Fear Of Nuts Creating Hysteria Of Epidemic Proportions

Could it be that people are group/herd stupid?

For a hint, consider how many people listen to AdipOprah.

"Measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist, according to a doctor on bmj.com...

A peanut on the floor of a school bus leading to evacuation and decontamination for fear that it might be eaten by the 10 year old passengers, and schools declaring themselves "nut free" by banning nuts, peanut butter, homebaked goods and any foods without ingredient labels, are just some examples cited in this article...

In the US, 150 people die each year from food allergies. This is compared to the 50 who die from bee stings, the 100 who die from lightening strikes, the 45,000 who die in motor vehicle accidents, and the 10,000 who are hospitalised for traumatic brain injury from playing sport. But these issues do not incur such extreme reactions, such as calling for an end to sport.

Christakis says that the 'gross over-reaction to the magnitude of the threat' is very similar to mass psychogenic illness (MPI), previously known as epidemic hysteria."

Use the data to think rationally about nuts.

Or use the data just in case you guys out there need an explanation for your social lives.