Cashews instead of peanuts and new yogurt bars are among the new in-flight snacks Delta Air Lines is testing. But the airline is keeping its signature Biscoff cookies in the mix.
Atlanta-based Delta is testing the new in-flight snacks through Aug. 21 on certain flights out of Atlanta and Minneapolis. The test for snacks in economy class includes Emerald cashews, Snyder’s pretzels, NatureBox yogurt bars and Biscoff.
Delta has been serving peanuts, pretzels and Biscoff as in-flight snacks in its main cabin, serving more than 235 million such snacks a year. The airline started offering peanuts in the 1940s, and added pretzels and Biscoff in the 1980s and 90s.
“Delta is continuously looking at ways to enhance and elevate the on-board experience for customers,” the company said in a written statement. “During the test period customer satisfaction scores and flight attendant feedback will be closely monitored to determine the impact on the in-flight experience.”
When asked whether Delta is interested in phasing out peanuts, Delta spokeswoman Catherine Sirna responded that “as part of this testing process, we’re evaluating all of our Main Cabin snack options.”
The Georgia Peanut Commission said Georgia farmers who grow about half of the U.S. peanut supply are “proud of our special relationship” with Delta “and we’ve looked for ways over the years to maintain and grow it.”
“When it comes to Delta and snacks, you think Coca-Cola and you think peanuts,” said Georgia Peanut Commission executive director Don Koehler in written comments. Peanuts are popular and affordable, and “are more sustainable than any other nut,” and take 1/20 the water needed to grow cashews, according to the peanut commission.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the second-largest airline at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, is known for serving peanuts as one of its snacks.
Peanut allergies have been one of the issues for airlines serving goobers.
On Delta’s web page for travelers with disabilities, it has a section under “special concerns” for peanut allergies saying if you notify the airline that you have a peanut allergy, “we’ll refrain from serving peanuts and peanut products onboard your flight,” and will bring on additional non-peanut snacks to serve to everyone in the area.
“Gate agents will be notified in case you’d like to pre-board and cleanse the immediate seating area,” Delta’s website says.
The Georgia Peanut Commission argues that allergies to tree nuts like cashews “are on par with peanut allergies” and said “swapping one for the other does nothing to alleviate any concerns.”
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