# Is it Unacceptable to Eat Peanut Butter in Public? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648 "2018-04-18T16:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/1 "2018-04-18T16:54:23Z")
Saw this story about a [person who fed her four year child a PB&J sandwich](https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Mother-peanut-butter-allergy-Target-child-12826097.php)while shopping at Target and was criticized for doing so because of the potential interaction with those who have peanut allergies. From the article: > [@](#): > > If your reaction is of course not, it’s a free country, you are definitely siding with the minority. > > The anti-peanut butter backlash was swift and brutal. Most responses attacked the mother for potentially endangering children with peanut allergies. Some criticized her for feeding her daughter in a shopping cart, which they considered disgusting. I find the condemnation to be an overreaction myself. Recreational outrage more like. The question is how much should people take into consideration the allergies of others when out and about and does eating a PB&J fall on the ‘not acceptable’ side of the line? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/2 "2018-04-18T16:58:42Z")
I would like to know what data the author of the article used to determine “of course not, it’s a free country” is the minority opinion. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/3 "2018-04-18T17:00:19Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I find the condemnation to be an overreaction myself. Recreational outrage more like. yep. it’s people needing to be judgemental and superior dogpiling an easy target. and some control freaks in the mix. > [@](#): > > The question is how much should people take into consideration the allergies of others when out and about and does eating a PB&J fall on the ‘not acceptable’ side of the line? If you tell me you (or your kid) has a peanut allergy, I’ll avoid bringing anything containing them nearby. But I am _not_ going to live as though _I_ have a peanut allergy just on the off chance that I might pass by someone somewhere who does. edited to add: > [@Slash1972](#): > > I would like to know what data the author of the article used to determine “of course not, it’s a free country” is the minority opinion. I think the author is just going by the responses in that message board thread. E.g. a statistically skewed self-selected sample of people who need to get their hate on. I’d wager the majority of people who read that and are on the mom’s side just rolled their eyes and closed the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/4 "2018-04-18T17:05:08Z")
Not unacceptable. People need to look after themselves. It is beyond stupid for someone with a lethal and horrible peanut allergy, for instance, to assume the rest of society will know about and work around their problem. Anyone who thinks they are so special deserves the consequences of their arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/5 "2018-04-18T17:18:22Z")
People still feel like it’s okay to smoke around others in public. Peanut butter kills far fewer people. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/6 "2018-04-18T17:26:27Z")
When I first read the thread title I wasn’t even thinking about the allergy aspect (which is amazing, considering a coworker has a child with a peanut allergy and we’re constantly listening to his nonsense). I thought the OP meant because of the smell so my answer was “hell yes” (which is also amazing, since I LOVE pb and eat it at home every day). Peanut butter is not a good smell unless you’re the one eating it. As for the people commenting to the woman in the story, I think they need to get over themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/7 "2018-04-18T17:30:28Z")
I’m using my child’s school as a barometer. Right now, there is a special “no peanut butter” table at lunchtime. Everyone else can do what they will. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/8 "2018-04-18T17:32:02Z")
Yeah, people need to find a more worthy outlet for their precious snowflakes. It’s not as if there’s a conspiracy against kids with peanut allergies where the conspirators intentionally smear the handle on the trolley with PB in the hopes that someone’s kid will get ill or die from the exposure. When come back, bring wet wipes for cart’s handle. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/9 "2018-04-18T17:34:12Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > People still feel like it’s okay to smoke around others in public. Peanut butter kills far fewer people. And of “random nearby passerby who happen to have peanut allergies” “fewer” = none. Has there ever actually been a case of a drive-by peanut allergy with no contact between the allergic person and the peanut source? Even the “kissed someone who’d eaten peanuts” cases usually turn out to be false. Schools ask parents not to send peanut products to schools if there’s an allergy in the classroom because kids trade and pull “pranks” on each other, not because of proximity effects. This mother was feeding the sandwich to her own child, an entirely different and entirely controlled case. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/10 "2018-04-18T17:35:14Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > People still feel like it’s okay to smoke around others in public. :dubious: Don’t know where you live, but a number of cities have passed laws rendering their restaurants and bars smoke-free, and most workplaces establish a smoking area that’s outdoors and well away from the building where people are actually working. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/11 "2018-04-18T19:10:22Z")
I’ve been on Southwest Airlines flights where they announced there would be no peanuts because of a passenger with a peanut allergy. Which is odd in light of the thousands of bags of peanuts that have been consumed on that plane, which is already rife with peanut debris. Anyone with a peanut allergy so sensitive they cannot abide a peanut environment has no business boarding any commercial airliner. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/12 "2018-04-18T19:13:02Z")
To be honest, I’m not so sure I like the idea of kids eating in public. I’ve seen kids eat, it turns my stomach. Other than that, the criticism is pretty silly. If a store wants to put up a “peanut free zone” sign, and enforce it, that’s fine. It’s a bit silly, but if they feel the positive PR is better than looking like an idiot, I support their right to do so. If the kid is running around and shoving their PB sandwich into other kid’s mouths, that should probably be curtailed. Outside of that, people should mind their own business as to what people are eating. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/13 "2018-04-18T19:23:34Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > To be honest, I’m not so sure I like the idea of kids eating in public. I’ve seen kids eat, it turns my stomach. doesn’t bother me, I know what I look like while I’m eating wings 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/14 "2018-04-18T19:24:03Z")
I’m still trying to wrap my head around why anyone would be feeding their child any sort of sandwich in Target. If you had the forethought to prepare lunch before going shopping, why not just eat before you go? or if you’re running errands all day and you made lunch, eat in the car before you go into the store. Problem solved peanut butter or not. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/15 "2018-04-18T19:28:39Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around why anyone would be feeding their child any sort of sandwich in Target. If you had the forethought to prepare lunch before going shopping, why not just eat before you go? or if you’re running errands all day and you made lunch, eat in the car before you go into the store. Problem solved peanut butter or not. It keeps the kid quiet and occupied instead of wailing and pulling stuff off the shelves. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/16 "2018-04-18T19:38:23Z")
How can Target (or any retailer) have a peanut free zone? Peanut butter is sold there, plus many other products with peanuts in them. Stupid. OTOH, If it’s lunchtime for your child you should be home or at a restaurant feeding your kid. I feel the same way about naptime, take that kid home, please! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/17 "2018-04-18T19:38:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It keeps the kid quiet and occupied instead of wailing and pulling stuff off the shelves. So food as pacifier instead of training your kid to behave. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/18 "2018-04-18T19:46:28Z")
Seems fine to me. Have there been any cases of deaths or injuries related to airborne exposure to peanut fumes from a sandwich? If this were a real problem of endangering peanut allergic kids, I might change my mind. Instead, what we have is peanut paranoia leading to a wild overreaction. Leave the poor peanut butter-eating kids and their parents alone. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/19 "2018-04-18T19:48:12Z")
Peanut allergies aren’t actually all that common. I think shellfish is actually the most common food allergy, and you never hear anyone making a big fuss about them. And peanut allergies so severe that they can be triggered without actually eating peanuts are _extremely_ rare. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648/20 "2018-04-18T19:50:28Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > So food as pacifier instead of training your kid to behave. Got it. Four year olds, and young kids in general tend to snack frequently. They also aren’t always reasonable because they are four years old. Training is only a small component of that. Having a snack available when out and about I’ve found is a common practice. Whole Foods even has a [“kids club”](https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/service/kids-club) where they’ll just give you free snacks that are sold in the store. Things like their granola bars, fruit snacks, straight up fruit, other individually packaged cracker type things, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unacceptable-to-eat-peanut-butter-in-public/812648.md?page=2)