Posted by nonstopjoe at 7/23/08 2:22 p.m.

I have an allergy to watching teams play lousy losing baseball. I guess Safeco doesn't have a place for fans like me.

Posted by J.P. Patches Pal at 7/23/08 2:52 p.m.

This is the first time the Mariners have arranged to accommodate fans with peanut allergies - something about a half-dozen other major league teams have done. Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale said a Tacoma father whose son has a severe peanut allergy came to Safeco with the idea a few months ago.
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I have an "idea" to for a garlic fries-free seating section. Are you out there, Rebecca?

Posted by Monica Guzman at 7/23/08 3:02 p.m.

Sad but true, nonstopjoe. Sad but true.

Posted by Annetaylor at 7/23/08 3:11 p.m.

Peanut allergies are funny...unless you have a family member allergic to peanuts. My nephew has such an allergy, and it is no joke. We had to teach him what a peanut was when he was three. He has to ask before eating anything. Everyone reads the back of every food package. A mistake could kill him. Funny stuff.

Thank you Mariners. Scotty loves baseball, and now has another park that will be safer for him.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/23/08 3:34 p.m.

Maybe the Times should do some investigative research into how and when peanut allergies became epedemic to the point where sufferers can't even be AROUND peanuts.

P.S.: M's hate gays but love the peanut-allergic. Who knew?

Posted by shawnkempsbartender at 7/23/08 3:50 p.m.

how are you going to get sick from a peanut shell or fragment on the ground unless you are down there licking it or picking it up?

Serious question. I get it, don't eat peanuts or peanut products.

How does saving a bad seat in the upper deck prevent any of that?

Posted by unregistered user at 7/23/08 4:24 p.m.

shawnkempsbartender - actually just breathing around broken peanut shells can trigger the allergy. One of my best friend's found out she had the allergy when she was about 6 years old and at a Mariner's game where peanuts were being eaten next to her. She didn't have to eat any for her throat to start to swell shut. Decades later she still has to deal with this allergy.

Posted by kakashi at 7/23/08 4:32 p.m.

Lets all walk around in plastic bubbles like John Travolta did in the 70's --

better yet lets just get ourselves laminated ...

Posted by sbw2fan at 7/23/08 4:40 p.m.

According to peanutallergy.com (I'm serious here); there are 1.5 million Americans with a peanut allergy. I can't find any sites that confirm the PI's "12 million" number. 100 Americans per year die from a peanut allergy. I have been unable to find any statistics that relate to allergic reactions from having the fellow NEXT TO YOU eat peanuts, but I'm on it (unlike the PI reporters...)

Posted by sirvic42 at 7/23/08 4:42 p.m.

So... rather than focus on treatment & medication for an allergy, we're just going to take things away from the majority? And if you are in a section near the "peanut-free" area, eating peanuts, and someone with an allergy gets sick, can they sue you? You know that is what this coming to.

No allergies aren't fun. Everyone I know except my parents thinks my allergy to cat hair is minor. The fact that I can't breathe within 15 minutes and am prone to major cold/flu afterwards doesn't seem to bother anyone but me!

Here's how I live with this: I avoid cats, and when I can't, I take OTC meds to deal with it.

If there really are 12 million Americans with this allergy (I smell BS on that one), then that is more than enough demand for common, suppressive medication. Ridding the world of peanuts because of the allergies of 5% of the population is like eliminating cars to prevent drunk driving.

Maybe if the peanut allergy led to erectile dysfunction, BigPharma would come out with a funny coloured pill.

Posted by sbw2fan at 7/23/08 4:52 p.m.

OK here we go:

www.allergysafecommunities.ca/assets/common_beliefs_faan_2003.pdf

According to that report, allergic reaction from "peanut dust inhalation" has not been proven to happen. The key line: "First, allergic reactions to food are triggered by specific food proteins. Without contact with protein, there is no allergic reaction."

Hey, but this is a good distraction from the fact that the M's are the MOST BURRIED TEAM IN BASEBALL

Posted by MommyC at 7/23/08 5:02 p.m.

No one is taking anything away from the majority. There are plenty of other seats -- this is a limited seating area for two lousy games.

Some people have such severe allergies that they can react to contact -- on the skin or whatnot. Also, someone eating peanuts in the seat next to me can send peanut "dust" into my soda etc.

To compare an allergy to cats or other "environnmental" triggers with a peanut allergy is ignorant. Most people with cat allergies don't care around injectible epineprhine with them at all times in case of accidental exposure. OTC meds won't stop anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.

All the plastic bubble commenters need to grow up. You obviously have no experience living with this condition or seen anyone having a severe allergic reaction. It's nice to know that you'd rather have people risk their lives than to be inconvenienced at having a couple of sections peanut-free for a couple of games.

Posted by MommyC at 7/23/08 5:06 p.m.

Oh, and the 12 million figure IS wrong. 12 million is the estimated number of Americans with any type of food allergy. (That's more than just "my mouth itches when I eat strawberries -- it's measurable antibodies to trigger foods.)

Peanuts and treenuts are among the top 8 most common foods that cause allergies, but not the most common. However, peanut allergies are the most likely to kill.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/23/08 5:39 p.m.

You gotta be kidding. How strange and punitive to the majority. Considering the absolute low percentage of people - and I mean - slight percentage of our entire population, I find this decision really out of touch with ENCOURAGING people to attend baseball games and enjoy themselves. Peanuts now some kind of anathema substance? And yet you all promote those beers and wine like they are going out of style. Give me a break. This only makes me want to ban the Mariners from Seattle. Really. Reconsidering attending any BASEBALL game that bans peanuts anywhere. Absolutely.

Posted by brinybay at 7/23/08 5:51 p.m.

According to the Mayo Clinic here's what can trigger an allergic reaction:

Exposure to peanuts can occur in three ways:

Direct contact. The most common cause of peanut allergy is eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods. Sometimes direct skin contact with peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction.

Cross-contact. This is the unintended introduction of peanuts into a product. It's generally the result of exposure to peanuts during processing or handling of a food product.

Inhalation. An allergic reaction may occur if you inhale dust or aerosols containing peanuts, such as that of peanut flour or peanut oil cooking spray.

None of the posts are objecting to a "peanut free" area. What's being objected to is distortion of facts, exaggerations, and poor reporting. The 12 million figure was apparently pulled out of her arse. It only took me a few minutes using Google to find 3 sources that say 1.5 million.

If people who suffer from peanut allergies are so sensitive to it that they need a peanut-free area at the ball game, (the Mariners can do what they want, I'm not a sports fan anyway), what about getting to/from the area? Is there a peanut-free tunnel? Looking at the FACTS, I find it difficult to believe that people who suffer from peanut allergies are prevented from attending ball games.

I have an allergic reaction to bogus "news" stories, do you think I should get a special section if/when I ever go to a Mariners game? There will no doubt be flibbity-jibbet "reporters" like Ms. Guzman there.

Posted by MommyC at 7/23/08 6:00 p.m.

Actually, there are conflicting studies on the topic. But for a lot of peanut-allergic people, just the high concentration of peanuts in and around most ballfields makes it too nerve-wracking to enjoy.

For those bellyaching about giving up peanuts, again, in TWO SECTIONS FOR TWO GAMES, I suggest you read the children's classic, "The Ant and the Elephant" by Bill Peet. Quit yer whining.

To quote: "It may be a very small thing to you. But to me, it is everything."

Posted by Monica Guzman at 7/23/08 7:18 p.m.

Thanks to the readers who pointed out the error in the original post. Twelve million Americans are estimated to have food allergies in general - not just peanut allergies. I've fixed the post to reflect this. Thanks again.

Posted by sbw2fan at 7/24/08 10:25 a.m.

Poor "fixing". The story is about peanut allergies, so the statistic should reflect the number of people with peanut allergies, not ALL food allergies; as it is, the number is still misleading.

Typical PI

Posted by sirvic42 at 7/24/08 2:03 p.m.

Mommy C: thanks for joining the crowd and implying that my allergies aren't as important as yours. Guess you've never seen me gasping for air during an asthma attack brought on by some lady's "little treasure". It's statements like yours that betray the ignorance and "me first" attitude that the M's are caving in to.

My point was more that there is medication for this problem. If it was really an epidemic, I think there'd be a host of commercials telling me how I should ask my doctor about this. If we can flood the airwaves with boner & pee pill ads, we can probably come up with a cure for food allergies. There is no shortage of children being born, or men peeing everywhere, so for real problems we should certainly be able to find a cure.

And if not... Darwinism tells us that the peanut freaks will go away naturally. Adapt or die, the only unbreakable rule of nature. Suing people for eating natural foods in your vicinity isn't adaptation: it's an attack. And we know some peanut freak will eventually sue some innocent bystander for having the audacity to eat some Planters' nuts. That's when we'll know we've completely fallen into the rabbit hole.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/24/08 10:28 p.m.

The Seattle Mariners are in fact the fifth MLB baseball team to offer this type of arrangement. There are numerous Minor league teams that have welcomed peanut allergic fans - some have even made the entire ballpark peanut-free for a night.

I'm sure you are rolling your eyes as you read this (if you even bother to read this).

Peanuts and baseball have a unique relationship which has made an accommodation like this necessary, for some children especially, to enjoy a game at the ballpark. Of course people with peanut allergies know not to eat the legume. Duh. There is an inordinate amount of peanuts, peanut dust and peanut shells at a ballpark that exposes those with severe peanut allergies to their allergen. Have you ever walked ankle deep in something that could kill you?

Yes, we parents have all heard of Darwin and that our offspring are supposed to die rather than be accommodated. Yes, we have all heard we should keep our children home in a bubble if they are so sensitive, Yes, we are used to having people roll their eyes as we regrettably ask for a small concessions so that those with life-threatening food allergies can participate.

I'm saddened but not really surprised that people feel two sections out of two games is too much of a sacrifice for the rest of the population. I hope you know how lucky you are that you don't have to deal with life-threatening food allergies 24/7/365.

For local information regarding life-threatening food allergies please visit

http://www.washingtonfoodallergy.org

Ummm - yes there is ongoing research for why food anaphylaxis is increasing at such an exhorbitant rate but research takes time - sorry it's not fast enough for those of you who don't have to live with life-threatening food allergies. It's not fast enough for those of us that DO live with it either.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/25/08 7:41 a.m.

Interesting discussion on theory and second hand info.

As a 50+ year old man who has had a severe peanut allergy my whole life I can tell you first hand what happens at a ball game (to me at least). I have had this experience several times. I go to a game. Someone around me breaks out a bag of peanuts. They start shelling and eating them. Depending how windy it is I may not be bothered at all. But more likely is the wind swirls a bit as the game goes on and eventually I get enough of the dust and shells that my nose starts running like crazy and I sneeze every few minutes the rest of the game. My body is trying very hard to "expel" the foreign substance it so violently reacts to. I have never had an anaphalactic reaction (throat swelling or severe tightness in the chest with shortness of breath and systemic shock that can lead to death if not medically treated ... and even with medical treatment some people still die). I don't doubt that some super sensitive people could have an anaphalactic reaction from breathing dust and shell fragments.

How have I dealt with this? I don't go to many games. If I do go to a game and someone breaks out a bag of peanuts I may try to "migrate" to another seat. I would even consider standing the rest of the game behind the home plate mezanine area.

I think it's great what the Mariners have done. It's two games, two sections. The people who are complaining about this or marginalizing it, feel fortune that you don't have this allergy. But then again people who think like that often don't think much beyond themselves.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/26/08 12:10 a.m.

Why a peanut-free section at a baseball game?
Peanuts, along with tree nuts and shellfish, are the top food allergy killers. While the risk of ingestion at a baseball game is low, it is not zero, especially if you have small children. And while the risk of anaphylaxis from air-born exposure is also low, why take that risk while you are trying to watch a baseball game?

I ask the unsympathetic among us, could you relax if someone was snacking on anthrax-covered pretzels right behind you at a Mariner's game? Maybe you'll get some powder on your skin, or rub it in your eye, or inhale it, or get it in your own food. Maybe you won't. The distraction would certainly detract from your game viewing enjoyment.

Individuals with food allergies, as well as many other life-threatening disabilities, live a parallel but very different life than the rest of us. Whereas most adults and kids can go to an ice cream parlor, a pizza parlor, or a birthday party without a care, these situations are among the riskiest for the food allergic, epipen or not, as journalist Daniel Sargent's death illustrates. Not being able to relax at a baseball game because someone might be shelling or throwing peanuts nearby is just one more example of the dangers that must be coped with in an effort to live a "normal" life.

This resistance to "accommodating" those with sensitivities stems from denial and fear; denial of the fact that our behavior could really have the negative impacts that are asserted, and fear of the possibility that, if we do acknowledge the unmet need, that we in some fashion might be called upon to find a solution.

I hope that our community chooses to provide safe havens for the food allergic, such as the Mariners have done. Shedding the veil of denial and fear with regard to all special needs will open the door to compassion and a deeper sense of community in our ever more fragmented society. Thank you Mariners.

unregistered

Posted by unregistered user at 7/26/08 12:41 p.m.

Hey Sirvic42,
It's interesting that you categorize yourself as having "no tolerance for bigotry and ignorance". Why are you so angry? There are scientists working on a cure for food allergies and all of us parents can't wait for it to come. Many food allergic kids also deal with asthma and I know it can be very serious and hard to manage. I hope that you feel well most of the time, if not, maybe it's time to think about an inhaled steroid to keep the inflammation down in your lungs and cut down on the "crisis" moments. Did you really mean your Darwin comment? Do you really want our allergic kids to die so they can stop bothering you? Some might say the same about anyone with a chronic illness - asthma, for instance. I don't, I wish the best for you.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/29/08 7:47 a.m.

Trying not to discount those who are affected by a severe allergy while simultaneously wondering why peanuts were completely okay merely twenty years ago in ballparks, planes, etc., I feel compelled to add in two points.

First, those who use the reply line "it's only two sections for two games, how can you be against that" should contemplate for a few minutes in an effort to recall any time in history when something small did not snowball down the proverbial slippery slope into something much larger, especially once the government gets involved (and who does not doubt the government will eventually get involved in this?).

Second, don't discount those who express a fear of litigation growing out of this - think about McDonald's being sued for serving hot coffee, or homeowners being sued because the person breaking into their home suffered a cut hand when breaking the window, or any number of other frivolous lawsuits.

I think what most posters are proposing is a modicum of common sense. Yes peanut allergies are serious, but with just a cursory check, I found that hundreds of people have been killed by air bags in cars. This has not resulted in car manufacturers producing a model without air bags. Not the best analogy, but I only spent three minutes on it. Hopefully, you'll see the point.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/29/08 1:09 p.m.

Typical left wing media reporting. Lies and distortions to impose a personal point of view on the rest of us.

Posted by unregistered user at 7/29/08 4:23 p.m.

So now, there is peanut-free seating. What are the rest of the seats, the peanut gallery?