Quote:
Originally Posted by SilentKnight
What I don't understand is why peanut allergy has become such a big thing these days.
Growing up, our family moved around a lot. I went to more schools than I can remember (the actual number is around 10 schools). Not once in all those years and variety of schools did we ever hear about a peanut allergy issue. Never. Notta.
PBJ sandwiches were the perennial lunch item growing up. Everybody brought them to school.
So why now? What's changed?
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People are not allergic to peanuts as much as they are allergic to a mold that grows on peanuts. Everyone and anyone that enjoys too much peanuts in their diet can be harmed by this very toxic mold.
From the peanut butter wiki:
The peanut plant is susceptible to the mold Aspergillus flavus which produces a carcinogenic substance called aflatoxin.[14] Since it is impossible to completely remove all aflatoxin, contamination of peanuts and peanut butter is monitored in many countries to ensure safe levels of this carcinogen. In 1990, a study showed that average American peanut butter contained an average of 5.7 parts per billion of aflatoxins, well below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limit of 20 parts per billion.[15][16]