To some, peanuts are a game day necessity around the country. You can boil them, flavor them, roast them or just crack them right out of the shell at your leisure. Unfortunately, peanuts also carry a significant health risk to some and that is something Northwestern is not taking lightly this fall.
For the first three home games of the 2014 season, Northwestern will not offer peanuts or peanut products to fans as concession options. According to Brett McMuprhy of ESPN.com, the school is doing this to allow those with peanut allergies to be able to come out to a Northwestern sporting event and enjoy the experience without the concern over an allergic reaction. The decision was inspired innocently enough after receiving a letter from a Northwestern fan.
“We just wanted to do the right thing,” Northwestern deputy athletic director Mike Polisky said to ESPN.com. “This has nothing to do with PR. It’s not a business decision. ... It started out with one father looking out for his son.”
Northwestern’s first three home games of the season are against California (August 30), Northern Illinois (September 6) and Western Illinois (September 20). The peanut ban will also be in effect for a handful of basketball games, volleyball and wrestling matches. Northwestern has done this before, but now it appears the university is taking greater and expanded measures to spread awareness about the severity of peanut allergies.