MCDONALD’S NUT POLICY PROVIDES WAKE-UP CALL
Those with severe allergies must learn to take responsibility for themselves
I have been observing the outrage that has arisen because of the recent change in the use of nuts at McDonald’s restaurants across the country with a combination of amusement and surprise.
As someone who has lived with severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, seafood, sesame seeds and garbanzo beans since the age of three, my life is a constant negotiation of what I want to eat and what I can eat.
Not only is McDonald’s off my menu, so too are options such as sushi, falafel, pad Thai — you name it.
Making things even more complicated, I don’t eat pork for religious reasons and a recent spike in cholesterol levels means red meats, cheeses and eggs can only be enjoyed on a sporadic basis.
I was diagnosed with the allergies by accident: I was three, my parents were having a party and I was in charge of passing around the nut bowl. It didn’t take long for my throat to swell and the hives to start.
As it happened, the family doctor was among the guests, as was his little black bag, and there was no need for a trip to the hospital.
I grew up during a time when food was simpler – carrot cake had walnuts and was therefore to be avoided, as were peanut butter cookies, Big Macs and Gefilte fish. It was also a time when there were no adrenalin kits for kids or EpiPens.
My parents taught me the only weapon I had to make sure I didn’t inadvertently find myself going to the hospital was to ask questions, and lots of them.
They taught me that my allergies were my responsibility.
I was the kid at sleepover camp who often missed the snack at night because it had nuts and there weren’t any other options. Even if my late grandmother sent baking by special delivery, the camp staff found reason to confiscate it — nut allergies were not something they worried about.
Instead of PBJ (peanut butter and jam) sandwiches, I had jam sandwiches.
I survived summer camps, lots of them, travels overseas since the age of 16 without my parents hovering to make sure I didn’t eat something I shouldn’t, and life far away from home. When our oldest son — who shares the same allergies — was entering Grade 1, the allergist asked if I wanted the classroom to be peanut and nut-free.
I said no.
That’s because when we create these kinds of “nut-free” environments, we give kids a false sense of security; that the rest of the world is always going to make sure they don’t eat something that can kill them.
That’s the furthest from reality. Our son is now in his early 20s, he has had one close call, has travelled and successfully lived on his own the last four years while attending university in Ontario.
Like his mother, he always has something safe he can eat with him and if in doubt at an event, he just doesn’t eat. It’s not the end of the world.
I would argue the decision by McDonald’s is a wake-up call to allergy sufferers, that they need to take responsibility for themselves. Despite what your parents have taught you, the world is not looking out for your allergies.
At the same time, the restaurant industry needs to do a better job educating its kitchen and wait staff, so that they understand the ingredients of the items they are serving.
For instance — they should know when a patron says they are allergic to sesame seeds, a dish with tahini in it does not appear. That goes for everyone at expensive establishments all the way to, yes, McDonald’s. I’ve lost count how many times someone behind a pastry counter has tried to tell me a peanut butter cookie is OK — because it doesn’t have nuts.
The fact families are complaining about the shift at McDonald’s means they can’t take their kids there because of the change in policy begs a number of questions.
Among the important skills we can teach our children is selfreliance.
Why can’t this become a teaching moment for the parents — so they can help teach their children how to navigate the restaurant world by taking responsibility for their allergies?
The second is why do parents think it’s such a great loss not to be able to eat at McDonald’s in the first place? It’s fast food. We need to be teaching our children how to eat balanced meals, that are nutritious.
Three is whether these parents allow their allergy-afflicted children to go to the houses of their friends, where peanut butter likely lurks in the pantry. Are we playing with a double standard?
Four — does anyone really believe airliners are wiped down between flights to rid all traces of peanuts the previous passengers might have consumed on the previous flight and are therefore completely safe?
McDonald’s has made its decision. It’s not random. It’s based on an analysis of business and what it needs to do to gain market share. Starbucks recently replaced its nut-free banana bread with a banana bread that contains walnuts. Why are consumers not complaining about that too?
Just as businesses make decisions grounded on what’s best for their bottom lines, consumers have the right to decide whether they want to patronize its establishments, or not.
But the outrage that has arisen as a result of McDonald’s change in policy about the presence of nuts in its restaurants is far out of proportion.
I have never had a Big Mac because of the sesame seeds on the bun — nor has my son — but I can’t say either of us are any the poorer for it.
Consumers have the right to decide whether they want to patronize its establishments, or not.