There is no evidence that nut allergens spread through aircraft ventilation systems, research shows
It’s the airline’s PA request that will be familiar to millions of people: don’t eat peanut-based foods during the flight to protect a passenger with allergies.
But now the largest study of its kind suggests that announcements banning nuts on planes are “unlikely to be effective”, and could even give people with nut allergies a false sense of security.
There is no evidence to support the commonly accepted view that tree nut allergens can be spread through aircraft ventilation systems, allergy and aviation medicine specialists say in an article. published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Allergen residue on surfaces, such as tray tables and seatback video screens, poses the biggest risk — a risk likely magnified by the fast turnaround times of many low-cost airlines, the experts suggested.
And allergic reactions to food are about 10 to 100 times less common during flights than “on the ground,” they said, although they acknowledged that this could be due to passengers with food allergies taking more precautions when flying.
People with nut allergies don’t need to worry about allergens spreading through aircraft air conditioning systems, the academics concluded, but they should first ask to board so they can clean their seating area.
Experts from Imperial College London and Aviation Medical Consultancy have conducted an analysis of studies on nut particles traveling through ventilation systems, to investigate the common perception that peanut or tree nut particles can be transmitted through aircraft ventilation systems.
Their analysis, funded by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the UK Medical Research Council, concluded that studies show there is “no evidence to support airborne transmission of nut allergens as a likely phenomenon”.
“Announcements requesting nut bans are therefore not supported and may create a false sense of security,” they wrote. Airlines should instead allow people with allergies to ‘pre-board’ so they can wipe down their seat area.
But the authors say that people at risk of a severe allergic reaction – known as anaphylaxis – should carry two pre-filled EpiPen devices at all times, including when flying. Airlines should also consider including a separate supply of general purpose adrenaline auto-injectors.
Prof. Paul Turner, an expert in anaphylaxis and allergy at the University of Sydney and Imperial College London, said: “People should not worry about airborne food transmission when they fly.
“We have not found any evidence that nut particles can penetrate aircraft cabin ventilation systems and cause reactions. The only thing people need to do to protect themselves is clean their seating area.
“Allergenic foods are very sticky and can be found on seating surfaces, tabletops and seat-back entertainment screens. People touch these surfaces and then the allergens can be transferred to their mouths.
“If food-allergic people can board first and have time to clean their seating area with, for example, a baby wipe or an antibacterial wipe, they are much less likely to have unintended reactions.”
He added: “We are in discussions with a number of major airlines, as well as patient groups and anaphylaxis charities, to see if we can achieve some consistent changes to the aviation policies of airlines operating from the UK and internationally , to show what the evidence is. and really make a difference for food-allergic passengers.”
Simon Williams, CEO of Anaphylaxis UK, added: “An important take-home message is the importance of passengers cleaning their seating area, including the tray table and seat-back entertainment system.”