UPDATE: Since this article was first posted, there has been some discussion among Northland members on our Facebook site. If you would like to read those comments, just click the Facebook logo in the right hand column of this page. If you're not yet a Facebook member, joining and becoming a fan of Northland is very easy and takes just a few minutes.
There have been some requests recently that Northland adopt a new policy that restricts the use and sale of peanut products at Northland's pool area. We'd like to know what you would advise based on any personal experiences you may have had, and whether you believe the club should accommodate those members whose children suffer from peanut allergy.
First, here's a little background about peanut allergy from the Mayo Clinic.
Peanut allergy is common and often appears in the first years of life. While many children outgrow allergies to other foods such as milk or eggs, most kids don't outgrow peanut allergy as they get older. An allergic reaction to peanuts can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Even people who have only had a mild reaction in the past are at risk of a more serious future reaction.
An allergic response to peanuts usually occurs within minutes after exposure. Peanut allergy is the most common cause of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency that requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) injector (EpiPen, Twinject) and a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms start soon after consuming peanuts.
Peanut allergy occurs when your immune system develops allergy-type antibodies to peanut proteins. Your immune system mistakenly identifies the proteins as something harmful. The next time you come in contact with peanuts, these antibodies recognize it and signal your immune system to release chemicals such as histamine into your bloodstream, which leads to the signs and symptoms of an allergic response. Scientists aren't sure why some people become allergic to peanuts and others don't.
Exposure to peanuts can occur in three ways:
- Direct contact. The most common cause of peanut allergy is eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods. Sometimes direct skin contact with peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction.
- Cross-contact. This is the unintended introduction of peanuts into a product. It's generally the result of exposure to peanuts during processing or handling of a food product.
- Inhalation. An allergic reaction may occur if you inhale dust or aerosols containing peanuts, such as that of peanut flour or peanut oil cooking spray.
It isn't clear why some people develop allergies while others don't. However, people with certain risk factors have a great chance of developing peanut allergy:
- Family members with allergies: You're at increased risk of peanut allergy if other allergies, especially other types of food allergies, are common in your family.
- Past allergy to peanuts: About one in five children with peanut allergy outgrow it. However, even if you seem to have outgrown peanut allergy, it may recur.
For unknown reasons, the number of children with allergies — including peanut allergy — is steadily increasing. Based on the fact that urban children are more likely to develop allergies than rural children, the "hygiene hypothesis" proposes that children who are exposed to as many microbes or allergy-causing substances at an early age may develop immune systems that are more tolerant — and less likely to react to peanuts or other potential allergens. Other experts suggest that the increased incidence of peanut allergy may reflect an increased awareness and reporting of food allergies or changes in the way peanuts are processed.
There are many websites devoted to this issue. We searched "peanut allergy" and found quite a few that offered useful information. More importantly, we located several that discussed alternative products that can be used as substitutes for peanuts. Granted, there is not a replacement for all food products that are served at the pool. But, this is an issue that is deserving of additional attention and discussion, and we welcome your input. The Northland Food & Beverage Committee discussed this issue at its June meeting and intends to have additional discussion at its next meeting July 21. Please contact committee chair Duke Skorich if you would like to offer some input for consideration.
Northland Country Club thanks Security Jeweler's for choosing our club and its members to help celebrate their 85th Anniversary - and the 125th anniversary of Tag Heuer by giving away two of the watches from the company's Tiger Woods collection. Jay Seiler is pictured above with the watches that were given away in tonight's drawing at the club. The winner of the women's watch - with the winning entry being selected by Adolph Ojard - is Vicky Thomas. Congratulations Vicky.
Diane Holappa assisted Jay in selecting the men's winner. From all appearances, it was difficult to determine whether there were more entries in the women's category or the men's category - it's obvious this was a popular contest that members embraced. Som who won? Congratulations to Mike Vandenberg. Your watch is waiting for you at Security Jewelers.
