Peanut allergiesare a growing problem among school-age children, and schools are struggling to cope with balancing thesafety of childrenwith peanut allergies with the freedom of non-allergic children. So what is really necessary to clean up peanut residue for children with peanut allergies, and how far do schools really need to go?
Luckily, research shows the most effective ways to clean up peanut proteins from surfaces, hands, and mouths, and sheds light on the potential forallergic reactionsfrom airborne particles of peanut protein.
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Cleaning Tables and Desks
Once peanut butter has gotten on a table, is it possible to get it all off? Do you need to use anything special to clean it with?
A 2004 study found that common household cleaners could easily remove all traces of peanut protein from tables. Researchers smeared a teaspoon of peanut butter over a square foot of the clean table. They then washed it off and tested the clean table for the presence of peanut protein. They found that these common cleaners left no detectable trace of peanut protein:
Be aware that states and the federal government may have regulations that apply to cleaners used in school spaces, so if you’re using any of the above-listed cleaning products, make sure they comply with those rules.
Washing Hands
To test the best ways to wash hands, researchers coated the hands of study participants with a teaspoon of peanut butter and then asked them to wash their hands three different ways: with soap and water, with hand wipes, and with antibacterial hand sanitizer. Participants were told to wash their hands normally, like they always do (in other words, they weren’t asked to scrub extra hard or to take any special steps).
Researchers found that these hand washing methods left no detectable trace of peanut protein:
However, washing with plain water or using liquid hand sanitizer did not effectively remove peanut proteins. Researchers were able to find significant levels of peanut protein on all 12 study participants after washing with plain water or using hand sanitizer.
Washing Mouths
Unfortunately, rinsing or washing out your mouth does not reduce the amount of peanut protein present in your saliva, research from 2006 shows.
Researchers had study participants eat two tablespoons of peanut butter and then measured the levels of peanut protein in their saliva for several hours afterward. Researchers found that these activities didnotlower the level of peanut protein present in saliva below levels that could potentially cause a reaction in someone with a peanut allergy:
The only thing that did seem to lower peanut protein levels was eating a peanut-free meal and waiting several hours.
Teenagers with peanut allergies who have begun dating should be counseled on the need for open communication about their allergy with their dates because it is possible to have a severe allergic reaction from kissing someone who has recently eaten peanuts.
Airborne Peanut Particles
If you have a peanut allergy, can you have an allergic reaction just from being in a room (or on an airplane) with peanuts?
Several studies have found that cooking or heating peanuts can release allergens into the air, where they then can cause reactions. In general, thesmell of peanuts or peanut butteris not enough to provoke a reaction, and neither is breathing near someone who is eating peanuts or peanut butter.
Researchers in the 2004 study simulated different settings in which peanuts are consumed, including a school cafeteria, an airplane, and a sporting event. Study participants wore personal air monitors while they sat next to open jars of peanut butter, ate peanut-butter sandwiches, and opened multiple packages of peanuts and ate them in an enclosed area. In the last study, participants shelled and ate peanuts, then threw the shells on the floor and walked around on them. In none of these cases were the researchers able to detect any airborne peanut protein.
Another study published in 2003 found that 30 children with documented allergies to peanuts did not have any reaction after breathing with a cup of peanut butter held one foot from their nose over a 10-minute period.
However, yet another study published in 2001 found four cases of children who had allergic reactions to peanuts in the classroom in which a teacher or other adult was watching the child and knew that the child did not touch or eat the peanuts. In three of these cases, peanut butter was being heated up in the classroom. In the final case, a child was sitting next to 15 preschoolers who were eating peanut butter crackers.
A Word From Verywell
Studies show it’s quite possible to clean surfaces in schools well enough so that no dangerous peanut proteins remain, and normal hand-washing should take care of any peanut residue left over on hands. However, cooking or heating peanuts in a classroom can cause allergic reactions in peanut-allergic children, and it’s impossible to quickly eliminate peanut residue in people’s mouths.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perry TT, Conover-walker MK, Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wood RA.Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):973-6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.035Maloney JM, Chapman MD, Sicherer SH.Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: assessment and interventions to reduce exposure.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2006;118(3):719-24. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.05.017Simonte SJ, Ma S, Mofidi S, Sicherer SH.Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2003;112(1):180-2. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.1486Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Desimone J, Sampson HA.The US Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Registry: characteristics of reactions in schools and day care.J Pediatr.2001;138(4):560-5. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.111821
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Perry TT, Conover-walker MK, Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wood RA.Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):973-6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.035Maloney JM, Chapman MD, Sicherer SH.Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: assessment and interventions to reduce exposure.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2006;118(3):719-24. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.05.017Simonte SJ, Ma S, Mofidi S, Sicherer SH.Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2003;112(1):180-2. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.1486Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Desimone J, Sampson HA.The US Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Registry: characteristics of reactions in schools and day care.J Pediatr.2001;138(4):560-5. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.111821
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Perry TT, Conover-walker MK, Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wood RA.Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):973-6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.035Maloney JM, Chapman MD, Sicherer SH.Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: assessment and interventions to reduce exposure.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2006;118(3):719-24. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.05.017Simonte SJ, Ma S, Mofidi S, Sicherer SH.Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2003;112(1):180-2. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.1486Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Desimone J, Sampson HA.The US Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Registry: characteristics of reactions in schools and day care.J Pediatr.2001;138(4):560-5. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.111821
Perry TT, Conover-walker MK, Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wood RA.Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):973-6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.02.035
Maloney JM, Chapman MD, Sicherer SH.Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: assessment and interventions to reduce exposure.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2006;118(3):719-24. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.05.017
Simonte SJ, Ma S, Mofidi S, Sicherer SH.Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2003;112(1):180-2. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.1486
Sicherer SH, Furlong TJ, Desimone J, Sampson HA.The US Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Registry: characteristics of reactions in schools and day care.J Pediatr.2001;138(4):560-5. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.111821
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