Northwestern Hosting First Peanut-Free Football Game This Saturday

By Lisa White in News on Oct 16, 2013 4:30PM

Northwestern is adding a unique and thoughtful approach to their game against Minnesota this weekend that makes it safer for certain fans to attend. They are hosting a peanut-free football game at Ryan Field Saturday, making it easier for those affected by a peanut allergy to attend the game without any worry. No peanuts will be sold or allowed inside Ryan Field Saturday and the stadium is power washing the seating to help get rid of any peanut residue.

Numerous major league stadiums have started to offer peanut-free sections to help fans who suffer from the allergy that can cause reactions ranging from hives to something as severe as anaphylactic shock. The Red Eye spoke to some fans affected by peanut allergies that are elated about the game on Saturday. They also spoke to Raoul Wolf, chief of the pediatric allergy and immunology section at University of Chicago Medicine, who stated that about five out of every 1,000 Americans are affected by a peanut allergy. He pointed out that although closed environments pose a greater danger, stadiums can still be a “huge risk.” Wolf said that “if you can smell the peanuts, there’s enough protein in the air to cause a bad reaction,” and that “for the most sensitive patients, it’s not a risk worth taking.”

Although many sports fans (especially baseball) consider peanuts a traditional snack, we see nothing wrong with laying off the nuts so everyone can enjoy game. It’s a small sacrifice that can let everyone relax and enjoy the main event without a worry.