Of all the foods on the planet, why are peanuts the one that most people seem to be allergic to? It seems quite random. What about them causes such a prevalence of allergic reactions?
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My understanding, which may answer the question rather than questioning the premise, is that the allergic compound in peanuts is not only highly concentrated in peanuts, but also is contained in the shell and the dust the peanut shells give off. So it’s not just a food allergy, it’s an airborne dust allergy. Which is why food made in a facility that processes peanuts can still trigger an allergic reaction (the dust gets on the non-peanut food item).
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