Nancy Drew Adds to Food Allergy Mystery, Rather than Solving It

Here we go again... I hate it when I hear of yet another movie or TV show spreading misinformation about food allergies. It's bad enough that not enough people are aware of it at all but then having to also combat myths that are perpetuated by the media for the sake of dramatic effect just drives me crazy. Even worse in this case is that it is a summer family blockbuster aimed at teens and preteens, which is the population most at-risk for food allergy fatalities.

Do people with other special needs have to deal with this issue? Am I over-reacting? Have I been blind to movies that do not accurately portray the management of epilepsy or diabetes? (The only one I can remember offhand is Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias). For those of you who have not seen it, Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts) performs a tracheotomy with a knife and a ballpoint pen on a girl who suffers an anaphylactic reaction from kissing a boy who has just eaten peanuts! Only in the movies....

A Gateway FEAST member reports that Dan Sperling, FAAN's Media Relations Director said that if they contacted full blown media everytime there was an inaccurate portrayal in the media, the media would become numb to the issue because it occurs so often. Um... or they would stop doing it! More likely, it would cost too much money. Here's FAAN's official release.

Perhaps we can help with a grassroots effort. Write to Warner Bros. AGAIN:
Theatrical Corporate Communications
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

On the same topic, Disney's "That's So Raven" has made life-threatening food allergies a total joke! Denise Child pens a great open letter to Disney/ABC TV. She makes a great point about how all our efforts are completely undermined by a single airing of this episode.

I can't even write anymore, it just makes me so angry and sad that people in positions of influence choose to use that power to, even unwittingly, put lives at risk. Isn't there enough drama in the world?!