Regulators consider peanut prohibition on flights

American regulators are considering a proposal to either restrict or completely ban the serving of peanuts on commercial flights.

Approximately 1.8 million Americans suffer from peanut allergies and advocates have argued that the restrictions would significantly reduce the potential harm to these passengers.

However, peanut farmers and food packagers have hit back describing the proposal as unfair.

"The peanut is such a great snack and such an American snack," Martin Kanan, CEO of the King Nut Companies was quoted in the Belfast Telegraph. "What's next? Is it banning peanuts in ballparks?"

The proposal was listed in an 84-page document by U.S regulators that listed three peanut restriction options: banning peanuts on all planes; prohibiting peanuts only when an allergic passenger requests it in advance; or requiring an undefined "peanut-free zone" flight when a passenger asks for one.

A number of U.S airlines including Continental, United, US Airways and JetBlue have already voluntarily stopped serving packaged peanuts onboard their aircraft.
However, Delta and Southwest still serve nuts as in-flight snacks, while American Airlines offers snacks that can contain peanut ingredients.