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!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

TJ Hash Browns - SAFE


Trader Joe's Chicken Egg Rolls - SAFE


Trader Joe's Beef Pho Soup - NOT

Shared equipment ... Tree nuts

Trader Joe's Falafel - SAFE

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets - SAFE

Trader Joe's Sweet Chili Sauce - facility

Facility has peanuts and tree nuts but sauce is not made on shared equipment

Trader Joe's Chocolate Pudding - NOT

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Battered Halibut - SAFE



Edible Arrangements - at your own risk

They make fruit baskets and chocolate dipped fruits may be included.  They also make chocolate dipped fruit rolled in coconut or almonds.

They take precautions and are trained to segregate but they say they can't promise no cross-contamination by almond dust because they do use them I. The open air kitchen.

Also, they use Hershey's semi sweet chocolate (commercial packages) and it is made in a facility that processes nuts.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Java Logs and Asthma


http://www.pinemountainbrands.com/pages/safety/38.php

 I have asthma. Can I use Pine Mountain® and Java-Log® Firelogs?
 Our products have not been tested for asthma safety, so legally, we cannot recommend that people with asthma use them. However, our firelogs emit little to no smoke, so many people with asthma have chosen them as an alternative to burning cordwood or other kinds of firelogs.

Duraflame Logs: ???

I just wrote Duraflame:
"I live in a vintage multi-unit urban building where every unit has a wood-burning fireplace.  The collective condo owners would like to know about 2 things before we bulk buy fire logs.  (a) Are any duraflame logs made using any portion of a peanut or tree nut?  (b) Assuming a clean fireplace at the start of any fire, which of your products emits the least amount of particles into the air?  How do you measure the emission?  Can you tell us the emission measurement associated with that product?  (several homes have a family member with asthma)  THANK YOU.

Non-food uses for nuts: Beware!

http://www.ehow.com/info_8551656_nonedible-uses-peanuts.html

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Kikkoman asian sauces - SAFE if made in Walworth, WI plant

NOT Kara-Age coating
NOT Black Bean
NOT Hoisin
NOT Oyster
NOT Plum
NOT Thai Chili
NOT any of the soup mixes

The all-purpose Kikkoman Soy Sauce and the Kikkoman Less Sodium Soy Sauce are brewed at the Kikkoman Foods, Inc. plant in Walworth, WI where there are no peanuts or tree nuts ingredients. Please check the back of your label to see where the product was made.

http://www.kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/faq/allergenchart.php


Lee Kum Kee chinese sauces - shared equipment with segregation procedures

Our manufacturing facilities handle peanuts and their derivatives. We have implemented nut handling policies and procedures to ensure that peanuts and sesame are kept in a segregated storage area, with its own tools and containers. We schedule the production of these peanut and sesame products at the end of each production week and follow careful cleaning procedures. Therefore, cross contamination is minimized. In addition, we analyze the peanut residue in the next production batch to ensure that no peanuts are carried over to other products.  

Monday, August 4, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Girl Scout cookies by "Little Brownie Bakers" have reliable labeling

Girl Scout's "thank u berry munch" (spelled that way, with "u" for you). The manufacturer is Little Brownie Bakers, LLC

Dedicated line, no nuts.  Company will disclose potential cross contamination on any of their cookies.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Jams, Preserves - E. D. Smith @ trader Joe's -- SAFE

Our quality commitment includes minimizing the risk of an allergic reaction to E.D.SMITH Brands. We do this by ensuring that our foods are free of peanuts, shellfish and tree nuts (coconut excepted), and that sulphite additives remain less than 10 parts per million.

Every E.D.SMITH Brand includes a detailed list of ingredients on the label.

Tree nuts include almonds, beech nuts, brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.
Wheat-based products – For information regarding gluten or celiac disease, or for any concern you may have regarding the ingredients in E.D.SMITH products, please contact us..

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Dean Foods Frozen Treats - SOME SAFE

NOT the chocolate cake/ice cream roll

Phillip Thomas
Quality Assurance Manager
Frostbite Brands
4117 Fitch Rd.
Toledo, Ohio 43613
419-473-9621
Phillip_Thomas@deanfoods.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

Twin Anchors - NOT SAFE

Manager said they have never been asked to accommodate peanut/tree nut allergies.  I was pulling teeth to learn about risks of x-contamination in their kitchen.  2 of their BBQ sauces are made elsewhere without disclosure of allergen practices.  No surfaces, equipment and grills are segregated to protect against any allergens.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/twin-anchors-restaurant-and-tavern-chicago

Jet's Pizza - SAFE!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/jets-pizza-chicago

No nuts in any menu item, they make all of their own foods from scratch ingredients. They told me that they use no sauces or ingredients processed in another facility. I hope that's really true because this is going to be our go-to pizza!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Candy: Wrigley gums, Starburst, Skittles, Life Savers, Altoids - SAFE

Wrigley (800-WRIGLEY) has these brands: Starburst, Skittles, Life Savers, Wrigley gums, Altoids -- all labeling is reliable - it will disclose potential cross-contamination if any.  Starburst makes candy canes.  Yea!  2014-02-25

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Turano Bakery - MUST CALL ABOUT BREADS


Turano Bakery

18 reviews Rating Details
Category: Bakeries  [Edit]
6501 W Roosevelt Rd
(between Gunderson Ave & Scoville Ave)
Berwyn, IL 60402
(708) 788-9220

Written today:  I have severe allergies to tree nuts and peanuts and must avoid potential cross-contamination by any type of nut dust.  Are any of your breads (including food service varieties) safe for me to eat?  If so, can you please advise which types of consumer and which types of food service breads, and if it's from a specific facility where no nuts are used, then what do I have to do to identify the proper baking or packaging facility?  I encounter your breads in restaurants and groceries and need to know how to navigate the product lines safely.  Many thanks!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Valentines Day - Necco's 1oz boxed Heart Candies, Sweet Tarts, Brach's are safe

I wish this was easier. I wish someone else would dedicate their life to tracking down this info and we could just subscribe to their website. Anyway, 3 safe ones I found last year are:

1.  Necco's 1oz boxed “Sweethearts Candies" are safe, but only the 1 oz boxes

"Although New England Confectionery makes products that contain milk, eggs and nuts, both our Sweethearts and Necco Wafer products are manufactured in a segregated area and our Necco Wafers and Sweethearts 1oz Boxes are packaged on separate, dedicated lines.  Please note that our Sweethearts bagged products including the 1/2oz Classroom Exchange products are packed on lines that pack products that contain milk and nuts.  Although we exercise great diligence in cleaning these shared packaging lines, we do suggest that people with allergen issues avoid our bagged Sweethearts product line and purchase the Sweethearts 1oz Boxes instead.
Let us know if you have further questions.  Thank you,  Customer Service"


2.  "Sweet Tarts Hearts", the Willy Wonka brand, are made by Nestle. The Wonka web site stated last year that "all the Wonka brand sugar candies are peanut/tree nut free." But this year, hmmm, I guess I have to call to be sure that they are still safe because now their site says to call in to ask for info, which I will do … http://www.wonka.com/Home.aspx/ProductAllergens


3.  "Conversation Hearts" by Brach's, as long as the disclosure still reads like the photo attached.  Believe it or not, some packaging is from cross-contaminated plants, and currently, the 1 oz. boxes in my photo are no longer safe! So far I know that these are safe:

Brach’s® Large Conversation Hearts Item: 16494 , bulk bag
Weight: 16 Ounces (454 g)


Brach’s® Tiny Conversation Hearts Item: 10497 , bulk bag
Weight: 8 Ounces (227 g)


Brach’s Heartline Tiny Conversation Hearts Box 5 PK Item: 01960 , 5 box packages
3.75 Ounces (106 g) per pack
0.75 Ounces (21 g) per box


Brach’s® Heartline Tiny Conversation Hearts Reseal Bag Item: 31498 , bulk bag
Weight: 35 Ounces (992 grams)



Ferrara Candy Co - label will disclose facility use

http://www.ferrarausa.com/contact-us/?age-verified=971c9e9354

From: webmail <customer.service@ferrarausa.com>
Date: January 20, 2014 at 1:09:26 PM CST
To: Christine Young <crabbiappl@aol.com>
Subject: RE: HELP REGARDING: Ferrara Candy Company response to your comment - 

Dear Ms. Young,

 

Yes, there will be a statement as follows:  This product was manufactured in a facility where (allergen ingredients will be listed) are used in the production of other products.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jaime Motts

Consumer Relations

 

From: Christine Young [mailto:crabbiappl@aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 12:39 PM
To: webmail
Subject: HELP REGARDING: Ferrara Candy Company response to your comment -

 

Thanks for the reply but can you tell me if your allergen statement on the package will disclose whether the facility is nut free or alternatively, whether the facility contains nuts?

Christine Young
crabbiappl@aol.com


 

Begin forwarded message:



Subject: Ferrara Candy Company response to your comment

Date: January 20, 2014 12:00:13 PM CST

 

Ms. Christine Young
Apt 3
317 W Belden Ave
Chicago, IL 60614-3884

Dear Ms. Young:

Thank you for contacting Ferrara Candy Company regarding . Hearing from our consumers better enables us to continue to provide quality products and services.  Consumer feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Ferrara Candy Company takes allergen issues seriously.  Packages must be labeled appropriately for potential allergens.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines suggest labeling for at least the “Big 8” allergies.

Product  labels for product manufactured and/or packaged on lines in which other products containing any of the “Big 8” will contain an allergen statement.  Allergens listed explicitly in the ingredients may not be listed dually in the allergen statement.

Ferrara Candy Company maintains several manufacturing and packaging facilities.  While some of these facilities are nut free or free from some or all of the "Big 8" allergens, others are not.  In addition, processes may change from time to time.  Please refer to the packaging, as the packaging contains the most current ingredient and allergen statements.  Packaging is updated anytime a change is made to the production location of any item.

Due to constant changes in manufacturing and packaging, Ferrara Candy Company is not able to offer a list of allergen affected items.

Thank you for contacting Ferrara Candy Company with your request for information on our allergens.

Please visit our website at www.ferrarausa.com for additional information about our products and services. 

Sincerely,

Jaime Motts
Consumer Relations



000156841A

 



Monday, January 13, 2014

Edy's Fruit Bars - shared equip that's cleaned and tested


Thank you for your email requesting nutritional information on Edy's® Fruit Bars. In an increasingly health-conscious society, we are always pleased to respond to our consumers' questions regarding our products.
Our facilities follow all federal and state regulations with regard to food and food safety. We do not use designated lines for products that contain known allergens, such as nuts and wheat. We do, however, thoroughly cleanse, sterilize and rinse every part of the machinery used in manufacturing, especially parts where any known food allergens come in contact.

The addition of "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts and nuts" is not considered mandatory by the FDA standards. If our vendors use this claim on the ingredients they supply us, we will include it on the packages containing that particular ingredient.
We hope that this information is useful to you and we appreciate your taking the time to contact our company to share your concerns.

Sincerely,

Andrew Sudnik
Consumer Response Representative

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