A video showing a man requesting an airline announcement to protect his severe nut allergy has gone viral on TikTok, amassing more than 6.2 million views since it was posted on July 7.
The clip shared by Dan Kelly (known as @_maycontain on TikTok and Instagram), captures a quiet exchange between Kelly and an easyJet flight attendant. He explains his allergy and asks for a nut-free announcement on a flight from Pisa, Italy, to London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom. The overlaid text on the video reads: “Why does it rattle so many people when I ask the airline to do an announcement?”
Kelly, a freelance graphic designer based in London, the U.K. capital, has lived with a life-threatening peanut and tree nut allergy since childhood. He told Newsweek: “I’ve had a severe nut allergy since I was 5. It impacts my daily life constantly; living with the fear of a reaction is exhausting, and it’s even more intense when traveling abroad.
“Every time I fly, I ask the airline to make an announcement just in case someone nearby starts eating nuts,” Kelly said. Even minor exposure—through air particles or surface contact—can trigger a reaction. “If someone eats nuts, doesn’t wash their hands, then touches me—that could trigger it,” he added.
Kelly praised the easyJet staff for taking his concerns seriously. “The flight attendant was amazing and handled my request really well,” he said. “He even asked if I had my epipens with me too, which was great to hear.”
Kelly added that easyJet, which banned nuts on board several years ago, and their staff “have always been brilliant” about making the announcement and showing empathy.
In a caption shared with the clip, Kelly wrote: “Surely people can go without nuts for a few hours if it could save someone’s life.” He added, “If it were you or your child living with a life-threatening allergy, you’d hope others would show a bit more empathy and recognize just how serious it really is.”
Kelly’s frustration is understandable as peanut allergies are among the two types of allergies that cause the greatest concern for passengers on commercial aircraft, the other being sensitivities to animal allergens, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
However, allergic reactions during commercial air travel are actually not common, “occurring at an incidence approximately 10 to 100 times lower than that reported for accidental allergic reactions to food occurring in the community,” noted a July 2023 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
“Despite increasing passenger numbers and food allergy prevalence, the rate of allergic IMEs [in-flight medical events] has not changed over the past three decades,” according to the study.
‘A Fatal Condition’
Experts say these precautions aren’t just about comfort—they are about survival. “Airplanes are enclosed spaces with minimal access to emergency services,” Dr. Angela Downey, a family physician and host of The Codependent Doctor Podcast, told Newsweek. “Depending on the severity of the allergy, airborne exposure or accidental contact could trigger anaphylaxis, a fatal condition.”
Registered dietitian and food-allergy specialist Liz Pecoraro told Newsweek: “For some people with severe nut allergies, asking for an in-flight announcement isn’t being overly cautious—it’s necessary.” She added that “nut particles can stay in the air or on surfaces,” making exposure difficult to avoid.
Kelly said reactions from airlines and passengers vary widely. “I’ve generally had good experiences with easyJet and Ryanair,” he added. “But flying back from the U.S. once, an airline refused to make an announcement and told me I could get off the plane if I wasn’t happy.”
Kelly said the backlash stems from ignorance and a lack of empathy. “Honestly, I don’t get it,” he added. “It’s such a small ask that could literally save someone’s life. If they had an allergy themselves, or their child did, I doubt they’d be reacting the same way.”
Kelly, who runs a blog and podcast called May Contain, focuses on helping others live confidently with allergies. “What began as a small idea has grown into a global community,” he said. “Since the allergy announcement went viral, reaching over 14 million people across Instagram and TikTok, the response has honestly been overwhelming.”
Despite the criticism, Kelly remains focused on awareness. “There’s so much fear and negativity around allergies,” he said. “But I want to show people that it is possible to live confidently with allergies—to travel, eat out, and enjoy life without being held back.”
‘Crazy’
The video’s viral reach has reignited a debate around food allergies and shared responsibility in enclosed spaces.
Some TikTok users were supportive. “God forbid a man wants to stay alive and in good health,” commented itsbaxterrn. Another user, mval1711, added: “Rude people be acting like a nut allergy is voluntary.”
User ketchupsteve66 wrote: “It’s annoying not being able to eat nuts on a plane but then I remember that I’m not the center of the universe.”
Others reacted more critically. One commenter, Kitkat, wrote: “I’m still eating my peanuts. Sorry not sorry.”
Another user, dalboy, posted: “1 person shouldn’t dictate what a plane load of people can and cannot eat.”
User Sander added: “Since when has an entire group accommodating to a single individual become the norm?? It’s crazy work.”
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