Telling airplane passengers not to eat nuts is unlikely to prevent an allergic reaction mid-flight, allergy experts say in a review of the latest evidence – but wiping your seat with a wet wipe might. .

Small pieces of food can often stick to seats, tray tables and screens and be transferred from hands to mouth or face.

But the review said there is no evidence that nut allergens are spread around the cabin by the ventilation system.

Experts recommend that when turnaround times between flights are short and there is little time for cabin cleaning, passengers with food allergies should be allowed to board first and should clean their seats themselves.

UK Civil Aviation Authority asked experts Reviewing the risks of flying for people with food allergies.

There is a common belief that peanut particles can spread through the air on a plane – and airlines often make announcements asking passengers not to eat nuts on the plane.

But Professor Paul Turner, author of the review and clinical professor of anaphylaxis and pediatric allergy at Imperial College London, said travelers should not worry about food being dispersed in the air.

“We found no evidence that walnut particles could travel through airplane cabin ventilation systems and cause a reaction,” he said.

“On top of that, most people with food allergies do not react to the smell of the food, even if they are exposed to very small amounts of the allergen.”

The review notes that air circulates throughout the cabin, not through it, and efficient filtering systems remove the vast majority of dust, vapors and food particles from the air breathed by passengers.

During flight the air is completely exchanged every three to four minutes.

In hospitals and classrooms, this happens every 10 minutes.

Previous studies have shown that peanuts can be detected only at very low levels in the air and very close to the nuts.

While vapors from fish or seafood and particles of wheat flour in the air can cause allergies, these are exceptions.

Instead, the real danger comes from passengers on previous flights leaving peanut residue on seats, trays, floors and entertainment screens.

The review states that if seat areas are not properly cleaned between flights, small pieces of walnut may get on the hands and face of the next passenger.

“If people with food allergies can board first, and they have time to clean their seat area with something like a baby wipe or antibacterial wipe, they are much less likely to have an allergic reaction,” Professor Turner said. “

Authors say ban on flights may actually give travelers a false sense of security In BMJ Journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

People at risk of potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, should always carry two adrenaline pens.

And airlines should consider keeping a supply of these onboard in case of emergency and have clear policies on food allergies on their websites.

“An important message is the importance of passengers cleaning their seat area, including tray tables and seat-back entertainment systems,” said Simon Williams, chief executive of the charity Anaphylaxis UK.

Around one in 50 children and one in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy, according to donation,