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!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Red Hen Bakery (Chicago) - NOT SAFE

I spoke to the owner of Red Hen Bakery in Chicago in January 2012.  They sell retail and wholesale.  Their breads are used by many restaurants/food service providers.  As of January 2012, the owner says that they make some breads that include tree nuts, and that they have no special handling procedures in place.  There is no segregation of those breads and all equipment is shared.  The owner himself told me that "no bread that is baked in our facility can be considered free of cross-contamination" and that he has no plans to operate the bakery facilities to permit segregated handling of nuts.

Incidentally, our school lunch vendor (Organic Life) uses Red Hen breads in their "nut-free" facility.  The "nut-free facility" label could mean that they do not intentionally bring in tree nuts or peanuts, but it may not mean that their facility is actually free of nut protein.

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