I'm looking for an alternative to Quaker, because they have thoroughly pi$$ed me off.
I use plain, old fashioned oats, no flavors, not instant, etc.
I used McCann's back in the day, but seem to remember something about them being X-contaminated?
Any recommendations?
Mom's Best told me there are no nuts or peanuts in the facility where the oatmeal is made. Flahavan's is also from a nut free facility but I have to order it from amazon.
They did apologize--in case you weren't aware. It may not matter to you, but just thought I'd share it.
No advice, as I've not actually checked on it in many, many years-- but Snoqualmie Falls Lodge brand is a guilty pleasure here and has been forever. :heart:
DH uses Old Wessex Scottish-style oats. I have no clue about cross-contam as he has no nut allergies and I can't eat oats, but I don't think the company makes any other products, so it would be worth a call.
Quaker couldn't tell me if their oats had nut cross-contamination in them after I had a reaction, so we stopped using them years ago. We now use pure oats from Libre Naturals (top 11-free, plus more). In Canada, you can also check the No Name brand ones from Superstore -or- Our Compliments brand from Sobeys - they both have great labelling policies and customer service.
Got a call back from McCann's today - their plain oats and steel cut oats are made in a facility with tree nuts - no peanuts in the facility at all. When they need to share lines, it is only done after an allergen wash.
Um, thanks, but no thanks. I'll pass.
I emailed Flahavans. They responded that they are a peanut/tree nut/egg/shellfish-free facility. They didn't address my question about sesame, but I think that's probably unlikely.
You might want to try again. This is what a member of one of the FB groups got
Thank you for your email and your interest in out products.Our oatmeal products are manufactured in our mill here which is a nut free site.With relation to your friend who has a child allergic to seeds, we do use seeds on site, however we do not use the allergen sesame seed.I hope this information helps! Do not hesitate to contact us should you require further clarification.Thanks & regards,Camille Mulhearne Customer Service E. Flahavan & Sons Ltd, Kilnagrange Mills, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford Tel: +353 (0)51 294107 Fax: +353 (0)51 294308 Web: www.flahavans.com (http://www.flahavans.com)
Quote from: Jessica on January 10, 2015, 04:30:42 AM
You might want to try again. This is what a member of one of the FB groups got
Thank you for your email and your interest in out products.Our oatmeal products are manufactured in our mill here which is a nut free site.With relation to your friend who has a child allergic to seeds, we do use seeds on site, however we do not use the allergen sesame seed.I hope this information helps! Do not hesitate to contact us should you require further clarification.Thanks & regards,Camille Mulhearne Customer Service E. Flahavan & Sons Ltd, Kilnagrange Mills, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford Tel: +353 (0)51 294107 Fax: +353 (0)51 294308 Web: www.flahavans.com (http://www.flahavans.com)
Ooh. Thank you!
Today at Stop & Shop I saw Hodgson Mills Steel Cut Oats with a label that said they are made in a PN and TM-free facility.
Since I'm a whore for anything with that labeling, I bought it. I'll give a review when I'm done with my current package of Quaker.
We use either Chex brand oatmeal both instant and the bagged that I use for baking cookies, which is labeled gluten free and I trust General Mills labeling policy, or we use Nature's Promise ( Giant/ Stop n Shop/ Martins) instant oatmeal. I have called twice to verify that it is made in a peanut and free nut free facility.
Setsail - does Chex have larger packages? Several members use the individual packets but it would be nice to have access to a larger container.
I've never seen Chex oatmeal - wonder if it is regional?
Oooh, found it and now I will be on the search for it (wish we lived in the NE where the available GF products are so much more prevalent).
I've seen the Chex oatmeal in 6 pack instant versions, and in a 16 oz cook and eat type. When we travel I buy it at Walmart, which hopefully means it should be available at most Walmart stores across the US.
Wonder if it's available on Amazon? We use Amazon for quite a few things that are hard to find here, even being in a big burb area. Keebler vanilla wafers, Golden Malted waffle/ pancake mix.
Quote from: GoingNuts on January 17, 2015, 04:19:47 PM
Today at Stop & Shop I saw Hodgson Mills Steel Cut Oats with a label that said they are made in a PN and TM-free facility.
Since I'm a whore for anything with that labeling, I bought it. I'll give a review when I'm done with my current package of Quaker.
Excellent.
Will look for that!!
I will also say that in the past, Hodgson Mills have been
lovely, helpful and informative re: allergen info in phone conversations. Really above and beyond.
Quote from: setsail on January 17, 2015, 04:29:36 PM
I have called twice to verify that it is made in a peanut and free nut free facility.
Wait, GM said this or the store brand? The store brand I would be more likely to believe.
The CS rep said unmistakably the facility is tree nut and peanut free, or they said if there was any chance of cross-contact they would label for it? Because straight from the global GM toxicologist's mouth face-to-face he would NOT answer that question about facilities and said GM never will. It is all about allergen management and if they feel there is risk they will put it on the label but it is ultimately a call they determine.
It's not something I would release to the internet but I do have it recorded.
That being said, I suspect GM does indeed manage some facilities at least peanut free but choose to not disclose it to maintain some sort of corporate control and I do use their products even if I couldn't pressure them into disclosure.
Assuming you were referring to GM. I couldn't tell the way it was written.
Amazon has an electronic coupon for 20% off some of the Chex Oatmeals. Not that I'm torqued at Quaker but the Chex comes in ready to serve sizes that don't contain milk and they are willing to go on the line as GF. I have to make those sort of choices.
Correct, the store brand said PN/ tn free facility. Sorry my post wasn't clearer.
It's annoying that some companies won't directly answer the question a out nuts in the facility vs shared lines, and I'm pretty certain as well that GM uses shared facilities for many products though I have been told, when calling about Cascadian Farm frozen vegetables, that they would label for nuts in the same facility as a May contain. Maybe it's a distinction for that specific brand and item?
The company line is "if there is a risk" they will label. That line translates to if they believe there is a risk according to some mystery rubric. The allergist sitting next to me was shaking his head in response to the GM spokesperson's explanation of their policy saying you can't predict risk across all patients. Then he asked me what I'd rather have. I said tell me what's on the line and let me assess if I want to ingest the item or not.
Now, what the scripts are for the CS reps and for all they know it's an honest answer. They only know what they're trained to tell customers on the phone. Human variance being what it is we can safely assume they have an upbeat message that it's all managed--which is in line with the company message. On the positive they truly want our business I'll vouch for that much. They are unafraid of the food allergy consumer segment. That guy will never present to a crowd like us again, I don't blame him, but if it's going to be a monologue marketing message send a trained marketing professional.
Anyhow setsail, I did order some Chex oatmeal on Amazon with a 20% off coupon. It's primed so it should be fast delivery and *thank you* for mentioning it!!
Quote from: guess on January 19, 2015, 09:37:51 PM
The company line is "if there is a risk" they will label. That line translates to if they believe there is a risk according to some mystery rubric. The allergist sitting next to me was shaking his head in response to the GM spokesperson's explanation of their policy saying you can't predict risk across all patients. Then he asked me what I'd rather have. I said tell me what's on the line and let me assess if I want to ingest the item or not.
Anyhow setsail, I did order some Chex oatmeal on Amazon with a 20% off coupon. It's primed so it should be fast delivery and *thank you* for mentioning it!!
Lol that is when I lost it for the third time on Mondelez. Yes they openly provide info about their cleaning regimen but I want to be able to make the informed decision. As a consumer I believe it's my right to know if there is a chance my allergen was used in a product before the one I wish to buy.
Hope the Chex works for your family! My two year old doesn't care for the apple cinnamon, pretty sure it's a texture issue, but he loves the cinnamon and even eats the plain. Now if I could find an instant grits product so I can completely dump Quaker.
I saw a picture on facebook today of a nature valley product (from General Mills) with no warning for peanut but peanut oil (refined, it said) in the ingredients. So I guess General Mills does not consider refined peanut oil an allergen. It did have a 'contains' statement for soy.