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Man Puts Friend’s Food Allergies Above Spouse’s, So They Refuse To Get Rid Of Allergens At Home
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Man Puts Friend’s Food Allergies Above Spouse’s, So They Refuse To Get Rid Of Allergens At Home

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There is one significant problem in my wife’s life related to two facts. Fact one – she loves cats. Fact two – she’s allergic to cats. So we have a house like Noah’s Ark, starting with two dogs – but my wife’s allergies made it impossible for any kitties to stay with us.

The user u/Aware-Lifeguard3500, the author of our today’s story, was less fortunate – they’re allergic to wheat. They were also unlucky enough to quarrel with their husband over his long-time friend, who has food allergies to many products, which precisely make up a significant part of the author’s diet. Interested? Then let’s read on!

More info: Reddit

The author of the post and their husband recently moved to a city where the husband’s bosom friend lives

Image credits: Mehran B (not the actual photo)

Turns out this guy is allergic to nuts, soy and legumes so the husband demanded to avoid these foods in their house from now on

Image credits: Aware-Lifeguard3500

However, the author is allergic to wheat themselves so these products are a significant part of their own diet

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Image credits: Timur Weber (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Aware-Lifeguard3500

So family drama ensued as the spouses disagreed on whether they should throw all these foods out or not

So, the Original Poster (OP), as I have already told, is allergic to wheat, so they have to replace these products with others. For example, soybeans, legumes and various nuts. However, there are also products containing wheat in the house – after all, their husband eats them with pleasure.

And so, one fine day the couple moved to the city where “Steve”, a childhood friend of the OP’s spouse, lives. Now try to guess the three product categories in one attempt that Steve is allergic to! Soy? Exactly! Nuts? Bingo! Legumes! Bravo! Three out of three!

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I don’t know exactly what happened to Steve as a child – perhaps he experienced anaphylactic shock, and the author’s future husband witnessed this. But a fact is a fact – the husband suggested to introduce a new rule – no allergens in the house in case Steve comes over.

The OP was rightfully indignant. At a minimum, because no one thought to remove all the wheat from the house, in spite of their allergy. At a maximum, because if they followed the new rule, they would have to significantly change their diet. Well, besides, as the author claims, Steve’s allergies are not that special.

At least the man works in food service and frequently handles nuts. And he never even carries an EpiPen. The original poster suggested a kind of compromise – putting all allergens in an airtight containers when Steve comes over, but the husband didn’t agree with this either.

Then the OP stated that after all, this is their house, not Steve’s. But the husband was so frightened by the possibility that his friend might have an allergic reaction that he adamantly insisted on his “rule.” As a result, the couple quarreled, and the original poster decided to seek support online.

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Image credits: Polina Zimmerman (not the actual photo)

“Here we need some clarification – what type of allergy this person actually has,” says Iryna Stasiuk, an expert in syndromic therapy from Odesa, Ukraine, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “If his allergy goes from the contact of allergens with the mucous membranes (for example, like it happens with allergy to pollen) – this is one thing, but if only through food, when the allergen enters the blood, this is completely different.”

“In the first case, accidental contact with allergens is, of course, more likely and more dangerous. However, if you remove hazardous products in sealed containers in advance, then no problems should arise.”

“By the way, if the author says that their husband’s friend at work deals with nuts and it doesn’t cause any allergic reaction, then most likely the type of allergy is purely food. Then everything is even simpler. I think the spouses should just talk about this topic with an expert and clarify everything,” Iryna presumes.

Commenters also believe that since Steve doesn’t feel the need to take excessive precautions regarding his allergies, both in everyday life and at work, then the couple shouldn’t be ‘more Catholic than the Pope.’ “He’s working around the things he’s allergic to and doesn’t carry an EpiPen for emergencies, so there’s no need to do anything other than exclude the allergens from any dishes you share with Steve,” one of the commenters wrote.

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Also, according to people in the comments, this is the original poster’s home, and they should have some say in decisions about allergens in the house. “Beginning and end of this, as far as I’m concerned,” another person concluded. And what do you, our dear readers, think about this? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

People in the comments, however, claimed that the author shouldn’t give up their own diet in their own house, and praised them for standing their ground

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: shattha pilabut (not the actual photo)

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Poll Question

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Oleg Tarasenko

Oleg Tarasenko

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

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Oleg Tarasenko

Oleg Tarasenko

Writer, BoredPanda staff

After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

Denis Krotovas

Denis Krotovas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

Read less »

Denis Krotovas

Denis Krotovas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

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Giraffy Window
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If OP knows how to keep their food safe from cross-contamination in a house where people use th Op's allergen, then they know how to teach their husband how (husband's freakout makes it pretty clear he does not play an active role in helping prevent cross-contamination of OP's foods.) to keep Steve safe while at their house, without OP needing to starve for the lack of their own preferred food choices.

Melissa anderson
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s your house. No reason to change your life for a maybe occasional visitor. And if he works in the food industry, he’s exposed to nuts every day. The husband needs to get a grip on reality. Steve doesn’t live there. Oh, and to prove the point, she should get rid of everything that has wheat in it and not allow her husband to have it since she has a wheat allergy that he does ate about.

Libstak
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its not just nuts, it's a,so legumes and soy. That's alot not to have available without even knowing if Steve is that allergic. I am allergic to eggs, to an extent...it causes bowel problems but not wholly organic fresh from the farm eggs, so I know it's about something in the process of commercial egg producers. I also have a niece that is allergic to nuts but not all the time, depends again on whether it is raw nuts from a tree in our yard, walnuts which do not affect her or commercially sold nuts. Not all allergies are severe and Steve might not even want no contact as a little exposure is known to protect overall resistance.

Anna Ekberg
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The husband need to educate himself about allergies and OP also needs to remind her husband that he is married to her and not his freaking friend ffs!

Charity Angel
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to wonder if Steve's parents were overly cautious about this allergy when he was a child. Maybe wouldn't let him go friends' houses because of potential issues. That might explain why the husband is over-reacting to something that clearly isn't as bad as he thinks.

Hannah Taylor
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am allergic to shrimp. That being said, I would never expect anyone to purge their house of seafood. My allergy is limited to turning into Mount Vesuvius from both ends; no need for an EpiPen. Steve sounds like he has a handle on his nut allergy, so there's no need to go hardcore nut-free. Just ask Steve, and go from there.

Parmeisan
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just gotta point out how dumb the poll question is. I know they usually are, but even so. How can the answer be "the person who lives in the house" when OP and his husband *both* live in the house? That's like saying A and B are having an argument, who's right? - the person who has an opinion. Gah.

Aroace tiger (she/they/he)
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How often is steve even over?? If hes able to cook with his allergens for his job it should be safe to keep them in the house- i don't think anyones the a*****e i think its good how careful ur husband is even if potentially unnecessary

Giraffy Window
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If OP knows how to keep their food safe from cross-contamination in a house where people use th Op's allergen, then they know how to teach their husband how (husband's freakout makes it pretty clear he does not play an active role in helping prevent cross-contamination of OP's foods.) to keep Steve safe while at their house, without OP needing to starve for the lack of their own preferred food choices.

Melissa anderson
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s your house. No reason to change your life for a maybe occasional visitor. And if he works in the food industry, he’s exposed to nuts every day. The husband needs to get a grip on reality. Steve doesn’t live there. Oh, and to prove the point, she should get rid of everything that has wheat in it and not allow her husband to have it since she has a wheat allergy that he does ate about.

Libstak
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its not just nuts, it's a,so legumes and soy. That's alot not to have available without even knowing if Steve is that allergic. I am allergic to eggs, to an extent...it causes bowel problems but not wholly organic fresh from the farm eggs, so I know it's about something in the process of commercial egg producers. I also have a niece that is allergic to nuts but not all the time, depends again on whether it is raw nuts from a tree in our yard, walnuts which do not affect her or commercially sold nuts. Not all allergies are severe and Steve might not even want no contact as a little exposure is known to protect overall resistance.

Anna Ekberg
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The husband need to educate himself about allergies and OP also needs to remind her husband that he is married to her and not his freaking friend ffs!

Charity Angel
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to wonder if Steve's parents were overly cautious about this allergy when he was a child. Maybe wouldn't let him go friends' houses because of potential issues. That might explain why the husband is over-reacting to something that clearly isn't as bad as he thinks.

Hannah Taylor
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am allergic to shrimp. That being said, I would never expect anyone to purge their house of seafood. My allergy is limited to turning into Mount Vesuvius from both ends; no need for an EpiPen. Steve sounds like he has a handle on his nut allergy, so there's no need to go hardcore nut-free. Just ask Steve, and go from there.

Parmeisan
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just gotta point out how dumb the poll question is. I know they usually are, but even so. How can the answer be "the person who lives in the house" when OP and his husband *both* live in the house? That's like saying A and B are having an argument, who's right? - the person who has an opinion. Gah.

Aroace tiger (she/they/he)
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How often is steve even over?? If hes able to cook with his allergens for his job it should be safe to keep them in the house- i don't think anyones the a*****e i think its good how careful ur husband is even if potentially unnecessary

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