DISCLAIMER: It is crucial to read all food labels, EACH time you buy a product to double check the ingredients and disclosures –– manufacturers have been known to change recipes, sourced ingredients, processing facilities, handling/packaging procedures, etc. without warning. Never re-post anything from this blog without this disclaimer!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sara Lee Breads (not cakes, etc) - NOT SAFE!

I am so upset.  My "go to" breads are Pepperidge Farm and Sara Lee, because they stand behind their labeling.  I periodically re-check their policies to ensure that my information is current.  Much to my dismay, I learned that in May 2012 the bread division of Sara Lee was sold to Bimbo Bakeries, a company that has never been safe for us.  They have reformed the labeling practices as regards Sara Lee breads, and now say the Sara Lee breads, like all of the Bimbo products, could be cross-contaminated by nut protein.  In fact, here is a posting by the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin, explaining in further detail:

"Sara Lee has sold their "Fresh Bakery" (breads, etc) to Bimbo Bakeries. Bimbo Bakeries own Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Arnold, etc...and now Sara Lee breads, buns, rolls, etc.

Sara Lee was always known as labeling well for any cross-contamination (top 8 plus others). Bimbo Bakeries told me that they recommend not consuming their products if we have severe allergies, as they do not have dedicated lines and they do not routinely label for cross-contamination. This is their allergen statement that I asked them to email to me: 

"We want to assure you that we adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices as established by the FDA. We take abundant precaution to prevent cross-contact of allergenic ingredients between batches, and our bakeries are inspected to ensure that they meet or exceed all regulatory and baking industry standards. We understand that highly sensitive consumers need to know when there is even the remote possibility of inadvertent cross-contact of allergenic ingredients during processing. To that end, we disclose that the following allergenic ingredients are used in some of our manufacturing facilities and that inadvertent cross-contact is remotely possible: milk, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts. Wheat is used in all of our facilities and all of our products as an ingredient. Please refer to ingredient labels on our products for full disclosure of the ingredients used in that product."

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