peanuts

[mercia]

I'm not meaning to be facetious but if you had a nut allergy would you still go ahead and buy a bag of nuts because the supermarket had failed to warn you of the contents ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-22308165

[Nick Armstrong]

Even more surprisingly: does anyone really ever use the phrase "monkey nuts" any more?

[Serial_Apologist]

Even more surprisingly: does anyone really ever use the phrase "monkey nuts" any more?

I'm pretty sure they're displayed under that label in St Sprees, Cali; I'll check next time I'm in there.

[vinteuil]

... in my more baleful moments the Darwinian in me tends to feel that the human race will thrive if the more stupid are eliminated by failing to read instructions - but usually my nicer angel takes over and wishes nothing but sweetness and light for my fellow human...

[eighthobstruction]

My ugly side thinks (while on plane)...."How many mutants can we take out with this packet of dry roast that I've just spent 30 seconds shaking"....but then my nicer angel takes over bringing bowls of milk and honey....

[Anna]

To be fair: The Food Standards Agency said that although the packaging was transparent, allowing customers to see what was inside, the supermarket had failed to identify peanuts as an allergen on the labels.

It said without the correct warning on the label, people with an allergy to peanuts might not realise that monkey nuts were the same thing and unwittingly eat the product.

So I think that it's logical (and legally right to avoid compensation claims) to enforce relabelling of monkey nuts as containing peanuts.

[vinteuil]

... it is of course logical - and legally wise so as to avoid compensation claims. But if people are going to be so stupid....

[mercia]

well it must be a misunderstanding on my part - I suppose I thought people with a peanut allergy would probably avoid all nuts - not logical I realise

I understand how dangerous it can be - I remember a case of someone suffering a severe reaction after kissing their partner who had eaten some muesli

[Anna]

well it must be a misunderstanding on my part - I suppose I thought people with a peanut allergy would probably avoid all nuts - not logical I realise

Not sure mercia whether some people are just allergic to peanuts (the most common allergy) or whether they would react to pistachios or brazil nuts in the same way?
It has been said that the sudden rise in peanut allergy is caused by peanut oil being used in vaccines and penicillin (which is why you are always asked if you are allergic to pencillin), whether that is an urban myth or not I do not know.

[Nick Armstrong]

... in my more baleful moments the Darwinian in me tends to feel that the human race will thrive if the more stupid are eliminated

A better reason than some to remind people of

http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/

"The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honouring those who accidentally remove themselves from it..."

[Frances_iom]

since when did peanuts or monkey nuts become nuts rather than legumes ?

and does the same allergy carry over to soy which is member of same family ?

[Anna]

since when did peanuts or monkey nuts become nuts rather than legumes ?
and does the same allergy carry over to soy which is member of same family ?

Because monkey nuts, ground nuts, pig nuts, call them what you will, have always had nut in their name I guess and renaming and reclassifying as a legume causing an allergy would lead to great confusion. Yes, you can have have an allergy to soy products.
Edit: According to a UK food allergy site the most common allergies are: gluten, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans, fish, and crustacea

[Ferretfancy]

The whole issue seems a great tangle. I have a friend who is allergic to walnuts, in a cake for example, but is OK with other nuts. Given the origin of the nuts , do people suffering from peanut allergy also suffer with other varieties?

I can remember the furore about the disatrous groundnuts scheme in Gambia back in the 1940s, and the American enthusiasm for peanut butter reaching our shores. I though it was pretty disgusting stuff then, and still do.

[ahinton]

Well, I don't know if I have an allergy to these things but I really dislike them so wouldn't buy them anyway. I also recall the expression "if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys", from which cultured pearl of wisdom I feel bound to conclude that PRS must think that I'm a monkey.

As you were...

[teamsaint]

I thought this was a pay and conditions thread too, AH.

Peanut butter is my favourite food. Luckily i'm not allergic to it.

Never seen Monkey Nut butter on sale.