Jim Bahler read my piece about Halloween and wrote this to me as part of a longer rebuttal…
Peanuts? You give out peanuts? With so many kids having problems with nut allergies, apparently of a serious nature, you're giving out peanuts? Yes, you and I both like peanuts, but I'm hearing that folks are now supposed to have non-food and food treats.
Well, actually I have little packets of peanuts to give out if (big "IF" there) anyone comes to my door tonight. Considering that no one has for around seven years — and since I may not be home anyway — I don't think anyone's in much danger.
Also, each of these packets of peanuts says PLANTERS PEANUTS on it in quite legible type and has a drawing of a character who looks like a peanut wearing a monocle and top hat on it. I assume that if some kid has serious allergies to nuts, he's learned not to open one of those and devour the contents. If he hasn't, he's in a lot of trouble.
If we are to believe this survey, the top ten most popular treats to give out on Halloween are — in this order — Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Miniatures, Twix, Kit Kat, Snickers, Reese's Pieces, Milky Ways, Reese's Stuffed With Pieces, Peanut Butter M&Ms and Butterfingers. By my count, seven out of ten contain peanuts or peanut butter…and note that Peanut Butter M&Ms and Peanut M&Ms both outrank non-peanut M&Ms.
So I have a hunch a lot of people are giving out peanuts and the kids who are allergic and/or their parents are on alert. They'd better be. At least the peanuts I have here to give out are (a) clearly labelled PEANUTS and (b) never given out.
Believe me, Jim. I'm aware of the bad effects some foods can have on people. There are very popular candies that contain ingredients that are just as bad for me as peanuts are for someone who could eat one and go into anaphylactic shock. But I recognize you can't run the world protecting everyone from everything that might harm someone. These days, I'm not sure we're even that interested in protecting everyone from everything that might harm everyone.