sheehan
2:36 PM PST, January 9, 2009
63. He did NOT say food allergies were fake; he said that most kids nowadays with peanut allergies aren't really allergic to peanuts. The parents have gone over the edge and claimed a sensitivity or dislike of peanuts (perhaps by them) means their little brats are allergic to peanuts. Me? I cannot stand the taste of peanut butter; the smell and taste makes me want to gag. However, I'm not allergic to it. I just don't like it. Period.
Submitted by: Suzanne
2:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
64. As for the main point of the article, I do think that there does exist some hysteria about food allergies. A large number of patients will come in demanding food allergy testing because he/she blames their depression, joint pain, headache, personality problems, on food allergies. I had a parent demand their child be tested for food allergies because he wasn't behaving in school. I said that was not a legitimate reason for testing. She called me a horrible doctor and proceeded to rattle off claims by Kooks claiming that food allergies are responsible for every human disease.
Submitted by: Allergy MD
2:32 PM PST, January 9, 2009
65. I have seen many cases of anaphylaxis from kids sharing food at school, which is a common practice, something that is impossible to control. So I understand the concerns of parents when they want to ban a particular food from school. Another child bringing in a PBJ is equivalent to bringing in a loaded gun. And while deaths from food allergy is rare, considering that a majority of deaths happens in kids, it is always a horrible tragedy.
Submitted by: Allergy MD
2:32 PM PST, January 9, 2009
66. Thank you for that. I am getting so sick of whiny, pampered yuppie children and their doting parents. If your kid truly IS allergic, teach him/her to not ingest food that is dangerous. But NO, the entire universe does not revolve around your offspring.
Submitted by: CAC in DC
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
67. I know I'll be called insensitive and all that but... With the sudden increase in nut allergies I would argue something in our overall environment has caused this and that all the energy put into preventing allergic reactions would be better spent in finding the cause and trying to prevent future generations from suffering the same allergies.
Submitted by: LHB
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
68. I have peanut allergies. Meh. So I carry meds on me. I think the real issue is whether or not Joel Stein read Denis Leary's book before or after he wrote this. "Hmm, who can I piss off good, but without the resources of the autism community..I KNOW!! PEANUT HATERS!! And I'll throw the word "yuppie" in there to make me sound meaner!! YEAH!" Get yer own Schtick Schtein!
Submitted by: Peanutfarmer
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
69. There are two kinds of people in the world: those with kids and those without. Joel doesn't have any kids, preferring to spend his time making snarky criticisms of superficialities on inane VH1 programs. Way to make your mark in the world of "journalism" Joel.
Submitted by: Ace
2:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
70. Joel, Since you're so certain that food allergies are fabricated, then I'm certain you'll have no problem publicly accepting personal financial responsibility for all the children who are harmed or killed as a result of parents who believe your article. If you really believe you are right, then you'll have no risk whatsoever. If you are unwilling to do so, then it would be an admission that you know you are simply spouting nonsense, dangerous and irresponsible nonsense.
Submitted by: Anthony
2:26 PM PST, January 9, 2009
71. One theory I read about this allergy is that we are so well-vaccinated and clean (USA), that the immune system 'finds work to do'. The new nut allergy explosion? Can't possible be fully explained with yuppie-ism. So don't lump all us parents together with the few that put up stinks. What a one sided article. You embody my name.
Submitted by: Richard Cranium
2:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
72. Who's editing these comments? You're going to tell me only 16 people have a reaction to this story? Give me a break.
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
2:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
73. Dear Mr. Stein. I see the windows of opportunity for viewer responding to your "piece" in today's paper closes at 5 p.m. today. Okay. That's fine. I should be done sharpening all pointy objects in the vicinity, by then. I'm bewildered that while so many qualified journalists have lost their jobs lately, you (miraculously) remain on LAT's payroll. For what? Churning out what can only be described as astonishingly ignorant, clearly desperate pleas for attention? I can't post complete response to your Op Ed here. Be sure to check my blog out. "Louise On The Left."
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
2:22 PM PST, January 9, 2009
74. watch your cousin choke and and pass out. Then need to be revived and ambulanced to a hospital all because he ate food cooked in peanut oil. They said i saved his life. If you saw that you wouldn't think it was a yuppie thing. Oh i'm a black as is my cousin and i have allergies as well. just not as severe and not food.
Submitted by: Derrick
2:18 PM PST, January 9, 2009
75. Car accidents. Don't forget those, Stein! Every time some Yuppie parent's kid gets killed in a car accident - they complain and make it worse for everyone. It's fun to make uninformed, class-baiting comments about those darn Yuppies. Wait - what year is it? 1985?
Submitted by: ssss
2:17 PM PST, January 9, 2009
76. Bravo for some sense being spoken. How did those of us in our 50's ever survive our childhoods when we did not have so much knowledge about how scary and dangerous the world is!!
Submitted by: jemphd
2:16 PM PST, January 9, 2009
77. I've read that over-cleanliness can lead to allergies and asthma due to underdevelopment of the immune system. I think you're better off approaching the topic from that angle than that of hysteria.
Submitted by: Geoff
2:15 PM PST, January 9, 2009
78. Brave Joel Stein. I say let the little ones eat dirt. Why don't we ship these little allergy prone kiddies with perfect round heads (thanks to their infant helmet) and their parents to the third world where apparently these conditions don't exist.
Submitted by: OyPeanut
2:15 PM PST, January 9, 2009
79. If I eat tree nuts, my throat closes. If you don't feel like calling that an allergy, fine. Thank you for taking time from being a VH1 talking head to enlighten us with your thoughtless drivel.
Submitted by: Concerned for your mental health.
2:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
80. Good read Joel, I do not disagree at all. Those who have written comments criticizing you for denying the reality of allergies did not read your article close enough to know you never discounted the small fraction of the population who do, in fact, have food allergies. Maybe there is some environmentally caused biological change to account for the increasing percentages of allergic people but at least some of the increase is due to the overreacting parents among us.
Submitted by: Rob Diggam
2:08 PM PST, January 9, 2009
81. my mother didn't believe in allergies either, so she insisted I have Penecillin a second time even though it was determined that I was allergic after the first time. I almost died.
Submitted by: mo
2:01 PM PST, January 9, 2009
82. There is nothing "special" about the feeling a parent gets when his daughter experiences anaphylactic shock. LA Times: wonder why your subscriptions are at an all time low?
Submitted by: Shan
1:57 PM PST, January 9, 2009
83. There is nothing trival or funny about food allergies. As an adult who grew up on a farm I have developed severe allergies to Soy and shellfish. so much for the dirt theroy. Many children and adults around the world are developing life threatening reactions to food due to the highly processed nature of our food. Peanuts and Soy have been adulterated and dumped into our foods as cheap fillers. Go read labels. For those of you who think this is just hysteria, you need to go to the ER and witness someone in anaphalactic shock.
Submitted by: globalmom
1:52 PM PST, January 9, 2009
84. An acquaintance of mine had a nut allergy. I wish he new knew it was all in his parents imagination. When he came into contact with merely peanut OIL, didn't even swallow, he realized immediately, then he died as his throat has swollen shut. I hope your parents are proud of you Joel, show 'em this article huh? maybe they'll give you a cookie.
Submitted by: dontcallmefrancis
1:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
85. know how many kids have "hay fever" and live their lives on OTC medications? Ever worked with large groups of kids? yeah food allergies are real, and so are false positives. Anaphylaxsis is scary, but only in the short term. Living in fear of MAYBE is a lot worse. I know of many children who's "asthma" is made worse by the fact that their parents have convinced them that they could die. Don't believe me? don't worry, I rarely can believe how poorly equipped to parent 99% of adults are.
Submitted by: oddballmedic
1:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
86. A totally obnoxious and appalling article that I can't believe the Times would run and a disservice to all of the children with real allergies. Hard to believe someone would actually risk the life of a child for a measley peanut. Peanut allergies are real and life-threatening. We don't freak our kid-we have educated our daughter to read labels, not take other food without any hysterics. Just reading this article sickens me.
Submitted by: Mother with a peanut-allergic child
1:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
87. While on the topic, I am rather curious about the meteoric rise in gluten "allergies" in the past 5 years...primarily evidenced in waify or wanna be waify 20 something women. These serious "alllergies" of course necessitate subjecting your friends to mind-numbing talk about cleanses and the serving of lemon and maple syrup at dinner parties. Now theirs will be some helicoptered children. I just last week that I felt I was missing out on a big trend...I really think the gluten allergy is much more fashionable then legumes however.
Submitted by: Seattle Stein fan
1:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
88. You are such an idiot to think you know everything about allergies. My child has multiple food allergies. I can't believe that the LA Times allowed you to print your article. Shame on you!!
Submitted by: Mom
1:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
89. Your attitude is what puts people with real life threatening allergies at risk of death everytime they go out because you won't take even the slightest bit of care or precaution and take delight in "testing" other people.
Submitted by: Lookforthewoman
1:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
90. What do yuppies have to do with any of this? I live in a community with people I would describe as working class community and union activists, Jamaican holistic vegetarians, animal-rights-former-runaways-now-bartenders, and related completely working class if not underclass individuals and they are very bit as apt to talk about nut allergies, Chrohns, Gluten allergies and the like. Yuppiedom has NOTHING to do with the proliferation of food concerns.
Submitted by: Neener
1:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
91. I totally agree with the author on this. I had 'dust mite' allergies as my mom had determined when I was younger. I remember noticing how much more stuffy my nose was after I was given that diagnosis. But when I moved out of the house and exercised and learned the value of mind of matter, I find I have no allergies whatsoever. It seems to me that the ratio of overprotective mother/child with allergy is ridiculously high. Some of these allergy religionists should read some Carl Jung. You really CAN trick your child's mind into developing an 'allergy'. And it will manifest in all sorts of real ways, through suggestion alone.
Submitted by: Wayne
1:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
92. An increase in allergies to a particular food protein can occur if that food is presented in a format containing an additive that increases the likelihood of an allergy developing, through activation of the immune system, causing leakiness in the gut, etc. A new surfactant in kiddie peanut butter would be enough to do it.
Submitted by: Fran Walker
1:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
93. Josh, you're an idiot. Better Health Care is the reason we catch more allergies, poor don't have access to the info. and when a poor kid dies, parents don't have the means to investigate.
Submitted by: Gary Green
1:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
94. I didn't know people could be so ignorant. I pray my two kids will outgrow their food allergies. You better pray that you don't wind up with a child with life-threatening food allergies, although I doubt anyone would reproduce with you after reading your article. How dare you say such things when there are CHILDREN dying from peanut allergies because their food was contaminated when it shouldn't have been. You want to take away the warning labels so the poor kids have to take their chances? Why? Because the labels affect you somehow?Honestly, I can't stand idiots and I can't believe the L.A. Times would even publish such garbage.
Submitted by: Faith
1:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
95. amen!
Submitted by: Leslie
1:36 PM PST, January 9, 2009
96. I recently visited my former elementary school. On every flat, vertical surface in the school office and in the cafeteria were signs telling everyone that the school was a peanut-free zone. BECAUSE ONE KID IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL HAD AN ALLERGY. I say give the kid, teachers, lunch workers epi-pens and let the other 275 kids at the school have their PB&J. What about kid with bee allergies? Are we supposed to glass in the playground? Yuppies are crazy. First it's the breast vs bottle tempest in a tea pot. Then the vaccination stupidity. Then peanuts. Good luck. You're gonna need an asbestos umbrella.
Submitted by: Peanut Butter Patty
1:34 PM PST, January 9, 2009
97. For those parents of children who have had a life threatening reaction to a nut or peanut, it is a terrifying experience. You must not have children to write such a cold, unfeeling article.
Submitted by: Laura
1:34 PM PST, January 9, 2009
98. Inspite of what the uninformed, non-physician, non-research analyst, non-scientist, with out any form of credible evidence writer has written. He is wrong. But please don't be alarmed, that is usually what regurgitates out of uninformed individuals. We do testing for multiple allergens in our laboratories. Food Allergies are REAL, at least that is what the actual test results show. Children do not have allergic reactions, stop breathing and die because little Timmy's mommy frightened him or made him think he had an allergy. Pay no attention to the uniformed.
Submitted by: Laboratory Manager
1:22 PM PST, January 9, 2009
99. Thanks for an eye-opening read. I got one for you. In the 80's when I was in high school in the Carribean, there were plenty female students who claimed a peanut /peanut allergy. This mainly manifested as small papules (bumps) on their face. This would go away they claimed if peanut butter was avoided.
Submitted by: Franks
1:21 PM PST, January 9, 2009
100. As a person who really does have true food allergies I am amused by this article. It's so true! These parents are doing their kids a disservice by creating unwarranted anxiety in them. Trust me if they really have a food allergy they'll know it. An anaphylactic reaction is severe and scary as hell - I know I've had many of them. I'm allergic to many foods - some I'm not even sure of until I eat them - loads of things in the environment, medicines, etc... So I avoid what I can, bring my EpiPen & Benadryl with me, and above all don't make a big deal about it and LIVE my life.
Submitted by: CatG
1:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
101. mark, peter, mill, and god help us dr. shapiro might try reading the original ariticle cited here before ranting on about mr. stein. he is pointing out a common problem in our society.
Submitted by: b. obrien Ph.D immunology
1:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
102. Excuse me for the fact that my daughter REALLY has a peanut allergy and could be fatally affected if she ingests a peanut. Gee, just think that one of her fellow students almost died last year when a substitute teacher used peanuts in a lesson and the student with a verified peanut allergy ate one/some. 1% of the students have a peanut allergy. I guess if we lose one a year that wouldn't be too much a price to pay to get peanuts back in the school. You really do a disservice to all of us out here who have kids with real allergies. Poor Joel, did someone not serve you a measly bag of peanuts on the plane and your stomach grumbled?
Submitted by: Martin Silvern
1:08 PM PST, January 9, 2009
103. Yeah for you! I am sure the crazies will attack you for this, but just send them to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and sic them on the baby walkers. Infant/baby walkers have injured or killed more babies than peanuts have, yet where is the histeria over walkers? Carry an epipen and leave us alone to eat our nuts!
Submitted by: NotSoNuts
12:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
104. I just read Dr. Christakis' article. It is well-written and makes some good points without overgeneralizing, trivializing a real health condition and blaming neurotic, yuppie parents for everything, unlike "Dr" Joel Stein.
Submitted by: Dara Wilson Allgeier
12:49 PM PST, January 9, 2009
105. I have nut allergies and was always that kid who couldn't eat anything because of it. I don't consider it a tremendous cross to bear and to this day, I simply read through product ingredients to make sure my day doesn't end up ruined because of a life-long food allergy. Your editorial is a bit insensitive, however, I understand that my problem is hardly a cause for the world to come to an end. True, 99% of the population can't relate, but try to have some compassion for those of us who can.
Submitted by: Kerri
12:48 PM PST, January 9, 2009
106. That's all this world needs is an ignoramus like you downplaying a potentially deadly situation-- why don't you wax sarcastic about the contestants on American Idol or the host's dress on Entertainment Tonight-- your wit and writing style would make a better fit.
Submitted by: Christopher SM
12:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
107. Great piece. I am allergic to peanuts, but was diagnosed in the 70s, so I feel much more legit.
Submitted by: Klaus Varley
12:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
108. Thank you so much for writing this. I have a friend who has numerous food "allergies", though none of them have ever been diagnosed by an allergist. (I've also seen her unknowingly eat wheat, to which she claims to be allergic, with no adverse effects.) Food "allergies" have become increasingly trendy, and they minimize how awful REAL food allergies can be.
Submitted by: Jeff
12:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
109. Joel Stein is hilarious, a fine writer, and my hero.
Submitted by: Allergic to nonsense
12:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
110. This column is so uninformed it is pathetic and (characteristically) unprofessional. I'm not sure why the LA Times has not yet fired someone who thinks reading one article makes him an expert and consistently publishes columns that are both ignorant and sorely lacking humor. I would expect this quality of writing in any random blog--not a major newspaper. Basically the argument made in this column is that those nasty little bags of airline nuts are more important than the well-being of 4% of children. Classy.
Submitted by: Disappointed with the LATimes
111. Thank you for this! I can't make cupcakes for my kids birthdays at school in case I kill another student. Food allergies are soooo over blown, one kid (or his mom) is now claiming an allergy to apples so they are banned now. Geesh, just keep the kid in a bubble if you are that paranoid! Bring an epi pen and live a little (or at least let the rest of us live!).
Submitted by: momof3
12:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
112. Bravo!!! About time someone exposed well-intentioned 'safety' based over-reactions to be the irrational and counterproductive hysterics of bleating sheeple they so often are. Try looking into similar herd stampedes regarding black mold, asbestos in soil and corn syrup. Then compare these needle in a haystack threats to real killers like under-inflated tires, bathtubs and highways. Nonetheless, the closed minds will seal tighter against lightning strike longshots like terrorism, lead-based paint and gluten. They probably think the lottery is a safer bet than blackjack. There are none so blind as those with eyes who will not see...
Submitted by: Stampede the Sheeple
12:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
113. Dear Mr. Stein. I see the windows of opportunity for viewer responding to your "piece" in today's paper closes by 5 p.m. today. Okay. That's fine. I should be done sharpening all pointy objects in my vicinity, by then. How is it that so many qualified journalists have lost work lately, while you (miraculously) remain on anyone's payroll? And by merely churning out what can only be described as an astonishingly ignorant, clearly desperate plea for literary attention. ...But, I'll have to finish this thought on my blog. Louise Larsen
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
12:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
114. You have never seen my young, play-in-the-dirt child struggle for breath, be covered in hives while vomiting and dealing with diarrhea, all because of slight contact with peanut butter. Epinephrine saved his life. I hope you never have to deal with food allergies. I pity your ignorance.
Submitted by: Allergy mom
12:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
115. Joel..as I am an ardent fan of your work, I must ask you..Have you ever seen a child turn blue with an allergy attack? I don't think so. Please visit the nearest pediatric allergists office to see the kids and there parents with their epi pens at the ready. This means 24-7 for years ever-vigilant. Check your facts and then write another apologetic blurb.
Submitted by: Char Salkin
12:19 PM PST, January 9, 2009
116. As of today I am officially and FINALLY cancelling my subscription to the L.A. Times because of this crappy piece of journalism.
Submitted by: SuzyQ
12:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
117. My little bro has a peanut allergy and he is one of those people who makes the airlines unable to give out peanuts... he also is allergic to milk and soy and it's not all in his or my mother's head because he's 2. He had a "failure to thrive" issue for the first 8 months of his life and now he's behind his peers in speaking and behavioral skills (though we expect him to catch up soon)... Allergies are not yuppie hystery and it really is about genetic and environmental factors... Mr. Stein just because you're not affected by allergies doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist
Submitted by: calbear08
12:00 PM PST, January 9, 2009
118. While this article does make a point about people who exxagerate their kids allergies for attention, it is still a fact that some people (like my little brother) can go into anaphylactic shock from sitting next to someone eating peanuts. If keeping my brother alive raises his peers' anxiety levels, it is well worth it in my opinion. The argument that less developed countries worry less about allergies is plain ignorant. Check their infant mortality rates and average life span. These kids don't like long enough for anyone to worry about their allergies.
Submitted by: Elissa
11:46 AM PST, January 9, 2009
119. Every time some dumb parent brings peanuts to school thinking it's ok, my kids ends up in the E.R.! Keep your nuts at home. Thanks
Submitted by: Steve
11:46 AM PST, January 9, 2009
120. @Peter: C'mon. The Times lost credibility long before Mr. Stein ...
Submitted by: Petros
11:43 AM PST, January 9, 2009
121. "Your kid doesn't have an allergy to nuts. Your kid has a parent who needs to feel special." That's all i needed to read to completely agree with you! We are a nation that is over-medicated and over-diagnosed with endless "ailments" and "conditions"
Submitted by: jeg
11:22 AM PST, January 9, 2009
122. Response to your clumsy bait - 1)4% is about right,in a school with 400 kids, about 20 affected, meaning an everyday reality for schools, not something seen rarely.2)Poorer health care in poor countries doesn't nullify peanut allergies as a problem.3)Because a few parents might overreact to a medicalcondition,companies dodge liability w/labels that may/may not mean a real risk studies show 10% of foods with warning labels contain measurable amounts of peanut protein), doctors tell parents to be vigilant since peanut protein is unusually potent, and testing's not perfect/more research is needed, you choose to blame the parents.
Submitted by: Dara Wilson Allgeier
11:16 AM PST, January 9, 2009
123. The original article ("This Allergies Hysteria Is Just Nuts") by Dr. Christakis is available at http://christakis.med.harvard.edu/pages/bmj.html In it, he argues that serious allergies exist, and need to be accommodated with reasonable measures, but that the response has been over the top and that the response does not make sense from a public health point of view.
Submitted by: Public Health Doc
10:40 AM PST, January 9, 2009
124. My god, thank you for this.
Submitted by: TouchieFeelie
10:39 AM PST, January 9, 2009
125. Maybe the poor communities don't raise the issue because they don't have the resources to check why their kid is sick after eating food with an allergen in it. This is not a topic well-suited to the light humor approach Mr Stein offers readers. Overstating food allergies causes what harm? Understating it ends up killing children. Which would Mr. Stein rather?
Submitted by: mill
10:18 AM PST, January 9, 2009
126. never ever have a child with a severe allergy. And please refrain for making medical or even psychological diagnosis without a degree in those areas.
Submitted by: Hope You
10:00 AM PST, January 9, 2009
127. Love this diatribe against the mass hysteria of food allergies! Our child is not allowed to carry a peanut butter sandwich to school and to me that is the height of absurdity, and don't give me that "Better safe than sorry" pablum that passes for wisdom. That's what got us into the mass hysteria following 9/11, when we zealously guarded Alabama petting zoos and municipal buildings in Topeka from the foreign terrorists. Recklessly keeping everything "safe" (I'm sure a few of you think the Grand Canyon should be surrounded by a tall fence and warning signs and lights every 50 feet) is the road to ruin and madness.
Submitted by: Steve Smart
9:54 AM PST, January 9, 2009
128. Mr. Stein - well put. I think the high incidence of ADHD in kids is of the same genesis...parents who dote, and teachers who want malleable children. Neither do kids any good, do they? Good article, Juan
Submitted by: Juan
9:35 AM PST, January 9, 2009
129. Amen, amen. Yes, and give us back peanuts on the airplanes. If you are allergic to nuts, don't eat them, but how about the remaining 99.44% of us? [Does anyone else remember the source of that figure?]
Submitted by: Michael King
8:13 AM PST, January 9, 2009
130. Yes -- I was that kid in the 1960's school cafeteria who went into anaphylactic shock every time there were nuts in the cookies. Didn't have to even eat one -- just had to have it within sight of my fish sticks or mystery meat with green beans. But my nemesis was the tree not -- not today's "legume." I'm better now -- more than half a century later . . . but I still couldn't eat the butter balls with ground pecans last month. (sigh!)
Submitted by: A Real Nut Case
7:25 AM PST, January 9, 2009
131. Thank you for this spot-on commentary. I bet you are going to release the devils of 'specialness' in responses. Blame the crazy allergy doctors who devise tests to find some sort of allergy so that you must become a patient.
Submitted by: drpjl
7:06 AM PST, January 9, 2009
132. Legume allergies (Peanuts) are sometimes deadly. You're information is specious, at best, and probably fictional. I have seen children die because of NUTS like you.
Submitted by: Dr. Shapiro
6:54 AM PST, January 9, 2009
133. Lest we not forget the wi-fi allergy some New Mexico citizens have. http://kob.com/article/stories/S451152.shtml?cat=517 Nutballs! Hope nobody is allergic to that label.
Submitted by: shootsquirrels
6:30 AM PST, January 9, 2009
134. Thanks "Dr." Stein for your opinion. About your comment, "genes don't mutate fast enough to have caused an 18% increase in childhood food allergies between 1997 and 2007", maybe there are other factors at work, such as environmental. Since you have no facts to back-up any of your claims, I'll assume the purpose of this article is simply to annoy people. You've succeeded.
Submitted by: Marc Orenberg
6:15 AM PST, January 9, 2009
135. You are a true jerk. Do you have children? It is not imaginary when you see your child go into anaphylactic shock for nut ingestion. This was a poorly researched article. What does the yuppie generation have to do with children dying from an allergy attach. The LA Times has lost a lot of creditability with this article.
Submitted by: Peter
5:40 AM PST, January 9, 2009
136. Good job, Mr Stein. I've often wondered where are these reactions were the last couple of centuries.
Submitted by: juniper jim
5:33 AM PST, January 9, 2009
137. American yuppie parents keep their kids too clean. If you want them to avoid allergies, let them play in the dirt. Exposure to germs helps build antibodies.
Submitted by: David Bruce
5:06 AM PST, January 9, 2009
138. Your eyebrows are about to be singed off. Be prepared for some really nasty comments.
Submitted by: ObserverMom
1:53 AM PST, January 9, 2009
For whatever it's worth, my posts are #22, #23, #72 & #113
For the record, I kept adding comments on the LAT site, but didn't see them. so, for some inexplicable reason started using another name to get see it that would work.
Not quite sure why 'Enid Blatsby' was the best I felt I could do at the time.
1. Ah Joel Stein, you work so hard to make yourself so ignorant. I refuse to read you anymore, but I think I'll start urging the times to give you the axe.
Submitted by: Shane
5:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
2. love it...this article couldn't be truer. yes peanut allergies are bad and can be fatal but for god sakes its quite rare. I grew up not long ago in the 80's/90's when no one ever worried about what particular food they were allergic to and we all survived. To ban peanuts from school because a tiny percentage are allergic seems silly
Submitted by: JP
5:07 PM PST, January 9, 2009
3. There's this funny little thing called "gene expression" that you might learn about if you took a decent introductory biology course. Could be what you're confusing with "fast mutation." Not to say that people aren't perfectly capable of over-reacting either though.
Submitted by: Celeste
5:03 PM PST, January 9, 2009
4. Just nature's way of culling the herd.
Submitted by: C. Darwin
4:59 PM PST, January 9, 2009
5. By the way, a peanut is NOT a nut, but a Legume (see Fabaceae in Wikipedia). I am allergic (yes, really) to Cashews and Walnuts (real nuts), but Peanuts are my friend.
Submitted by: Chuck
4:58 PM PST, January 9, 2009
6. Christakis' theories are off base. The difference between deaths from food allergies and lightening strikes is that food related deaths are preventable. Why do we go through security checks post 9/11? The world is big and the threat is low in all but a few places. Terrorism deaths are preventable and the hassle is price for safety, which is the exact same perspective of a parent with an allergic kid. Why not ask why parents react this way? Ask any parent who has lost a child. You're focused overblown reactions to support your own agenda, which is that food allergies are not a big deal to you.
Submitted by: mhardy
4:56 PM PST, January 9, 2009
7. I had a reaction to peanuts on an airplane! It was scary and frankly, I didn't even have to eat them (I just had to sit a couple rows up from someone shelling them). You can ask the five doctors that were on the plane for proof if you like!
Submitted by: Jane
4:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
8. perhaps your write and perhaps you wrote this to create some upheaval, but to be honest no matter how scared and neurotic parents are, it's even scarier when it turns out they're right. And I would suggest reading an article of genetic engineering, particularly soy in 1996. You'll find out the higher cases might have a biological reason.
Submitted by: Sam
4:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
9. This article just shows how ignorant you are. Live one day in the life of a person with food allergies and see how many things you take for granted. Watch your child on the brink of death and you'll understand why these parents are so overprotecting.
Submitted by: AllergicToEverythingButNuts
4:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
10. Joel, Joel, Joel... CLEARLY neither you nor your children (if you have any) have any food allergies. I'm sorry, but you really have no idea what you're talking about. People never 'get it' until they actually SEE me react to something and/or have to accompany me to the hospital. THEN the light bulb goes on. And I've had a ton of allergies (nuts of every kind included) for more years than you've been on the planet. It's comments like yours that DETER those who already don't get it from EVER understanding what it's all about. Very irresponsible "reporting."
Submitted by: Helaine
4:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
11. Tell you what. Next time, God forbid, I have an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts, I'll give you a call and send you thetape. As a 21 year old college student who has been dealing with ignorant people like yourself for the better part of my life, I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not you. What a waste- I like your name though.
Submitted by: Samantha
4:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
12. Ethics, integrity, and merit are three foundations you lack on top of medical credentials.
Submitted by: Shepherd
4:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
13. I'm sure Mr. Stein researched this topic extensively before writing, but instead of making it a comprehensive health analysis of all the allergenic hypochondriacs that ruin everything for the rest of us, he decided to make a witty and informative article. If it offends you so greatly-don't read it! And it's quite obvious that Mr. Stein isn't referring to the people who do have serious nut allergies (or being insensitive to them; reading comprehension clearly failed you people). Honestly, if you're going to be so ignorant as to claim that your child's health is more important than the anxiety of COUNTLESS other children is just plain selfish.
Submitted by: @ignorant people
4:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
14. actually, the current belief is that growing up in too clean of an environment while very young leads to food allergies. bleaching countertops, boiling nipples and the like actually causes young children to develop very strong reactions to foods. that's the real reason why food allergies are prevalent in the developed world and not so much in the developing world. food allergies are virtually unknown in Africa.
Submitted by: a guy with peanut allergies
4:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
15. As one who has had a series of allergic reactions and have blown-up like a balloon (not from nuts), it isn't fun. They still cannot not specifically / put the finger on what I am allergic to, since it may be a combination of things. I just keep an Epi-pen handy (only needed it once) and prednisone in the event of emergency. Parents get empathetic over their youngsters, but folks, once the doctors pump you full of the cocktail to take the swelling down, we're all fine, until the next time.
Submitted by: Steve M.
4:27 PM PST, January 9, 2009
16. Thank you, Joel, for your well-thought-out and reasoned article!
Submitted by: HadItWithWhiningYuppies
4:27 PM PST, January 9, 2009
17. Yo Joel, You stopped being funny about three years ago. Simers should give you a kick in the pants.
Submitted by: Deez
4:17 PM PST, January 9, 2009
18. You have proven the point of your article judging by the reaction of the commenters. The number of readers here who claim to have, or know someone who has a peanut allergy would extrapolate out to about half of the City of Los Angeles. For the legitimate 1%, I feel for you. For the others, I would like to introduce you to Roger Owens. A
Submitted by: Jif
4:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
19. Hilarious. As usual. Keep up the good work, Stein.
Submitted by: moots
4:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
20. I have no idea how common (actual) peanut allergies are, or how many people are just taken in by mass hysteria. But I do know that saying, "Our genes haven't mutated in 10 years" is kind of silly. Are particular genes 100% responsible for peanut or other food allergies? Or could food allergies work like just about everything else: a combination of genetic and environmental factors cause them? Maybe 50% of people have a genetic predisposition to peanut allergy, and in 20% of those people, exposure to this combination of substances can lead to a peanut allergy expressing itself.
Submitted by: Ben
21. Where do you get off saying "we don't see this in African American communties." I am an African American with a severe peanut allergy. I'm also an attorney, and I guarantee that if any school were foolish enough to reduce or eliminate its precautionary measures regarding peanut allergies, the persons responsible will get dragged into court so fast, the'll get whiplash.
Submitted by: JD
4:07 PM PST, January 9, 2009
22. You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
Submitted by: E. Blatsby
4:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
23. Wow, people with zero understanding of the facts can still work for the Times!
Submitted by: E. Blatsby
4:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
24. also. Your child does NOT have ADD. he's just stupid.
Submitted by: Dave
4:01 PM PST, January 9, 2009
25. Peanut allergies may be rare, as may life-threatening responses to food--such as seafood--are, but there are PLENTY of reactions to food, allergic and otherwise, that cause discomfort and chronic illness ie. wheat allergies, that go ignored because people like Mr. Stein would like to write such occurrences off as off as "yuppie hysteria". Our food supply, increasingly subject to hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, is bound to cause a greater and greater number of reactions in both children and adults.
Submitted by: Audrey
3:58 PM PST, January 9, 2009
26. Is Joel Stein a doctor? He speaks pretty definitively on a medical matter and it's printed in a newspaper... I think he MUST be a doctor.
Submitted by: Susan
3:57 PM PST, January 9, 2009
27. self-righteous much?
Submitted by: zatch
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
28. it's mind boggling that 75% of the people posting there are sufferers or are immediately related to a sufferer. I'd have to say that if anything, to me, this backs up the argument that this could well be a figment of many peoples imaginations. If only less than 5% of Americans have a peanut allergy, why does everyone here have an allergy story? Could it be that the symptoms that you/your brother/third cousin/friend is suffering might be caused by something else entirely?
Submitted by: colinjay
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
29. Better safe than sorry. Slow news day, maybe?
Submitted by: Chuck
3:55 PM PST, January 9, 2009
30. I love the names of the people attacking the sarcastic opinion piece. Yuppie names if I have ever seen them. Get over yourselves.
Submitted by: RED
3:54 PM PST, January 9, 2009
31. Frankly, I'm 28 years old, suffer from severe peanut allergy - which is a life threatening medical condition - and don't have rich parents. Also, I almost died when I was a kid and another kid at school started eating peanuts right next to me. So, Mr. Stein, I suggest you do a little more research before writing about things you don't understand.
Submitted by: mmat
3:48 PM PST, January 9, 2009
32. i hope you die of an allergic reaction. or at least go brain dead from one. which i guess really wouldn't be much different an existence for you. but at least we'd finally be spared from such idiotic 'journalism'.
Submitted by: you're an idiot
3:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
33. I do think it is ridiculous that I buy organic peanut butter that is labelled "Made in a facility that processes peanuts". Seriously. I mean isn't that what I'm paying twice the price of Skippy for, to get peanuts?!?
Submitted by: tsarina
3:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
34. It's disheartening to see someone with a public platform like yours exhibiting so little empathy for others. No one chooses to have a peanut allergy. Maybe you'll understand if someone close to you gets this disease...but I'm not optimistic that you ever will. Callow, callous...and no class. Goodbye, Joel.
Submitted by: David
3:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
35. Joel: Research is still being done on what causes the allergies -- yes, it seems to occur mostly in Europe & N America Australia, but there is suggestion it is related to how the nuts are processed. Bully for the jewish kids, but I don't think stereotyping that it only happens to "yuppie" kids is accurate - it has nothing to do with income.
Submitted by: David
3:44 PM PST, January 9, 2009
36. Mr. Stein and all you other doubters, you are idiots. Try watching your two year old go into semi-coma and throwing up from eating nuts. Then try and stay calm watching him for two hours slowly come out of his semi-coma after giving the benadryl--because you didn't know he had a concocted yuppie nut allergy.
Submitted by: TS
3:44 PM PST, January 9, 2009
37. The hysteria over nut allergies is diverting attention from a much more serious and urgent matter: the sapping of the purity of our bodily essence through fluoridation of water.
Submitted by: Gen. J. Ripper, USAF (Ret.)
3:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
38. Allergies are not caused by genetic mutations. What's your scientific source for that Mr Stein, or are you just making things up, rather than read a proper review of the actual science? Fact: The propensity to develop allergies is related to the lactobacterial flora in the intestines of newborns. That flora is strongly affected by hygienic conditions and also external factors like climate. Obviously, rich nations have better hygienic conditions.
Submitted by: AlexM
3:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
39. Allergies aren't just from genes, also environment. Science doesn't understand causes of peanut allergies so recommendations for pregnant women not to eat peanuts, and to give kids no peanuts before a certain age, may make it worse, & recent studies agree. That also explains differences between different cultural or ethnic groups. The study comparing Brits and Israelis noted that there is an Israeli baby snack that includes peanuts but no equivalent in britain-the early exposure may reduce allergies. I don't agree with bans for no reason, IF there is a kid in the school with a peanut allergy, the school has the right to ban them.
Submitted by: milo
3:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
40. Joel, you are an IDIOT. Sure, there has been an major increase in peunut allergies, but it is related to environmental factors, ie pollution, radiation, or govt testing (just kigging about the govt. testing). It has nothing to do with parental allergic hypochondriacs. I've driven my brother to the hospital in Anaphyltic shock, and it wasn't in his yuppie mind. ps He is a serious yuppie, but he has almost died a couple times.
Submitted by: Dave
3:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
41. I'm allergic to cats. Maybe anyone with cats should be required to have their kids change clothes and decontaiminate each day before school to keep me safe? Thanks Joel for pointing out a real trend. Kids need to be aware of and attend to their own needs, not have others' freedom encroached upon to make the world "safe" for the special kids.
Submitted by: I'm Special
3:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
42. For THE FACTS, see www.foodallergy.org. My son has an extreme peanut allergy & nearly died after a minor taste of a peanut product. He's had several emergencies since by ingesting peanuts not identified as an ingredient. I know the terror of an unrecognizable swollen face and worse, throat. It will not be outgrown & travel by air will always be risky. Thankfully, schools are now recognizing the danger in this GROWING allergy and some airlines are doing the same. Joel-eat pretzels or any snack easily available before boarding a plane. Printing this dangerous piece is a horrible move by the Times.
Submitted by: Margo
3:26 PM PST, January 9, 2009
43. Thanks Joel, for a thoughtful and entertaining column. I hope you have a helmet and pads ready for the verbal thumping you're about to take. Because yuppies are not only hysterics, they are also tediously verbose.
Submitted by: gc67
3:21 PM PST, January 9, 2009
44. Genetics aren't the only cause of allergies. Allergies are an immune reaction, and anything that messes with the immune system (chemicals, lack of immune challenges when young, too many antibiotics) can change the rate of allergies in a population. The increase in the rate of allergies can be as easily explained by "yuppies" not allowing their kids to play in the dirt all day as it can by "psychogenic illness". Spreading the idea that allergies are "all in your head" is a real disservice to people who actually have food allergies, and the results can be fatal. You ought to be ashamed, but somehow I doubt you will be.
Submitted by: Kathy A.
3:16 PM PST, January 9, 2009
45. As an allergy suffer, who has been in shock on many occasions, you are simply an ass. I wish upon you the experience of going into allergic shock. The feeling of all blood pressure leaving the body, the feeling of breathing stop, the world turning purple as the brain shuts down and fades to black, wondering if you'll live through it. Then waking up in an ER hours later. All because someone thought throwing peanuts at you was funny. How doing something different for a change, like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism_ethics_and_standards and researching your topic before spouting such drivel.
Submitted by: Shawn G.
3:12 PM PST, January 9, 2009
46. Hey Joel, A) Peanuts aren't nuts, they're legumes. B)Do you have kids? Do they have allergies? If you answered no to either question, please refer to point C. C) Shut. Up.
Submitted by: Electrobrain
3:11 PM PST, January 9, 2009
47. If we ban everything to which anyone is allergic, there will be no food left to feed our children in schools... We should not start down this road there is no end...
Submitted by: Chris
3:11 PM PST, January 9, 2009
48. I had the same naive view until I gave my infant son his first PB&J sandwich and we ended up in the emergency room. He almost died. Since then people have had a very skeptical attitude - they simply don't understand the grave danger - I almost started wondering if I was inventing things until my sister inadvertently gave him peanut butter on vacation - back in the ER. The reason peanut allergies have tripled is not because of hysteria.
Submitted by: Polomoche
3:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
49. Sigh. So uninformed, and yet SO certain you're correct. Wow. Food allergies are terrifyingly real. And unpredictable. For years, the only reaction you may have to eating a peanut or other allergenic food is mild itching, hives, runny nose whatever. And then you may go into full blown anaphylactic shock. There is no way to predict how severe a reaction will be- only the likely hood of a reaction. I've seen the abject terror in the eyes of my toddler as we rushed to the ER during a reaction, while he was struggling to breathe. Don't tell me that's all in my head, because I have an education you self righteous boob.
Submitted by: You're a Jack*ss
3:10 PM PST, January 9, 2009
50. Fatal allergies are God's way of saying your surplus
Submitted by: 6billion&counting
3:00 PM PST, January 9, 2009
51. Unlike a lot of other commenters I share your opinion. Put away the antibacterial gel for a day folks and you'll see you'll still be alive tomorrow.
Submitted by: Jay
2:59 PM PST, January 9, 2009
52. Ha ha. Good stuff. Sure, some folks have a real issue with nuts, but fercrissakes, why should I care about it? Why do I need to hear about it? Unless I am feeding you, or I am your parent, I don't care. Be responsible for yourself, folks.
Submitted by: r mutt
2:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
53. I really hope this article is a joke. While I wont die from peanuts, I certainly will experience medical complications from eating them. Joel, you're tragically misinformed.
Submitted by: Casey with allergies
2:49 PM PST, January 9, 2009
54. Why did I give this guy the page hits he's asking for when he spews idiocy like this? (Also : Stein, just give it up. Klosterman's better at it than you are and not quite as irritating.)
Submitted by: Noah
2:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
55. May Joel Stein wake up tomorrow morning with a mouth full of fish sticks. What a waste of precious pixels.
Submitted by: Arlo Pickens
2:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
56. I was born and raised in South Asia, and never did I see anyone having a peanut allergies there. We used to gulp down roasted peanuts everyday during school break, and we did just fine. I think the peanut allergy is either a hype, or a result of living in too much sterilized environment. Kids living indoors all day in neopsorin sprayed, bleach cleaned environments are simply not exposed to the real world micro-organisms, and that bubble-living just weakens their immunity. Take your kids outdoors ... let them get dirty in mud, soil, real world.
Submitted by: Third world dude
2:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
57. Joel, This is a very uncompassionate op-ed. My 11 year old son has a very severe peanut allergy. AND he has anaphylaxis to: tree nuts, garlic, mustard, all legumes (beans), soy protein, seafood and much more. This is not hypochondria, these allergies are real. In fact when we moved from So Cal to NC our new allergy doc thought there is no way someone could be that allergic to such small amounts of peanuts and thought my son's issues might be mental. He recanted when he saw the test results. They put 1/10,000 of an amount of peanuts on his skin and he almost started going into systemic shock with in less than 1 min.
Submitted by: MMC in NC
2:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
58. Wow. A lot of people have absolutely no sense of humor. Great hilarious aticle, Joel. And if a peanut can help to stop the lineage of some of the psychotic idiots commenting on this article, I am going to start throwing some around the city to try to take a few of these freaks out.
Submitted by: Cull the Herd
2:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
59. #3 mill is a yuppie
Submitted by: jay
2:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
60. Have you ever seen someone go into anaphylactic shock as a result of peanuts? They basically get help very quickly or swell up and die. Your blatant use of ad hominem attacks like, "this is only a problem in rich lefty communities" does nothing more than prove you're a poor journalist. You could make similar claims that "we only see black people with sickle cell, it must all be in their heads", but real data has proven that yes, you only see sickle cell in black people, but it has more to do with genetics than with the snide thoughts of a wanna-be journalist.
Submitted by: Aaron
2:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
61. The reason we don't see many food alllergies in other countries/cultures, is that the U.S. is one of the most prevalent places for heavy antibiotic use, which causes liver damage.
Submitted by: FutureUser
2:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
62. Once again Joel Stein amazes with his puerile, borderline-adolescent take on a serious matter, as if his gratingly immature style was not enough to aggravate. Why this obnoxious, half-informed little weasel has risen to such prominence is beyond my capacity, or indeed beyond reason itself.
Submitted by: Michael Sheehan
2:36 PM PST, January 9, 2009
63. He did NOT say food allergies were fake; he said that most kids nowadays with peanut allergies aren't really allergic to peanuts. The parents have gone over the edge and claimed a sensitivity or dislike of peanuts (perhaps by them) means their little brats are allergic to peanuts. Me? I cannot stand the taste of peanut butter; the smell and taste makes me want to gag. However, I'm not allergic to it. I just don't like it. Period.
Submitted by: Suzanne
2:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
64. As for the main point of the article, I do think that there does exist some hysteria about food allergies. A large number of patients will come in demanding food allergy testing because he/she blames their depression, joint pain, headache, personality problems, on food allergies. I had a parent demand their child be tested for food allergies because he wasn't behaving in school. I said that was not a legitimate reason for testing. She called me a horrible doctor and proceeded to rattle off claims by Kooks claiming that food allergies are responsible for every human disease.
Submitted by: Allergy MD
2:32 PM PST, January 9, 2009
65. I have seen many cases of anaphylaxis from kids sharing food at school, which is a common practice, something that is impossible to control. So I understand the concerns of parents when they want to ban a particular food from school. Another child bringing in a PBJ is equivalent to bringing in a loaded gun. And while deaths from food allergy is rare, considering that a majority of deaths happens in kids, it is always a horrible tragedy.
Submitted by: Allergy MD
2:32 PM PST, January 9, 2009
66. Thank you for that. I am getting so sick of whiny, pampered yuppie children and their doting parents. If your kid truly IS allergic, teach him/her to not ingest food that is dangerous. But NO, the entire universe does not revolve around your offspring.
Submitted by: CAC in DC
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
67. I know I'll be called insensitive and all that but... With the sudden increase in nut allergies I would argue something in our overall environment has caused this and that all the energy put into preventing allergic reactions would be better spent in finding the cause and trying to prevent future generations from suffering the same allergies.
Submitted by: LHB
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
68. I have peanut allergies. Meh. So I carry meds on me. I think the real issue is whether or not Joel Stein read Denis Leary's book before or after he wrote this. "Hmm, who can I piss off good, but without the resources of the autism community..I KNOW!! PEANUT HATERS!! And I'll throw the word "yuppie" in there to make me sound meaner!! YEAH!" Get yer own Schtick Schtein!
Submitted by: Peanutfarmer
2:31 PM PST, January 9, 2009
69. There are two kinds of people in the world: those with kids and those without. Joel doesn't have any kids, preferring to spend his time making snarky criticisms of superficialities on inane VH1 programs. Way to make your mark in the world of "journalism" Joel.
Submitted by: Ace
2:29 PM PST, January 9, 2009
70. Joel, Since you're so certain that food allergies are fabricated, then I'm certain you'll have no problem publicly accepting personal financial responsibility for all the children who are harmed or killed as a result of parents who believe your article. If you really believe you are right, then you'll have no risk whatsoever. If you are unwilling to do so, then it would be an admission that you know you are simply spouting nonsense, dangerous and irresponsible nonsense.
Submitted by: Anthony
2:26 PM PST, January 9, 2009
71. One theory I read about this allergy is that we are so well-vaccinated and clean (USA), that the immune system 'finds work to do'. The new nut allergy explosion? Can't possible be fully explained with yuppie-ism. So don't lump all us parents together with the few that put up stinks. What a one sided article. You embody my name.
Submitted by: Richard Cranium
2:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
72. Who's editing these comments? You're going to tell me only 16 people have a reaction to this story? Give me a break.
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
2:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
73. Dear Mr. Stein. I see the windows of opportunity for viewer responding to your "piece" in today's paper closes at 5 p.m. today. Okay. That's fine. I should be done sharpening all pointy objects in the vicinity, by then. I'm bewildered that while so many qualified journalists have lost their jobs lately, you (miraculously) remain on LAT's payroll. For what? Churning out what can only be described as astonishingly ignorant, clearly desperate pleas for attention? I can't post complete response to your Op Ed here. Be sure to check my blog out. "Louise On The Left."
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
2:22 PM PST, January 9, 2009
74. watch your cousin choke and and pass out. Then need to be revived and ambulanced to a hospital all because he ate food cooked in peanut oil. They said i saved his life. If you saw that you wouldn't think it was a yuppie thing. Oh i'm a black as is my cousin and i have allergies as well. just not as severe and not food.
Submitted by: Derrick
2:18 PM PST, January 9, 2009
75. Car accidents. Don't forget those, Stein! Every time some Yuppie parent's kid gets killed in a car accident - they complain and make it worse for everyone. It's fun to make uninformed, class-baiting comments about those darn Yuppies. Wait - what year is it? 1985?
Submitted by: ssss
2:17 PM PST, January 9, 2009
76. Bravo for some sense being spoken. How did those of us in our 50's ever survive our childhoods when we did not have so much knowledge about how scary and dangerous the world is!!
Submitted by: jemphd
2:16 PM PST, January 9, 2009
77. I've read that over-cleanliness can lead to allergies and asthma due to underdevelopment of the immune system. I think you're better off approaching the topic from that angle than that of hysteria.
Submitted by: Geoff
2:15 PM PST, January 9, 2009
78. Brave Joel Stein. I say let the little ones eat dirt. Why don't we ship these little allergy prone kiddies with perfect round heads (thanks to their infant helmet) and their parents to the third world where apparently these conditions don't exist.
Submitted by: OyPeanut
2:15 PM PST, January 9, 2009
79. If I eat tree nuts, my throat closes. If you don't feel like calling that an allergy, fine. Thank you for taking time from being a VH1 talking head to enlighten us with your thoughtless drivel.
Submitted by: Concerned for your mental health.
2:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
80. Good read Joel, I do not disagree at all. Those who have written comments criticizing you for denying the reality of allergies did not read your article close enough to know you never discounted the small fraction of the population who do, in fact, have food allergies. Maybe there is some environmentally caused biological change to account for the increasing percentages of allergic people but at least some of the increase is due to the overreacting parents among us.
Submitted by: Rob Diggam
2:08 PM PST, January 9, 2009
81. my mother didn't believe in allergies either, so she insisted I have Penecillin a second time even though it was determined that I was allergic after the first time. I almost died.
Submitted by: mo
2:01 PM PST, January 9, 2009
82. There is nothing "special" about the feeling a parent gets when his daughter experiences anaphylactic shock. LA Times: wonder why your subscriptions are at an all time low?
Submitted by: Shan
1:57 PM PST, January 9, 2009
83. There is nothing trival or funny about food allergies. As an adult who grew up on a farm I have developed severe allergies to Soy and shellfish. so much for the dirt theroy. Many children and adults around the world are developing life threatening reactions to food due to the highly processed nature of our food. Peanuts and Soy have been adulterated and dumped into our foods as cheap fillers. Go read labels. For those of you who think this is just hysteria, you need to go to the ER and witness someone in anaphalactic shock.
Submitted by: globalmom
1:52 PM PST, January 9, 2009
84. An acquaintance of mine had a nut allergy. I wish he new knew it was all in his parents imagination. When he came into contact with merely peanut OIL, didn't even swallow, he realized immediately, then he died as his throat has swollen shut. I hope your parents are proud of you Joel, show 'em this article huh? maybe they'll give you a cookie.
Submitted by: dontcallmefrancis
1:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
85. know how many kids have "hay fever" and live their lives on OTC medications? Ever worked with large groups of kids? yeah food allergies are real, and so are false positives. Anaphylaxsis is scary, but only in the short term. Living in fear of MAYBE is a lot worse. I know of many children who's "asthma" is made worse by the fact that their parents have convinced them that they could die. Don't believe me? don't worry, I rarely can believe how poorly equipped to parent 99% of adults are.
Submitted by: oddballmedic
1:51 PM PST, January 9, 2009
86. A totally obnoxious and appalling article that I can't believe the Times would run and a disservice to all of the children with real allergies. Hard to believe someone would actually risk the life of a child for a measley peanut. Peanut allergies are real and life-threatening. We don't freak our kid-we have educated our daughter to read labels, not take other food without any hysterics. Just reading this article sickens me.
Submitted by: Mother with a peanut-allergic child
1:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
87. While on the topic, I am rather curious about the meteoric rise in gluten "allergies" in the past 5 years...primarily evidenced in waify or wanna be waify 20 something women. These serious "alllergies" of course necessitate subjecting your friends to mind-numbing talk about cleanses and the serving of lemon and maple syrup at dinner parties. Now theirs will be some helicoptered children. I just last week that I felt I was missing out on a big trend...I really think the gluten allergy is much more fashionable then legumes however.
Submitted by: Seattle Stein fan
1:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
88. You are such an idiot to think you know everything about allergies. My child has multiple food allergies. I can't believe that the LA Times allowed you to print your article. Shame on you!!
Submitted by: Mom
1:46 PM PST, January 9, 2009
89. Your attitude is what puts people with real life threatening allergies at risk of death everytime they go out because you won't take even the slightest bit of care or precaution and take delight in "testing" other people.
Submitted by: Lookforthewoman
1:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
90. What do yuppies have to do with any of this? I live in a community with people I would describe as working class community and union activists, Jamaican holistic vegetarians, animal-rights-former-runaways-now-bartenders, and related completely working class if not underclass individuals and they are very bit as apt to talk about nut allergies, Chrohns, Gluten allergies and the like. Yuppiedom has NOTHING to do with the proliferation of food concerns.
Submitted by: Neener
1:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
91. I totally agree with the author on this. I had 'dust mite' allergies as my mom had determined when I was younger. I remember noticing how much more stuffy my nose was after I was given that diagnosis. But when I moved out of the house and exercised and learned the value of mind of matter, I find I have no allergies whatsoever. It seems to me that the ratio of overprotective mother/child with allergy is ridiculously high. Some of these allergy religionists should read some Carl Jung. You really CAN trick your child's mind into developing an 'allergy'. And it will manifest in all sorts of real ways, through suggestion alone.
Submitted by: Wayne
1:41 PM PST, January 9, 2009
92. An increase in allergies to a particular food protein can occur if that food is presented in a format containing an additive that increases the likelihood of an allergy developing, through activation of the immune system, causing leakiness in the gut, etc. A new surfactant in kiddie peanut butter would be enough to do it.
Submitted by: Fran Walker
1:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
93. Josh, you're an idiot. Better Health Care is the reason we catch more allergies, poor don't have access to the info. and when a poor kid dies, parents don't have the means to investigate.
Submitted by: Gary Green
1:39 PM PST, January 9, 2009
94. I didn't know people could be so ignorant. I pray my two kids will outgrow their food allergies. You better pray that you don't wind up with a child with life-threatening food allergies, although I doubt anyone would reproduce with you after reading your article. How dare you say such things when there are CHILDREN dying from peanut allergies because their food was contaminated when it shouldn't have been. You want to take away the warning labels so the poor kids have to take their chances? Why? Because the labels affect you somehow?Honestly, I can't stand idiots and I can't believe the L.A. Times would even publish such garbage.
Submitted by: Faith
1:37 PM PST, January 9, 2009
95. amen!
Submitted by: Leslie
1:36 PM PST, January 9, 2009
96. I recently visited my former elementary school. On every flat, vertical surface in the school office and in the cafeteria were signs telling everyone that the school was a peanut-free zone. BECAUSE ONE KID IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL HAD AN ALLERGY. I say give the kid, teachers, lunch workers epi-pens and let the other 275 kids at the school have their PB&J. What about kid with bee allergies? Are we supposed to glass in the playground? Yuppies are crazy. First it's the breast vs bottle tempest in a tea pot. Then the vaccination stupidity. Then peanuts. Good luck. You're gonna need an asbestos umbrella.
Submitted by: Peanut Butter Patty
1:34 PM PST, January 9, 2009
97. For those parents of children who have had a life threatening reaction to a nut or peanut, it is a terrifying experience. You must not have children to write such a cold, unfeeling article.
Submitted by: Laura
1:34 PM PST, January 9, 2009
98. Inspite of what the uninformed, non-physician, non-research analyst, non-scientist, with out any form of credible evidence writer has written. He is wrong. But please don't be alarmed, that is usually what regurgitates out of uninformed individuals. We do testing for multiple allergens in our laboratories. Food Allergies are REAL, at least that is what the actual test results show. Children do not have allergic reactions, stop breathing and die because little Timmy's mommy frightened him or made him think he had an allergy. Pay no attention to the uniformed.
Submitted by: Laboratory Manager
1:22 PM PST, January 9, 2009
99. Thanks for an eye-opening read. I got one for you. In the 80's when I was in high school in the Carribean, there were plenty female students who claimed a peanut /peanut allergy. This mainly manifested as small papules (bumps) on their face. This would go away they claimed if peanut butter was avoided.
Submitted by: Franks
1:21 PM PST, January 9, 2009
100. As a person who really does have true food allergies I am amused by this article. It's so true! These parents are doing their kids a disservice by creating unwarranted anxiety in them. Trust me if they really have a food allergy they'll know it. An anaphylactic reaction is severe and scary as hell - I know I've had many of them. I'm allergic to many foods - some I'm not even sure of until I eat them - loads of things in the environment, medicines, etc... So I avoid what I can, bring my EpiPen & Benadryl with me, and above all don't make a big deal about it and LIVE my life.
Submitted by: CatG
1:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
101. mark, peter, mill, and god help us dr. shapiro might try reading the original ariticle cited here before ranting on about mr. stein. he is pointing out a common problem in our society.
Submitted by: b. obrien Ph.D immunology
1:09 PM PST, January 9, 2009
102. Excuse me for the fact that my daughter REALLY has a peanut allergy and could be fatally affected if she ingests a peanut. Gee, just think that one of her fellow students almost died last year when a substitute teacher used peanuts in a lesson and the student with a verified peanut allergy ate one/some. 1% of the students have a peanut allergy. I guess if we lose one a year that wouldn't be too much a price to pay to get peanuts back in the school. You really do a disservice to all of us out here who have kids with real allergies. Poor Joel, did someone not serve you a measly bag of peanuts on the plane and your stomach grumbled?
Submitted by: Martin Silvern
1:08 PM PST, January 9, 2009
103. Yeah for you! I am sure the crazies will attack you for this, but just send them to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and sic them on the baby walkers. Infant/baby walkers have injured or killed more babies than peanuts have, yet where is the histeria over walkers? Carry an epipen and leave us alone to eat our nuts!
Submitted by: NotSoNuts
12:50 PM PST, January 9, 2009
104. I just read Dr. Christakis' article. It is well-written and makes some good points without overgeneralizing, trivializing a real health condition and blaming neurotic, yuppie parents for everything, unlike "Dr" Joel Stein.
Submitted by: Dara Wilson Allgeier
12:49 PM PST, January 9, 2009
105. I have nut allergies and was always that kid who couldn't eat anything because of it. I don't consider it a tremendous cross to bear and to this day, I simply read through product ingredients to make sure my day doesn't end up ruined because of a life-long food allergy. Your editorial is a bit insensitive, however, I understand that my problem is hardly a cause for the world to come to an end. True, 99% of the population can't relate, but try to have some compassion for those of us who can.
Submitted by: Kerri
12:48 PM PST, January 9, 2009
106. That's all this world needs is an ignoramus like you downplaying a potentially deadly situation-- why don't you wax sarcastic about the contestants on American Idol or the host's dress on Entertainment Tonight-- your wit and writing style would make a better fit.
Submitted by: Christopher SM
12:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
107. Great piece. I am allergic to peanuts, but was diagnosed in the 70s, so I feel much more legit.
Submitted by: Klaus Varley
12:47 PM PST, January 9, 2009
108. Thank you so much for writing this. I have a friend who has numerous food "allergies", though none of them have ever been diagnosed by an allergist. (I've also seen her unknowingly eat wheat, to which she claims to be allergic, with no adverse effects.) Food "allergies" have become increasingly trendy, and they minimize how awful REAL food allergies can be.
Submitted by: Jeff
12:45 PM PST, January 9, 2009
109. Joel Stein is hilarious, a fine writer, and my hero.
Submitted by: Allergic to nonsense
12:43 PM PST, January 9, 2009
110. This column is so uninformed it is pathetic and (characteristically) unprofessional. I'm not sure why the LA Times has not yet fired someone who thinks reading one article makes him an expert and consistently publishes columns that are both ignorant and sorely lacking humor. I would expect this quality of writing in any random blog--not a major newspaper. Basically the argument made in this column is that those nasty little bags of airline nuts are more important than the well-being of 4% of children. Classy.
Submitted by: Disappointed with the LATimes
111. Thank you for this! I can't make cupcakes for my kids birthdays at school in case I kill another student. Food allergies are soooo over blown, one kid (or his mom) is now claiming an allergy to apples so they are banned now. Geesh, just keep the kid in a bubble if you are that paranoid! Bring an epi pen and live a little (or at least let the rest of us live!).
Submitted by: momof3
12:42 PM PST, January 9, 2009
112. Bravo!!! About time someone exposed well-intentioned 'safety' based over-reactions to be the irrational and counterproductive hysterics of bleating sheeple they so often are. Try looking into similar herd stampedes regarding black mold, asbestos in soil and corn syrup. Then compare these needle in a haystack threats to real killers like under-inflated tires, bathtubs and highways. Nonetheless, the closed minds will seal tighter against lightning strike longshots like terrorism, lead-based paint and gluten. They probably think the lottery is a safer bet than blackjack. There are none so blind as those with eyes who will not see...
Submitted by: Stampede the Sheeple
12:40 PM PST, January 9, 2009
113. Dear Mr. Stein. I see the windows of opportunity for viewer responding to your "piece" in today's paper closes by 5 p.m. today. Okay. That's fine. I should be done sharpening all pointy objects in my vicinity, by then. How is it that so many qualified journalists have lost work lately, while you (miraculously) remain on anyone's payroll? And by merely churning out what can only be described as an astonishingly ignorant, clearly desperate plea for literary attention. ...But, I'll have to finish this thought on my blog. Louise Larsen
Submitted by: Louise Larsen
12:33 PM PST, January 9, 2009
114. You have never seen my young, play-in-the-dirt child struggle for breath, be covered in hives while vomiting and dealing with diarrhea, all because of slight contact with peanut butter. Epinephrine saved his life. I hope you never have to deal with food allergies. I pity your ignorance.
Submitted by: Allergy mom
12:24 PM PST, January 9, 2009
115. Joel..as I am an ardent fan of your work, I must ask you..Have you ever seen a child turn blue with an allergy attack? I don't think so. Please visit the nearest pediatric allergists office to see the kids and there parents with their epi pens at the ready. This means 24-7 for years ever-vigilant. Check your facts and then write another apologetic blurb.
Submitted by: Char Salkin
12:19 PM PST, January 9, 2009
116. As of today I am officially and FINALLY cancelling my subscription to the L.A. Times because of this crappy piece of journalism.
Submitted by: SuzyQ
12:04 PM PST, January 9, 2009
117. My little bro has a peanut allergy and he is one of those people who makes the airlines unable to give out peanuts... he also is allergic to milk and soy and it's not all in his or my mother's head because he's 2. He had a "failure to thrive" issue for the first 8 months of his life and now he's behind his peers in speaking and behavioral skills (though we expect him to catch up soon)... Allergies are not yuppie hystery and it really is about genetic and environmental factors... Mr. Stein just because you're not affected by allergies doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist
Submitted by: calbear08
12:00 PM PST, January 9, 2009
118. While this article does make a point about people who exxagerate their kids allergies for attention, it is still a fact that some people (like my little brother) can go into anaphylactic shock from sitting next to someone eating peanuts. If keeping my brother alive raises his peers' anxiety levels, it is well worth it in my opinion. The argument that less developed countries worry less about allergies is plain ignorant. Check their infant mortality rates and average life span. These kids don't like long enough for anyone to worry about their allergies.
Submitted by: Elissa
11:46 AM PST, January 9, 2009
119. Every time some dumb parent brings peanuts to school thinking it's ok, my kids ends up in the E.R.! Keep your nuts at home. Thanks
Submitted by: Steve
11:46 AM PST, January 9, 2009
120. @Peter: C'mon. The Times lost credibility long before Mr. Stein ...
Submitted by: Petros
11:43 AM PST, January 9, 2009
121. "Your kid doesn't have an allergy to nuts. Your kid has a parent who needs to feel special." That's all i needed to read to completely agree with you! We are a nation that is over-medicated and over-diagnosed with endless "ailments" and "conditions"
Submitted by: jeg
11:22 AM PST, January 9, 2009
122. Response to your clumsy bait - 1)4% is about right,in a school with 400 kids, about 20 affected, meaning an everyday reality for schools, not something seen rarely.2)Poorer health care in poor countries doesn't nullify peanut allergies as a problem.3)Because a few parents might overreact to a medicalcondition,companies dodge liability w/labels that may/may not mean a real risk studies show 10% of foods with warning labels contain measurable amounts of peanut protein), doctors tell parents to be vigilant since peanut protein is unusually potent, and testing's not perfect/more research is needed, you choose to blame the parents.
Submitted by: Dara Wilson Allgeier
11:16 AM PST, January 9, 2009
123. The original article ("This Allergies Hysteria Is Just Nuts") by Dr. Christakis is available at http://christakis.med.harvard.edu/pages/bmj.html In it, he argues that serious allergies exist, and need to be accommodated with reasonable measures, but that the response has been over the top and that the response does not make sense from a public health point of view.
Submitted by: Public Health Doc
10:40 AM PST, January 9, 2009
124. My god, thank you for this.
Submitted by: TouchieFeelie
10:39 AM PST, January 9, 2009
125. Maybe the poor communities don't raise the issue because they don't have the resources to check why their kid is sick after eating food with an allergen in it. This is not a topic well-suited to the light humor approach Mr Stein offers readers. Overstating food allergies causes what harm? Understating it ends up killing children. Which would Mr. Stein rather?
Submitted by: mill
10:18 AM PST, January 9, 2009
126. never ever have a child with a severe allergy. And please refrain for making medical or even psychological diagnosis without a degree in those areas.
Submitted by: Hope You
10:00 AM PST, January 9, 2009
127. Love this diatribe against the mass hysteria of food allergies! Our child is not allowed to carry a peanut butter sandwich to school and to me that is the height of absurdity, and don't give me that "Better safe than sorry" pablum that passes for wisdom. That's what got us into the mass hysteria following 9/11, when we zealously guarded Alabama petting zoos and municipal buildings in Topeka from the foreign terrorists. Recklessly keeping everything "safe" (I'm sure a few of you think the Grand Canyon should be surrounded by a tall fence and warning signs and lights every 50 feet) is the road to ruin and madness.
Submitted by: Steve Smart
9:54 AM PST, January 9, 2009
128. Mr. Stein - well put. I think the high incidence of ADHD in kids is of the same genesis...parents who dote, and teachers who want malleable children. Neither do kids any good, do they? Good article, Juan
Submitted by: Juan
9:35 AM PST, January 9, 2009
129. Amen, amen. Yes, and give us back peanuts on the airplanes. If you are allergic to nuts, don't eat them, but how about the remaining 99.44% of us? [Does anyone else remember the source of that figure?]
Submitted by: Michael King
8:13 AM PST, January 9, 2009
130. Yes -- I was that kid in the 1960's school cafeteria who went into anaphylactic shock every time there were nuts in the cookies. Didn't have to even eat one -- just had to have it within sight of my fish sticks or mystery meat with green beans. But my nemesis was the tree not -- not today's "legume." I'm better now -- more than half a century later . . . but I still couldn't eat the butter balls with ground pecans last month. (sigh!)
Submitted by: A Real Nut Case
7:25 AM PST, January 9, 2009
131. Thank you for this spot-on commentary. I bet you are going to release the devils of 'specialness' in responses. Blame the crazy allergy doctors who devise tests to find some sort of allergy so that you must become a patient.
Submitted by: drpjl
7:06 AM PST, January 9, 2009
132. Legume allergies (Peanuts) are sometimes deadly. You're information is specious, at best, and probably fictional. I have seen children die because of NUTS like you.
Submitted by: Dr. Shapiro
6:54 AM PST, January 9, 2009
133. Lest we not forget the wi-fi allergy some New Mexico citizens have. http://kob.com/article/stories/S451152.shtml?cat=517 Nutballs! Hope nobody is allergic to that label.
Submitted by: shootsquirrels
6:30 AM PST, January 9, 2009
134. Thanks "Dr." Stein for your opinion. About your comment, "genes don't mutate fast enough to have caused an 18% increase in childhood food allergies between 1997 and 2007", maybe there are other factors at work, such as environmental. Since you have no facts to back-up any of your claims, I'll assume the purpose of this article is simply to annoy people. You've succeeded.
Submitted by: Marc Orenberg
6:15 AM PST, January 9, 2009
135. You are a true jerk. Do you have children? It is not imaginary when you see your child go into anaphylactic shock for nut ingestion. This was a poorly researched article. What does the yuppie generation have to do with children dying from an allergy attach. The LA Times has lost a lot of creditability with this article.
Submitted by: Peter
5:40 AM PST, January 9, 2009
136. Good job, Mr Stein. I've often wondered where are these reactions were the last couple of centuries.
Submitted by: juniper jim
5:33 AM PST, January 9, 2009
137. American yuppie parents keep their kids too clean. If you want them to avoid allergies, let them play in the dirt. Exposure to germs helps build antibodies.
Submitted by: David Bruce
5:06 AM PST, January 9, 2009
138. Your eyebrows are about to be singed off. Be prepared for some really nasty comments.
Submitted by: ObserverMom
1:53 AM PST, January 9, 2009
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