Nut allergies can lead to an emergency

As a parent of children with nut allergies (as opposed to a “sensitivity” or “intolerance”), I read with interest the April 15 letter chastising the Kernels for promoting allergy awareness on opening night. According to this writer, this offended the great “gods of baseball” and so the Kernels' playing suffered. I think those same gods would be delighted that some children and adults, who may not normally view a Kernels game, went that night and had fun without worrying about a possible allergic reaction.

There is a great deal of difference between a food allergy and an intolerance. A food intolerance may cause discomfort or an unpleasant physical reaction if a person is exposed to it but doesn't involve the immune system. However, a person with food allergies can experience a possible life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis where a combination of multiple symptoms require immediate medical attention. A peanut allergy is the most common cause of food allergy deaths and is one of the Big Eight food allergies that affect 21 million Americans. (www.peanutallergy.com/statistics-and-facts.html)

I applaud the Kernels for bringing awareness to this as many people dismiss a nut allergy as something minor or easily avoidable. Check any number of food labels from the grocery store and that writer may have seen a large number are produced in facilities that use or processes items containing peanuts or tree nuts.

Having these educational opportunities promoted by the Kernels may inconvenience some people. But most I know are willing to take this small but manageable sacrifice because the wail of an ambulance siren and distraught parents paint a far more unsettling picture.

Sue Sasek-Nading

Cedar Rapids