Sometimes I see this on the FAQ section of smaller manufacturers' Web sites:

Q:  Are your products produced on the same lines as products containing nuts?
A:  None of our products contain nuts

When I see this I think: The manufacturer is covering up something.  Because many brands are produced in shared factories with other brands.  And even the larger brands sometimes produce smaller brands or supermarket brands in their factories.  But the answer doesn't tell me what's on the lines or in the factory, only what their products contain.

When I see an answer like that I don't use that brand.  I won't even call because I wouldn't trust their answer.   

HEAR (this one from a school nurse):

"This food was totally safe!  I read the label on the ice cream and there is no mention of peanuts."


THINK:

This person is clueless about food labeling and its limitations and has an inflated sense of her abilities.

Eat NONE of the food.

HEAR:

"This food is 'nut free' -- so there won't be any peanuts in it."

"This food is 'peanut free' -- so there won't be any nuts in it."

THINK: 

This person doesn't get it and there is NO WAY this food is safe.

"Oh yes, I remembered (about your wheat allergy).  But this is white bread.  I specifically avoided the wheat."

"This hair product is all natural."  Actually having experienced anaphylaxis to chamomile, it scares me more.

how could I forget....

....looked, I picked all the nuts off....it's ok to eat now!

"But, it's organic!"
-or-
"I bought it from the nut free bakery, just for you" and then cut it with the same knife they used on something with nuts in it.  *sigh*
-or-
A caterer once told me that they don't use nuts because so many people have allergies and don't know it.  (That's a bit weird, but okay.)  Yet, they were oblivious to traces and cross-contamination... So, whilst their initial statement may sound comforting, it raised some red flags once I found out more.

LOL, that's a new one; haven't heard that one.

"Well, there's 0% protein listed on the nutritional label, so butter couldn't possibly contain any allergens because people react to proteins."

"breadsticks --- those could have milk or egg in them?" says DS's home ec teacher, when discussing the upcoming cooking unit and making it safe for DS. 

LOL
She is very good about it and is doing everything I ask to make it safe, using my recipes, extra cleaning of cookware, etc.  It worked well when DD went through home ec.  But the home ec teacher didn't know that breadsticks could have milk or egg .......

_{edited to fix booboo}

Quote from: maeve on April 19, 2013, 09:41:05 PM
A red flag for me is if you get a wait person who mentions they have celiac because I find that they're overconfident about their knowledge of food allergies..

Even saying they (or a family member) has food allergies sometimes makes me trust them less then if they weren't dealing with allergies.  What works for YOU may not work for ME.

well, i melted the choc and didnt see any lumps, so theres no nuts in it.

its only cake, cant see any nuts in it.

yorkshire pud, whats wrong with that? eggs? where?


have you tried honey?, it's fantastic stuff, cures quite a lot.

well....if you're only a little bit allergic........

I don't see any nuts in it!

But I bought it special for your DD!  (even though allergen is on label)

A red flag for me is if you get a wait person who mentions they have celiac because I find that they're overconfident about their knowledge of food allergies.  I understand that cross-contamination is a risk for celiac but it's not going to result in potential death in the very immediate future.

Another fave of mine is when you mention egg allergy and the server then says something about dairy.  People think because eggs are sold out of the dairy case that they're dairy.  Um no.  You can't milk a chicken and cows don't lay eggs. 

"Um... aerosol sensitive... you mean like air fresheners??"