The History of In-Flight Peanuts
The History of In-Flight Peanuts
https://student.grablingo.com/materials_units/1869
Exercise 1
Vocabulary
deadly
Adjective
ˈdɛdliː
likely or able to cause death
A knife can be a deadly weapon.
allergy
Noun
ˈælərdʒiː
a negative reaction of the body to something that is touched or eaten
My girlfriend has an allergy to shellfish.
severe
Adjective
sɪˈviːr
serious or extreme; causing great pain, difficulty, damage, etc.
The toothache is causing her severe pain.
dust
Noun
dʌst
a fine powder that floats in the air and covers objects
The old typewriter is covered in dust.
policy
Noun
ˈpɑləsi
a plan or rule put in place by an organization
Company policy requires male employees to wear a tie.
reaction
Noun
riˈækʃn
an allergic response to something that is often dangerous or deadly
James had a reaction to the bee sting and was rushed to the hospital.
Exercise 2
Article
The History of In-Flight Peanuts
It's not clear when the first peanuts were served on a flight, but Southwest Airlines made them famous.
Southwest began flying in 1971 as the world's first low-cost airline. It offered "peanut fares" – flights so cheap they "cost peanuts." So to help make their point and save money, Southwest didn't serve meals: it only served peanuts.
Until 1978, US airline ticket prices were controlled by the government. But once that changed, airlines wanted to reduce costs so they could lower prices. Some chose to serve simpler food, and peanuts – which are cheap and last a long time – were a popular choice.
After the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, many airlines lost money and meals became even smaller. Some airlines even started making people pay for their peanuts.
Around the same time, deadly peanut allergies were becoming more common in the US. People with severe peanut allergies can die from just breathing in the dust from peanuts, so airlines created special policies for people with peanut allergies. Some airlines let them board early to clean their seats, or created areas where nobody was allowed to eat peanuts. Other airlines stopped serving peanuts altogether.
Southwest still served more than 106 million packages of peanuts in 2017. But in 2018, a nine-year-old boy had a severe reaction to them on a Southwest flight. The boy survived, but Southwest decided to stop serving peanuts on August 1.
A few US airlines, such as Delta, continue to serve peanuts. Others, like United and American Airlines, have stopped. However, since other passengers may still bring peanuts on board, and some meals may include nuts, no airline can say for sure that its flights will be completely peanut-free.
Exercise 3
Questions
When did Southwest Airlines begin flying?
Why did airlines start serving simpler food after 1978?
What airlines can say for sure that its flights are completely peanut free?
Exercise 4
Discussion
What are your thoughts on the history of in-flight peanuts?
Do you ever bring snacks with you when you fly? Why? Why not?
If you were to write an airplane menu, what foods would you include? Please explain your answer.
Do you have any allergies? If so, how did you find out about them?
Do you know anyone with severe allergies? Please explain your answer.
Exercise 5
Further Discussion
Have you ever had a good meal on a plane? If so, please share your experience.
What airline have you traveled with the most? Would you recommend them?
What are the cheapest airlines where you live? Please explain your answer.
What's the longest flight you've ever been on? Please share your experience.
I love flying so much. I even like airplane food. - Margot Robbie. What do you like most about flying? Please explain your answer.
