Dining officials are taking precautions to cover peanuts in the caf after a student with airborne peanut allergies experienced allergic reactions.
Erik Hamilton, acting junior, has experienced allergic reactions to peanuts in the caf many times.
“I’m not supposed to be in the same room as peanuts, or even in the same vicinity, because I can react from the air easily,” Hamilton said. “That’s actually a pretty common thing with peanut allergies.”
Hamilton said his symptoms are nausea, weakness and throat swelling. Being around peanuts also exasperates his severe skin condition and asthma, he said.
“Recently, there have been peanut butter cookies in the caf in a jar with no lid. In the past, there have also been open nut jars by the salad bar or main dishes cooked in peanuts, and I don’t notice until it’s too late,” Hamilton said. “I have to hold my breath when I walk to get food because I can’t be around it. I have to sprint in when the line is gone, hold my breath and sprint out.”
Hamilton said the reactions affect his studies and nightly rehearsals.
“I ended up going to rehearsal after being around peanuts at the caf, and my skin was out of control. I felt really weak, and I would lose my train of thought halfway through a monologue, even if I wasn’t having trouble with it,” Hamilton said. “In the show there’s a lot of huge projection moments and speaking very loudly. Whenever I would do it, my throat would close up from the peanuts being in the same room as me, and it caused me a lot of pain.”
Dining officials should list ingredients for dishes and give a warning if it includes a common trigger, Hamilton said.
“It’d be nice if they listed the ingredients for some of the dishes or just didn’t use peanuts at all,” Hamilton said. “It would also be nice if the staff was aware of what is in each dish, allergen-wise. Sometimes I can’t find anyone who knows if there are peanuts in certain dishes.”
Executive Chef Chris Barton said dining officials plan to cover any item that has peanuts or peanut products in it, but it is more likely they will try to not use peanuts at all.
“While we don’t have a formal policy to remove and manage peanuts on campus, we make every effort not to use peanuts in the facility,” Barton said. “We understand and appreciate that there are some serious peanut allergies and want to remove as much of the potential for illness as possible.”
Micah Gilley, acting senior, is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Gilley said while she personally wishes for a peanut-free caf, she sees room for compromise.
“If I had it my way, there wouldn’t be nuts in the caf at all,” she said. “That being said, I understand that it’s super convenient protein for people with a non-restricted diet. I’d like to see a peanut-free caf and other nuts in a specific area, only where people serving themselves can’t accidentally drop them on other food.”
Barton said he wants to encourage all students, faculty and staff that have dietary restrictions to communicate openly with him and the staff so that they can work together to meet any dietary needs.
“If we are aware of those with allergies and the nature of their allergies, we can respond appropriately,” Barton said. “It’s important that there is constant and thoughtful communication on both the part of the persons with allergies and with the dining service department here on campus.”
Contributing: Editor-in-chief Nicole Waltman
Editor’s Note: Erik Hamilton is a Staff Writer for Student Publications. He did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.
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