DOT drops proposed peanut ban on planes
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has dropped a proposal it made last week to ban peanuts on planes due to potential allergic reactions, after realizing that it does not have the power to implement a ban.
The DOT suggested a ban on June 8, and it is currently in the midst of a comment period for the proposal. The prospect of a peanut ban had been welcomed by allergy groups, but opposed by peanut producers.
However, the DOT has now said in a statement that such a ban would have "violated a 2000 appropriations act that funds the DOT”.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the 2000 DOT Appropriations Act specifies that federal money cannot be used to ban peanuts or require a peanut-free buffer zone on any airline until at least 90 days after Congress and the DOT should also receive a peer-reviewed scientific study showing peanut allergy sufferers can suffer severe reactions due to peanut exposure on airplanes.
