The ad also caught the attention of members of the non-profit group Food Allergy & Research Education (FARE). The leader of the organization, Dr. Sung Poblete, issued a public statement in response to the commercial, saying that the ad may potentially increase the risk of bullying. “These types of commercials and types of jokes allow kids to think that there’s not going to be any harm and it’s going to be funny,” she told BBC. Reinforcing Dr. Poblete’s statement, Indiana resident JD Arland told the outlet how he has faced such bullying firsthand. In describing his lived experiences with food allergies, he explains that tasks many of us wouldn’t think twice about — like placing a quick Uber Eats order — are much more involved for patients like Arland, who can’t always be sure as to how the food is prepared or if the restaurant received his special instructions noted in the app.
For those with peanut allergies, Mayo Clinic experts explain that exposure to even the smallest amounts of the nut can lead to anaphylaxis. Requiring urgent medical attention, symptoms of anaphylaxis include airway constriction, throat swelling, trouble breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, a rapid pulse, and more. Presently, it is not clear as to whether Uber will be editing the ad, which is set to air on Super Bowl Sunday.
