Login / RegisterB.C. Place's peanuts in the shell can prove perilous for allergy sufferers
A Kitsilano resident wants to put an end to peanuts in the shell at B.C. Place before they put an end to her.
Ashley Johnson, 35, says her peanut allergy is so bad that she’s experienced anaphylactic shock about 20 times, including once in New York City when she almost died.
Her father, Glen Johnson, is a former Canadian international and was the first signing of the earliest incarnation of the Vancouver Whitecaps back in 1974. He has Whitecaps season tickets, but the father-daughter duo can count on one hand the number of games they’ve attended this year at B.C. Place Stadium—only one, on opening night last October, seated close to the rowdy Southsiders.
The night was fraught with airborne hazards for Ashley, who must carry an EpiPen and a Twinject to provide various doses of epinephrine. She said peanuts present a heightened threat when their shells are cracked, as the resulting dust can travel through the air and she is deathly allergic.
“Well, I knew that it was going to be a problem right off the bat, but they had the roof open,” Ashley explained in a sit-down interview with the Georgia Straight. “So I thought it may be okay because there was enough air coming in.”
She and her father never got to see the end of the game.
“I didn’t have an anaphylactic reaction, but my asthma got bad, my eyes swelled up pretty bad, and I had to take Benadryl, which puts me out, makes me unable to function for two to three days,” Ashley said.
Vancouver-based allergist and immunologist Donald Stark told the Straight that there has been “an overall increase” in the prevalence of peanut and other food allergies over the past two decades.
“It really mirrors the increase in allergies in general in the whole of the developed world,” Stark said by phone.
After opening night last fall, Ashley contacted Rogers Arena and B.C. Place in writing and via email explaining her situation. She said that although Rogers Arena is phasing out the sale of peanuts in the shell, B.C. Place staff members have not even replied to her correspondence. Whitecaps president and former Canadian international Bob Lenarduzzi is supportive of the shell ban, the Johnsons claim.
Kathy deLisser, assistant general manager of guest experience at B.C. Place, said the staff there had replied to a handwritten letter from last fall, a claim Ashley refuted. As for Ashley’s emails, deLisser said in a phone interview, “We don’t know whether we received them or not.…It’s certainly not acceptable to not respond to emails that come in, and we’re usually pretty diligent in getting back to folks.”
As for Ashley’s ban request, deLisser said, “We haven’t chosen to do that at this point. We are continuing to look at alternatives that sort of meet the fan requirements and the needs of the fans that maybe don’t have the peanuts issues. So we’re looking for the products that we might be able to substitute them for.
“There certainly is a revenue component there,” she added. “And not that it’s about revenue, for sure, but it’s about what other snack items could we potentially introduce that don’t have the same impact for those with peanut allergies.”
Glen Johnson spoke to the Straight about the situation from his home in White Rock.
“They are living in the dark ages,” he said of B.C. Place, later adding the kicker, “I’ve got season tickets and I can’t even take my daughter to a bloody game this season.”
Let the nuts live on in my mouth. ;)
Think before you make silly comments about things you obviously know nothing about.
If it was your child who was allergic you would appreciate this article!
Did your Mother teach you nothing.....If you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all.
Perhaps in future it could be you that would be put in that protective bubble as the only "real people" munching on peanuts! ... just like the minority smokers are sitting in a room to keep their noxious fumes away from the rest of us!
I think that people who make those stupid "bubble" or "allergic minority" comments, or people who have the nerve to compare allergy sufferers to smokers are just ignorant. Would these same people like to put a stop to wheel chair ramps and other forms of making public spaces accessible? Honestly!!!
Smokers used to be the majority and are now faced with non-smoking regulations. (..and that is a good thing) With the numbers of allergy sufferers increasing, perhaps in future those referring to themselves as the "real people" might become the ones locked in the bubble along with the smokers, so the rest of us can stay healthy!
If you had actually read the story, you would know that Ashley carries an EpiPen and Twinject wherever she goes.
you would rather risk the life of a person of any age so you can eat peanuts.....you should be ashamed that your stomach is more important than someones health.....get over yourselves.....your peanut addiction needs to be crushed.!!!
WTH Eileen! Of all people you should know better! Do you not recognize this dad? He IS a 'normal joe' that has spent many sleepless and anxious days and nights caring for his child. Now she is 35 and has initiated this ban on her own, with the support of her family. Think you'd be proud of your son if one day he grows up and cares about others as much as himself. This was a 'health feature' article meant to inform, not the National Inquirer. You should be ashamed of your comments....and learn to read.
2) Would it be too much to wear a respirator? If she is truly that allergic, then she certainly has one.
/me cracks some peanuts.
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