Plane nut ban announcements are unlikely to be effective, study says

Aircraft nut ban announcements are “unlikely to be effective” and may even give people with nut allergies a false sense of security, experts have said. People with nut allergies should not be worried about the spread of allergens through aeroplane air conditioning systems, academics said. But they should ask to be allowed to board first so they can clean their seat area. Researchers warned that allergenic food is “really sticky” and can be found in seat areas – including seats, tray tables or screens. Therefore passengers with nut allergies, or their carers, should be given extra time to ensure that their seat area is clean to avoid “accidental reactions”. Experts from Imperial College London and Aviation Medical Consultancy said that there is a common perception that peanut or tree nut particles can be transmitted through aircraft ventilation systems. To examine the perception, they conducted an analysis of studies on nut particles travelling through ventilation systems. Their analysis, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, concludes that research studies, including aircraft simulations, show “no evidence to support airborne transmission of nut allergens as a likely phenomenon”. “Announcements requesting nut bans are not therefore supported, and may instal a false sense of security,” researchers wrote. Airlines should instead give people with allergies “pre-boarding” so they can wipe down their seat area, they added.<br/>