Fire in peanut hopper at major Md. snack plant; those with allergies alerted
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Version 0 of 1. A peanut hopper caught fire Tuesday at the Baltimore plant of a major snack food company, and people with peanut allergies were warned to be careful. Those with peanut allergies were advised by Baltimore’s office of emergency management to “be extra cautious” in the area of the fire at the Barcelona Nut Company.. The fire broke out about noon in the 500 block of South Fulton Avenue. Baltlmore officials said. It is in the Mount Clare area, about a mile west of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. There were no reports of adverse health effects. According to the Website of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergic reactions could be triggered by inhaling airborne food particles containing peanut proteins. The proteins may become airborne during peanut grinding or pulverization, the organization said. According to the emergency management office’s Twitter feed, all fire operations had concluded within about two hours. Barcelona describes itself as a global snack food manufacturer, which buys directly from growers. The company’s Website says it roasts in 100 per cent peanut oil, uses a nitrogen-flush packaging system that sharply improves shelf life, and delivers fresh to customers within days of receiving their orders. |