Peanut Popularity vs. Allergies

In a previous post I briefly talked about peanut allergies and peanut-free schools. I was reading an article in the Patriot Ledger about how schools are balancing the peanut popularity and allergy worries. I never thought about how kids with these allergies felt but reading the article it made me realize that they do not want to be treated any differently from a peer without allergies. Being singled out is very difficult from some kids especially those that experience severe allergies and have to sit at separate table. One parent of a student with a peanut allergy responded to parents’ complaints saying if they were at the hospital for the 8 hours with their child they would feel differently. Today 400,000 children in the United States suffer from peanut allergies and this number has practically doubled in the last 5 years. In school systems they are attempting to be “peanut free” or at the very least “peanut aware.” In Norwell their cafeteria uses computer technology to alert cashiers if the student has an allergy. This way they can double check to make sure that everything on their tray is safe for them to consume. This is a problem that school officials have to take seriously. It is important for these students to be around peanuts so they can be prepared for being exposed to them in the real world.

We go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly...

Have you ever heard this expression or maybe seen the Facebook bumper sticker of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich holding hands? I was wondering when and where the actual salty and sweet combination originated. No one really knows the exact history about when or where this sandwich was created. Peanut butter was not invented until the late 1890’s, and there is no mention of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before the 1940’s. It seems strange that it was not sooner since we view it as such a typical school lunch. Peanut butter and jelly were both on the military rations lists and it is speculated that American soldiers added jelly to make peanut butter easier to eat. Returning service men helped the peanut butter and jelly combination cause. Additionally, food rationing at home may have added to the popularity of this combination. Because peanut butter was cheap and a good source of protein, it was purchased more than expensive cheese and meats. It was certainly a big hit and has remained post World War II.

There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!

With Easter coming up, I began reminiscing about the different kinds of candy found in our eggs. One of my favorite treats are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. It is the perfect treat for peanut butter and chocolate lovers because the combination is just right. Remember those commercials for Reese’s proclaiming “there is no wrong way to eat a Resse’s!” I was searching on Youtube and found many different ways to eat one. Some prefer to nibble, some will bit off the ends, while others are able to make a whole in the middle. The perfect blend of peanut butter and chocolate is a great dessert and even better the Reese’s peanut butter cups bite-size easily fit into Easter eggs. I hope I have some in my basket this year. Check out how Roger eats a Reese's peanut butter cup.

Then, compare it to how Mr. Sullivan eats a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Peanut Butter in the Cafes

At work the other day, my coworker brought her lunch from the ECC. Instead of making the sandwich with the peanut butter she put it in a soup lid so her sandwich would not get soggy. She said “I know it looks gross. I hate the peanut butter from the ECC, but its all they have.” She prefers the packet of peanut butter from the Commuter Café because she feels uneasy about leaving the peanut butter exposed to the air is bad. Is the packaged peanut butter at Commuter better than the ECC? At Tilly dining hall they leave the peanut butter out but surround the container with ice. Does this mean that peanut butter should be refrigerated? When I was researching, I remember how every morning that I made breakfast in high school when I was half asleep I would always put the peanut butter in the fridge. I have no idea why and when I cam back from school I would open the fridge and laugh at myself. I did it again in my dorm room just last week when I was finished making peanut butter crackers. It must be a habit. Peanut butter does not need to be put in the refrigerator. I guess it is a personal choice. It does not save it from spoiling as with many other foods prolonged exposure to air will expire it. However in the case of the peanut butter in the cafeterias it is used up so quickly that it will not go bad and is completely safe to eat. One important fact to note though is that natural peanut butter may need to be refrigerated.

Salmonella Outbreak in Peanut Butter

When we were discussing dangerous food, one student in class mentioned something about the recalling of Peter Pan peanut butter. The reason for this was due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes food borne illness). If consumers purchased this brand after May 2006 the jars could have been contaminated and should have been thrown away. The outbreak affected 290 people across the nation. The peanut butter as a source for salmonella is not common and the reason it took health officials so long to track it down. In addition to Peter Pan peanut butter, Wal-Mart’s brand Great Value (made by the same company) was also recalled due to the risk. All the contaminated jars were identified beginning with the code “2111” on the lid of the jar. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In people with weakened immune systems and very young children, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Companies have started to randomly test jars on peanut butter in the production line to test for salmonella.

Peanut, peanut butter and Jelly!!

Peanut, peanut butterAnd jelly! Peanut, peanut butter And jelly! First you take the peanuts And you crunch 'em, Then you take the grapes And you squish 'em, Then you take the bread And you spread it,Then you take your sandwich And you eat it, you eat it. Cause it's Peanut, peanut butter And jelly. Peanut, peanut butter And jelly!

Anyone remember this song from their childhood?? My suitemate started singing it the other day and it reminded me of when I was in preschool. During circle time we would sing this song and act out making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. All of a sudden when she started singing it the lyrics and tune came back to me. In fourth grade my brother had to do a how-to project and he decided to do his project on “How to make a peanut butter sandwich.” This how to needed to list out each step necessary to make a peanut butter sandwich. If you think about it making a peanut butter sandwich has a lot of steps that are performed automatically. Imagine having to follow step-by-step directions as to how to make a peanut butter sandwich. What if we had to crunch the peanuts or squish the grapes? It is interesting that children will sing this song, however, all they really have to do is take out the peanut butter jar and the jelly jar and then eat it ‘cause its good, peanut butter and jelly!