"Life is worth more than peanuts"
[From an environmental discussion group.]
AS FOR PEANUTS, and Earon's comments. Yes indeed, there are US researchers working on removing the peanut allergy gene from peanuts using genetic engineering -- I have this from two separate, reliable sources. I can pursue this further, to find out where this is being done. Also, I have found evidence that suggests they are able to identify allergens by both molecular structure, and causative gene. This explains why they can both make peanuts non-allergenic, and ensure new crops developed won't be an allergy problem -- but they only screen in this way for genetically engineered crops, from the sources I have seen. Moreover, I also need to relate this to my personal experience, which is why I noticed the story in the first place.
You see, I suffer from two food allergies that I know of -- fortunately, my reactions have been moderate so far. And I do appreciate your comments on epinephrine. But I can also tell you, in both cases when I had my first allergic reaction, it came on suddenly and unexpectedly, to things which were already in my diet. So it's not like I would have known to have a shot of epinephrine ready; in fact, in both cases I didn't figure out what was happening until afterwards. And I understand that allergies of this type show up in other people spontaneously. Now, my reactions are NOT to peanuts, which I love to eat. Rather, my allergies are to certain types of cider, and kiwi fruits. The cider is fairly easy to avoid, but kiwi fruits seem to be showing up all over the place, including in healthy juices I want to buy. In fact, recently I learned that kiwis have all kinds of fancy chemicals inside, which bother other people as well.
My point is, if food such as peanuts did not have the gene for the potentially deadly allergen, it could make all the difference between life and death, since allergies can pop up suddenly. And as a practical concern, when I first encountered my cider allergy, I was in a crowded bar where I could barely get out of -- I went home coughing and sneezing, and broke out in a rash all over. In retrospect, there was little chance that I could have even gotten a shot. If the allergic reaction were more severe, I would not be here right now typing this. My understanding is that peanut allergies tend to be severe compared to other food allergies. Good thing for me.
Finally, back to the promising UK athlete that died. I find it particularly disturbing (and quite sad) that the UK has spent millions (tens…hundreds of millions, more?) on labeling "GM" food, which has shown no more risk than food created through more conventional means. In fact, in the UK they even have a large fine on restaurants that do not label GM food on menus. On the other hand, they freely serve food to people containing peanuts -- which can kill, but there is no requirement for labeling. What causes this kind of complete and utter nonsense? Look what it resulted in. The bottom line is if you are going to spend money on labeling, make sure it is going to do some good.
Dan
(PREVIOUS POSTINGS FOLLOW) *****************************************************************************************
Friends:
Having had some public health training, I feel obligated to provide a more
accurate picture of peanut allergy than was presented in the excerpt Dan
sent. First, people who suffer anaphylactic allergic reactions to peanut
should always have something called an "Epi-Pen" around. It is a device that
will administer a life-saving dose of epinephrine in the type of tragic
situation from Britain. These devices can and should be available from all
paramedics and emergency rooms. The problem is that by the time someone is
transported to a clinic or emergency room while in anaphylaxis, it may be too
late to administer epinephrine there.
Second, peanut is far from the only source of allergic anaphylactic
responses. Shellfish is one of the most prominent of many others, like
sulfiting agents in salad bars. There are at least four answers to these
types of serious problem. None involves the grossly inappropriate and
grandiose aim of genetically engineering all life forms on the planet in
order to supposedly reduce their ability to cause anaphylaxis. First,
epinephrine should be more readily available as an emergency treatment -
especially when these "Epi-Pens" are on the market and already widely
available. At some point, they could be mandated for all food sellers and
caterers to have, as they are not expensive.
Second, food manufacturers and preparers should use common sense and not use
foods like peanut and peanut oil or shellfish, etc., which is the present
trend. For example, institutional food producers in my area seem to have
largely eliminated peanut and peanut oil from many product lines, especially
foods sold to school cafeterias. This is an outcome that can and should be
driven by concerns about liability as well as ethics.
Third, foods that are highly allergenic, like peanut and shellfish, must not
be used in food products which are not labeled - or where the food does not
appear in the name of the dish (e.g., shrimp salad). The absurd proposal of
genetically engineering foods to remove allergenic properties, which I do not
believe is even on the table, would only result in delays for implementation
of these important public health measures. Of course, the peanut growers
associations will push for this research rather than loose market share to
other foods that are less likely to kill people.
Fourth, there needs to be research into how to prevent people from developing
anaphylactic allergies - and into why these problems are increasing. Are
they resulting from one of the myriad other ways in which our environment has
been polluted and manipulated in order to increase someone's profits?
One of the major criticisms about current plans for genetically engineering
foods is that something like the peanut genes responsible for anaphylaxis
(and we probably don't know which ones are) will be spliced into other foods,
thus making them capable of causing anaphylactic reactions to even more
unsuspecting people. We don't even know that these genes can be isolated or
that they won't result in different allergens developing.
If there is one lesson to be learned from all of this it is that a little
knowledge can be a dangerous thing in the hands of people who think they know
everything (aka businesses exploiting cutting edge "science"). The debate
about genetic engineering is not a game. It doesn't matter how many debating
points one side or the other gets. This is about life and death - and about
incredibly arrogant people who have transcended the bounds of ethics and
religious principles and, under the dangerous belief systems of
"profit-based-science," feel that they have the right to play around with our
entire planet for their fun and profit.
Earon
*** FULL NAME DELETED BY DAN ***
In a message dated 6/18/99 9:35:57 AM Central Daylight Time,
CFSeattle@AOL.COM writes:
<< BBC/UK Peanut allergy athlete dies/Friday, June 18, 1999
[This was a good-looking guy with so much potential. I am posting this for
two reasons. Firstly, to warn those that may be allergic to peanuts -- your
tongue swells up and you can die within minutes. Secondly, to make people
aware that one of the things they are working on using genetic engineering is
peanut plants -- to remove the deadly allergen chemical, so that things like
this won't happen anymore.]
Ross Baillie: A bright prospect
Scottish hurdler Ross Baillie has died in hospital after suffering a severe
allergic reaction.
Baillie, 21, who was allergic to peanuts, collapsed with anaphylactic shock
after eating a chicken sandwich during a break in training in Bath.
The BBC's Jane O'Brien: "One of Britain's most promising athletes"
The Scottish senior record holder and finalist in the 110m hurdles in last
year's Commonwealth Games, was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath
where he died at 1100 on Friday.
Baillie was with international swimmer Mark Foster during training on
Wednesday and both chose a sandwich with a coronation chicken filling for
lunch.
Minutes after he bit into his sandwich, Baillie realised there were peanuts
in it as his tongue started to swell and he began coughing.
Colin Jackson: Athlete's mentor
He was taken to doctors at the nearby University of Bath where he was given
an adrenalin injection before being taken to hospital where he failed to
regain consciousness.
His mother Sheila and father Hugh, who were both athletics stars, travelled
from their home in Clydebank and were at his bedside when he died.
The athlete was training alongside hurdler Colin Jackson and his coach
Malcolm Arnold and had been sharing a flat with Jackson.
Baillie broke the Scottish record for the 110m hurdles at the Commonwealth
Games in 1998.
He was a member of the Victoria Park Athletic Club in Glasgow and twice broke
the 60m hurdles record during the winter.
Natural successor
Welshman Jackson considered Baillie his natural successor in the 110m hurdles
race and tipped him to run under 13.20 secs this year, which would have put
him among the world's best male hurdlers.
He was due to take part in an international competition at Mannheim in
Germany at the weekend, in the run-up to the European Junior Championships in
Finland this summer, where he was tipped to win gold.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "Ross Baillie tragically died in the
intensive care unit at 1100 today. His family were at his bedside.
"The staff in the Intensive Care Unit who cared for him over the last three
days wish to extend their deepest sympathy to his family and friends."
Director of Sport at the University of Bath, Ged Roddy, said: "Ross Baillie
was a talented young athlete and very popular with us all here. We are
devastated by his loss and he will be greatly missed."
Sandy Sutherland: "One of Scotland's brightest prospects"
Leading Scottish athletics journalist Sandy Sutherland described the news as
"horrific" and said it will "throw a huge gloom" over this weekend's
competition.
He said: "He was one of our brightest prospects and was all set to go to this
year's World Championships.
Chris Baillie: Following family tradition
"He had already broken the Scottish record, his own record and was looking
forward to getting a qualifying time for the Olympics in Sydney next year."
"But athletics is a minor consideration when you think of the effect this
will have on his family," he added.
David Joy, Chief Executive of the Scottish Athletics Federation, said staff
and officials were "devastated".
He said: "Ross was a young man who was liked by everyone who met him and had
a life full of opportunity in front of him.
"The Baillie family is heavily involved in Scottish athletics and this news
will sadden the whole sport."
Baillie's younger brother Chris has been tipped to follow in his footsteps
and has broken all of his junior records.
news.bbc.co.uk |
