Asking aeroplane passengers not to eat nuts is unlikely to prevent an allergic reaction mid-flight - but cleaning their seat with a wet wipe could, allergy specialists say in a review of the latest evidence. Small bits of food can often stick to seats, tray tables and screens and be transferred from hands to the mouth or face. But there is no evidence nut allergens are spread around the cabin by ventilation systems, the review says.
When turnaround times between flights are short and there is little time for cabin cleaning, passengers with food allergies should be allowed to board first and clean their seat themselves, experts advise. The UK Civil Aviation Authority asked experts to review the risks of flying for people with food allergies. There is a common perception peanut particles can be spread through the air in a plane - and airlines often make announcements asking passengers not to eat nuts on board.
But review author Prof Paul Turner, clinical professor in anaphylaxis and paediatric allergy at Imperial College London, said passengers should not worry about food being transmitted in the air. "We didn’t find any evidence that nut particles could travel through the cabin ventilation system on airplanes and cause reactions," he said. "On top of that, the vast majority of people with food allergies don’t react to the smell of food, even if they are allergic to very small amounts.
” Air circulates across the cabin, not through it, and efficient filtering systems remov.
