I called on these because there was no warning on the packages again. She said there never were nuts at those plants that corporate was putting the warning on all their products. After negative feedback, they decided to stop the CYA labeling. My kids were so excited!
I asked about the chocolate cupcakes and chocolate & powdered Donettes.
Interesting...I was just thinking that I needed to call since Walmart (or at least mine) doesn't have the mini donuts anymore and I was planning to let the kids make snowman faces and reindeers for snack once we got closer to christmas.
Does this mean they're labeling for cross contamination only on items from shared facilities? Or not labeling at all like before? Any time I've called I had to beg and plead to get them to give me the info on safe plant numbers, and I finally gave up. That was about the time they had warnings on some things and not others, and I felt like it just wasn't consistent at all. For example, I would see two different items with the same plant code, with one having a warning and one not having one. So clearly something wasn't jiving.
I hate when companies do this. When exactly should we trust the labeling. Not to mention younger kids getting confused. It's safe, it's not safe, now it's safe. ???
She had me read off the codes and told no nuts ever in those building. I will always be reading label and calling every couple of months. Very frustrating!! I called since I couldn't find the Great Value donuts. Hopefully, they will stick with this labeling.
I emailed today and they called me back when I wasn't home. I'll try again tomorrow. I am not ever at the store during the time their offices are open so I would have to write down numbers and call the next day.
Hostess is closing their doors. How terrible is that!
I saw that last night. I wonder if I should bother calling them back now.
I really wish other junk food companies like little debbie would label better. I know great value and mrs freshley's does but they don't have the same things hostess offered.
I just tried calling and even though it's during the business hours they stated, they are closed.
Yes, Hostess brands is shutting down due to bankruptcy :-[
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Hostess Brands -- the maker of such iconic baked goods as Twinkies, Drake's Devil Dogs and Wonder Bread -- announced Friday that it is asking a federal bankruptcy court for permission to close its operations, blaming a strike by bakers protesting a new contract imposed on them.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/16/news/companies/hostess-closing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 (http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/16/news/companies/hostess-closing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3)
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Some products will continue to be available in Canada as they have different manufacturers than in the USA... Wonder bread will still be at stores as it is made by Weston bakeries, and the Hostess baked goods will still be available as they are made by Saputo, and the Hostess potato chips should still be available at Food Basic and No Frills.
This is terrible news for me. Wonder bread is the only safe bread I have been able to find in CA. Everything else is owned by Bimbo Bakeries. When I called BIMBO they recommend that anyone with food allergies avoid all their products. They are the single largest bakery in the USA, owning Sara Lee, Roman Meal, Orowheat,Thomas's, Entemann's, Tia Rosa, Earthgrains, Ball Park, Arnold, etc, etc. etc.... So what's left? I guess I can make homemade bread, but what about hot dog and hamburger buns? What do you all use?
When we went out west a few years back, I thought I bought Gold Medal bread by General Mills out there. I could have sworn it was in Southern California at a Stater Brothers.
eta: looking at the gold medal bakery site it doesn't look like GM owns it after all. I am pretty sure at the time, there was a GM mention on it because we have a very tight comfort zone and I would have been really careful, especially when traveling.
The strongest brands will be sold off to other manufacturers. Unfortunately, Bimbo is one of the biggest conglomerates out there and although that sounds anti-corporation of me what it actually translates to is a manufacturer that tells you to bugger off if you inquire about cross-contamination. Twinkies, Wonder Bread, any of the iconic brands will stick around with who they'll end up with, big shrug.
I'll probably have to go on an intense local search because I cannot make homemade bread due to one child anaphylactic to barley/wheat.
Quote from: joshsmom on November 12, 2012, 08:27:09 PM
I called on these because there was no warning on the packages again. She said there never were nuts at those plants that corporate was putting the warning on all their products. After negative feedback, they decided to stop the CYA labeling. My kids were so excited!
I asked about the chocolate cupcakes and chocolate & powdered Donettes.
Ok, I just want to clarify so I can look for these...all powdered and chocolate donettes are safe? If I find them now (I haven't bought anything hostess in decades), will they still be fresh by December 21 (if unopened)?
Quote from: twinturbo on November 17, 2012, 06:50:55 AM
The strongest brands will be sold off to other manufacturers. Unfortunately, Bimbo is one of the biggest conglomerates out there and although that sounds anti-corporation of me what it actually translates to is a manufacturer that tells you to bugger off if you inquire about cross-contamination. Twinkies, Wonder Bread, any of the iconic brands will stick around with who they'll end up with, big shrug.
.
I was telling dh last night that it would be nice if a company like general mills bought it. Doubtful though.
Jessica--Wouldn't that be a perfect solution? I just got back from Walmart. Literally all of the bread they had were bimbo owned companies. Fortunately the great value bread in my area read safe so I picked up a couple of loads of those. However, the hot dog buns and hamburger buns had warnings. I was online this morning looking at recipes for homemade hot dog buns. I found a couple that look promising and I also found a hot dog bun baking pan.
Quote from: pitter patter on November 16, 2012, 10:25:12 PM
I guess I can make homemade bread, but what about hot dog and hamburger buns? What do you all use?
I make my own hamburger buns with a recipe I got from someone (Cookingmom?) from this group. Hotdog buns I use a frenchstick recipe and make them smaller. I've tried various recipes, but that's what works best for me.
The hostess shelves are bare...nothing to be found.
Anyone know about Entemann's mini donuts?
There's a company here called Aunt Millie's that labels well. We buy their hot dog buns sometimes (don't really use hamburger buns). Also, the company that makes King's Hawaiian Rolls also makes hot dog and hamburger buns now and we trust them.
Quote from: hezzier on November 18, 2012, 12:54:00 PM
The hostess shelves are bare...nothing to be found.
Anyone know about Entemann's mini donuts?
There were discussions about Entenmann's a while back. Some trusted them and some don't. I didn't feel like their labeling was very consistent.
found these:
http://averageallergymom.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-first-er-visit-from-food-allergies.html (http://averageallergymom.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-first-er-visit-from-food-allergies.html)
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a25232003/ana_reaction_to_entenmanns_donut_and_questions_on_follow_up (http://community.babycenter.com/post/a25232003/ana_reaction_to_entenmanns_donut_and_questions_on_follow_up)
They are both over a year old though so I don't know if anything has changed with entenmann's.
Entemann's is owned by Bimbo. When a company tells consumers with food allergies to avoid their products, I take that to mean that they don't take any precautions. I will never use any product distributed or owned by Bimbo bakeries.
We are MA/PA/TNA/EA. For bread, we've used the Simply Pillsbury bread that come in the tubes in the refrigerator case. I like the "Simply" bread because it doesn't have a lot of additives and preservatives. I think the standard Pillsbury French Bread is also safe.
I haven't seen the Simply bread for a while here in the Northeast. I saw it this summer at a Vons in Southern California, though.
For my toddler, I also give him the El Paso white flour tortillas as a sub for bread.
Doesn't help with the donuts, though. :'(
Quote from: Jessica on November 18, 2012, 01:00:05 PM
found these:
http://averageallergymom.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-first-er-visit-from-food-allergies.html (http://averageallergymom.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-first-er-visit-from-food-allergies.html)
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a25232003/ana_reaction_to_entenmanns_donut_and_questions_on_follow_up (http://community.babycenter.com/post/a25232003/ana_reaction_to_entenmanns_donut_and_questions_on_follow_up)
They are both over a year old though so I don't know if anything has changed with entenmann's.
I'll have to make a phone call and see what they say and then make my decision. I read part of the links you posted...interestingly enough the second link said child was allergic to coconut and when I read the label on the entemann's little donuts today, I noticed it was labeled specifically for coconut.
I don't see Pepperidge Farm mentioned for bread?
It is usually available at Walmart & many other grocers in the US -- but don't know about Canada.
Ok, I just got off the phone with Entemann's. They will put a "may contains" statement on the package for shared lines, but will not put a "may contains" statement if the allergen is in facility, but not on a shared line.
I have to think on this one.
Possible rumor that Flowers Foods may buy some Hostess recipes. Anyone know how good they are at labeling? I've never used any of their products.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/twinkies-likely-to-survive-hostess-sale_n_2156415.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/twinkies-likely-to-survive-hostess-sale_n_2156415.html)
Also story about Bimbo buying them:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/bimbo-twinkies-mexican-hostess-liquidation_n_2155070.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/18/bimbo-twinkies-mexican-hostess-liquidation_n_2155070.html)
I'm guessing this won't end well for the food allergy set.
Quote from: pitter patter on November 18, 2012, 02:07:29 PM
Entemann's is owned by Bimbo. When a company tells consumers with food allergies to avoid their products, I take that to mean that they don't take any precautions. I will never use any product distributed or owned by Bimbo bakeries.
There is a company called "Bimbo" Bakeries? An unfortunate choice of names. Who is their spokesperson.. Paris Hilton? :misspeak: I have a certain image in my mind when I hear the word Bimbo, and here are the definitions from dictionary.com:
bim·bo [bim-boh] Show IPA
noun, plural bim·bos, bim·boes. Slang .
1. a foolish, stupid, or inept person.
2 .a man or fellow, often a disreputable or contemptible one.
3. an attractive but stupid young woman, especially one with loose morals.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgBA-BcgB8w/Tcox81ARxBI/AAAAAAAABfE/VVD5LdjRJJ8/s320/parisnicole.jpg)
Perhaps it's time to change to a better name... Open Window Bakery? Country Harvest?
I haven't actually seen this brand, but apparently there is a pronunciation guide on some of their products and it's supposed to be "beem-bo". But I still say bimbo and it makes me think the same way you do, Erik.
btw #2, to me, is more of a mimbo than a bimbo. LOL
They are NOT all safe. If you call Interstate Bakeries (though I do not know who will answer at this point), they can give you a list of safe and unsafe codes based on your zipcode. I have called a dozen times over the years, most recently 2 months ago. They are wonderfully helpful and will tell you exactly which nuts are in the facility but all the donettes are NOT from nut-free facilities. She specifically gave me numbers from a facility with walnuts that I found at my local stores. About 1/2 the time I can find safe codes for cupcakes, twinkies, etc...I have never found safe donettes with regard to walnut.
Of course, not anymore...very depressed that the shelves are empty.
They are not closed. The judge ordered mediation between union and corporate! Lets hope they reach a deal and don't shut down!
I believe the plants are not operating currently is what I meant...our store shelves are empty. I got the last 2 loaves of Wonder bread at walmart on Saturday.
I couldn't believe I went to 7 stores and NOTHING was left. Never occurred to me to run and buy it all.
Quote from: Jessica on November 19, 2012, 12:42:05 PM
Possible rumor that Flowers Foods may buy some Hostess recipes. Anyone know how good they are at labeling? I've never used any of their products.
I was in the grocery store last night and noticed Bunny Bread makes mini donuts. They are owned by Flower Foods. This is the first time I've seen the donuts. Here's the list of their brands...
http://www.flowersfoods.com/FFC_Brands/index.cfm (http://www.flowersfoods.com/FFC_Brands/index.cfm)
In my experience Hostess has not been helpful when calling. They didn't want to give me plant codes and only wanted me to call about specific products at the time I wanted to buy them.
This information may not be helpful to most since it seems these bakeries tend to be regional, but I got a call back from Lewis Bakeries who is the regional distributor of the Bunny Bread products for my area. I asked about the Bunny Mini Donuts that come in a bag, both powdered and chocolate. I was told there is coconut on the same line, but no other nuts. However, there are pecans in the same facility.