Kids Food Allergies Blog

I thought I was the only one interested in the creation of “peanut-controlled” sections of Mariners stadium on Aug. 5 and September 9.  While I am delighted that kids who would not ordinarily get to see a game may now have the chance, I am also concerned that the nosebleed seats may diminish the kids’ game experience.

Apparently, lots of other folks are worked up about the creation of peanut-free sections, but their complaints are a lot different than mine.  If you need a reminder about how far we still need to go to educate mainstream society about food allergies, check out the post on Allergymoms blog.

Three cheers for the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have designated two “peanut controlled” seating sections for the Aug. 5 game against the Twins and the Sept. 9 game against the Rangers. According to an article posted yesterday on MLB.com:

Sections 311 and 312 in the right-field upper seating area will be cleaned thoroughly before each of the games. Signs will also be posted nearby to alert fans of a ban on all peanut products in those two sections. No peanuts or foods containing peanut products will be sold at nearby concession stands to ensure the safety of those in the section. People who buy tickets in those sections must agree to obey the peanut ban.

If other baseball clubs would try this out, I bet parents of food allergic kids would feel safer taking their kids to games. The only practical downside from my perspective is the seats. My daughter is an avid Nationals fan. And, she has a serious crush on Ryan Zimmerman. She loves sitting on the 3rd baseline to cheer him on. (This season he’s been out with an injury for most of the season, so it hasn’t much mattered.) Something tells me she wouldn’t be happy that — because of her allergies — she was restricted to an upper seating area.

Do you take your peanut allergic kid to baseball games? How do handle it?