The agency says it may lack legal authority to act, even though passengers with allergies could experience severe reactions. Studies show peanut allergies are on the rise and one theory for that is that most people like them roasted.
"They tend to roast at 180 degrees making them more allergenic, more potent as far as causing allergy issues. If you compare that to a country like China, where the primary method of peanut preparation is boiling or frying we haven't seen an increase in prevalence in that country," says Dr. Mark Olmstead, M.D., from the Baylor Health Care System.
The Department of Transportation is backing off for now, but is still taking comments from the public. It may consider a peanut ban sometime in the future.
