Food Allergy Support

Discussion Boards => Mfrs. & Packaged Food => Topic started by: EmilyAnn on April 11, 2013, 10:07:11 AM

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Title: Ice Cream
Post by: EmilyAnn on April 11, 2013, 10:07:11 AM
My son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Someone mentioned in another post that Frosties from Wendys are safe. What about the hot fudge sundaes at McDonalds? The soft serve at Krispy Kreme? What other kinds of ice cream are safe? Any brands I can buy at the grocery store?
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: CMdeux on April 11, 2013, 10:37:33 AM
There are some people here who trust Breyer's vanilla and some who trust Blue BELL (not "Bunny") vanilla...

but you should probably be aware that no US manufacturer runs dedicated lines-- so any ice cream that you can buy in a store will be run on shared lines with tree nuts and peanuts.

Unfortunately, this doesn't really help in terms of decision-making.  Sorry about that.  We, personally, do not trust manufacturers to be able to deliver a low-enough-risk product under those conditions, no matter how good their intent.  Examine recalls for a few months back, and it becomes pretty obvious that ice cream is a VERY high risk item.

Soft serve from Wendy's is generally safe.  Soft serve in other establishments may or may not be, depending upon how other products (mix-ins, etc) are handled and whether or not there is contamination occurring.  (Does the spout touch mix-ins-- ever?)

Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Macabre on April 11, 2013, 12:07:26 PM
We let DS have soft serve from McD's. He is PA.  On accession if we are inside a Mc's and we can talk to them he will have a hot fudge/caramel sundae. BUT--the staff has to wash first and NOT pick up that little packet of peanuts. If they do that, the deal is off.

Other places that just have a soft serve machine we generally trust (like at Dickey's BBQ). 

We trust Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. IMMV. But it is run 24/7 and so most of the time is on dedicated equipment--but not truly dedicated. But practically so. We've not had a problem, but I cannot say that we won't or you won't.  But we trust it (and we've seen them take apart a fair amount of the equipment) 

We've bought Breyer's. About two or three years ago someone in our community posted about a reaction. But to my knowledge they did not send the rest of it to FAARP, a lab that will test for the presence of an allergen for free.

Many here have the Cuisinart ice cream maker.  It is easy and fast!  It's about $50 and worth every penny.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on April 11, 2013, 02:46:39 PM
We don't trust McD's for anything. The one here has reese's flurries and when I asked them what they do to avoid cross contamination, they had no idea what I was talking about. DD has has Wendy's frosties with no problems, and also BK Shakes (according to the worker they use the same "mix" for the shakes and the soft serve). From the store, we buy Ben & Jerry's and Breyer's plain vanilla (lactose free-my two NKA kids are lactose intolerant). PA/TNA DD  mostly eats the Ben & Jerry's-otherwise I would probably buy blue bell for her. I hate that blue bell has HFCS though. It's always something.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: becca on April 11, 2013, 04:35:33 PM
I did not know that Ben and Jerry's is considered safe by some.  Is it only the vanilla you use, Jessica? 

I think we have a looser comfort zone wrt ice creams than many here.  Yet, the Ben and Jerry's makes me twitchy because of all the variety of mix ins.  We use Breyers, and we use Edys, sometimes Hood vanilla.  Try to stick to pretty plain flavors.  Ice cream is really one of those things you need to call and decide.  Dd has never reacted and eats ice cream almost daily.  She is PA/TNA.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on April 11, 2013, 04:43:34 PM
We use any flavor of B&J that doesn't have any nut in it. I admit, it makes me nervous. We started using it based on posts at the old board (not the original pa.com but the one right before this) and so far, knock on wood, no problems.

Edy's, on the other hand, makes me nervous. Because they don't consider peanut oil to be an allergen and I know that it isn't for some. DD's allergist says to avoid it. He's had too many of his patients react to foods w/ peanut oil in them.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: becca on April 11, 2013, 04:54:26 PM
Hmmm, well, maybe we need to add Ben And Jerry's to our safe list.  I was just browsing the flavors on their website and they do label if a mix in is on shared equipment with nuts, like a toffee or cookie or something.  The eggs used to keep me away, but that is not a problem any longer. 

we do not buy any Edys flavor that has any peanut ingredient, oil or otherwise.  I have never seen peanut oil as an ingredient in any of our flavors we use.  I will have to watch for that, thanks.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: PurpleCat on April 13, 2013, 08:19:46 AM
We use:

Breyers - vanilla, chocolate, coffee and fudge swirl

Soft Serve - at McDonald's and a couple local ice cream shops that are careful and caring of our issues.

Novelties - popscicle, blue bunny - their allergen info online is a huge help determining which of their items are safe, edy's fruit bars, philly swirl, minutemade lemonade, hoodsie cups
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on April 13, 2013, 12:32:08 PM
We use:

Breyers - vanilla, chocolate, coffee and fudge swirl

Soft Serve - at McDonald's and a couple local ice cream shops that are careful and caring of our issues.

Novelties - popscicle, blue bunny - their allergen info online is a huge help determining which of their items are safe, edy's fruit bars, philly swirl, minutemade lemonade, hoodsie cups
What allergens do you avoid?
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: hezzier on March 28, 2014, 07:59:52 AM
So I went down a worm hole on FB and ended up at a post talking about how Breyer's had changed their policy.  Anyone have any info on this? 

The worm hole eventually ended here...(first time I've read anything on their site)
http://snacksafely.com/2014/02/update-to-safe-snack-guide-february-18-2014/

Now for all I know, Breyers has been this way the whole time and hasn't been an issue.  We only use Breyer's Natural Vanilla and we don't eat ice cream in the winter (too cold), plus DD mentioned the other day that we should get back to making our own.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on March 28, 2014, 08:48:34 AM
I take serious issue with your post Hezz.

It's never too cold for ice cream.  Never.

Carry on.

 ;D
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Macabre on March 28, 2014, 09:24:47 AM
One of our NOVA members (her user name is escaping me--was once upon a time Zuzumom or something like that, but it changed) had a child who reacted to (I believe) Breyer's vanilla bean.  I don't know if she ever sent it to be tested. 

We've had some of it since then, but rarely. 
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on March 28, 2014, 03:01:35 PM
I don't think Breyer's has ever claimed to test lines.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: spacecanada on March 29, 2014, 02:16:27 PM
Do they have Chapman's ice cream in America?
Many of their frozen desserts are made in their PN/TN-free facility and labelled as such:
http://www.chapmans.ca/HealthAndAllergies/PeanutNutFree
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on March 29, 2014, 04:13:57 PM
If they do it's in a very limited area (maybe northern US or new england area? )
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: YouKnowWho on March 31, 2014, 06:01:18 AM
I don't think Breyers has ever claimed to clean lines.  I just chose the standard Vanilla (and have to be careful about that because one has eggs) based on the assumption it is a popular flavor and least likely to share lines with others.

Not the safest approach for some but we aren't going to dial back until I see a rxn.  Trying to open up our comfort zone a little - it seems to be benefitting DS1 in other ways that are a mix of allergy and anxiety related.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: twinturbo on March 31, 2014, 11:43:09 AM
We don't have Chapman's in USA so shared lines are a reality. Take your pick of less likely.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on April 03, 2014, 06:14:13 PM
Breyer's did tell me years ago about their line cleaning process. Something about running 50 lbs of sugar through and then throwing the sugar away and then running another 50 lbs through or something. It had to do with sugar and throwing away the sugar when they were done. I must have gotten the email during the time period when my computer died and I lost a bunch of emails.

For some reason companies don't seem to want to give very detailed information these days.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: khadija on September 15, 2014, 12:51:14 AM
The only nut - free ice cream that I'm aware of is made by 'The Strauss Family Creamery'.
I contacted them a few days back and they gave me the following response.
Straus Family Creamery’s production plant is nut free. To ensure that our ingredients do not have any allergen contamination, we have implemented and maintain a supplier guarantee program, which ensures that all of our ingredient suppliers have validated allergen control programs."
Trader Joe's icecream which is to my knowledge Breyer ' s
Rebranded gave this response.

Our French Vanilla Ice Cream is made on equipment that does process both peanuts and tree nuts." Note the label does not indicate this.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on September 15, 2014, 01:13:46 AM
I believe Strauss Family ice cream is only available in California. Possibly only in southern California.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on September 15, 2014, 06:00:47 AM
Time to move to Southern Cali then.   ;)
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: MamaZu on September 15, 2014, 12:03:10 PM
 My son was the one who had the reaction to Breyers Vanilla.   Full body hives, and he ate nothing else but that so we were certain thats what caused it.   Never sent off the rest of the container and I should have....i threw it out but regret not finding out which allergen was the culprit.   We deal with PA and TNA.   Although his PA is believed to be much worse than the TNAs. 

The only ice cream he eats other than my homemade is an occasional chocolate Frosty from Wendys.   He's never had a problem.   We used to eat McDonalds many years ago before the McPEanutbutter cup thingys... but are not comfortable anymore with McD for ice cream or shakes. 

Lots of popsicles though, Philly Swirl and Luigis Italian Ice are his faves. 
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: candyguru on September 15, 2014, 08:08:51 PM
Time to move to Southern Cali then.   ;)

or move to Canada for Chapmans ;)
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: MomofChild on October 26, 2014, 10:10:35 PM
I've been making ice-cream for my pumpkin seed, sesame seed, tree nut, peanut, cucumber, and banana-allergic kid.  Just found out most suppliers of vanilla beans process them on lines shared with peanuts and tree nuts and even sesame.  Anyone know any pure and clean source?
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Macabre on October 26, 2014, 10:40:40 PM
Wow. We've never had a problem with them--but I've not called. 
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on October 27, 2014, 01:56:45 AM
Penzey's has told me theirs are from a pn and tn free facility but I don't know about the other allergens. I do know they sell sesame seeds.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: hezzier on October 27, 2014, 06:04:26 AM
http://www.nielsenmassey.com/culinary/faq.php

Q: Are your products Allergen-Free?
A: Yes. According to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are responsible for 90% of allergic reactions. Nielsen-Massey products are free of all of these potential allergens. This includes our Pure Almond Extract, which is nut free because it consists of bitter almond oil derived from stone fruit pits.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on October 27, 2014, 06:06:02 AM
Ooooh Hezz, that is great to know.  I'd love to find some quality almond extract that doesn't actually contain almonds!
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: hezzier on October 27, 2014, 06:38:52 AM
I haven't used this brand yet, but I remembered reading about it somewhere.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: spacecanada on December 09, 2014, 05:28:59 PM
What's the deal with So Delicious?  Their frozen coconut dessert (and chocolate mint coconut beverage for my husband) both have a lengthy allergy statement about cleaning procedures to prevent introduction of unlabelled ingredients in their products.  I couldn't find much more information on their website... just more of the same, and haven't had time to call.

A chef at Walt Disney World said I could eat it, but I was really skeptical of their allergen statement and chose not to.  (The chef showed me the container.)  I was trusting my gut at that point, and my gut said no. 

Does anyone trust So Delicious coconut products for PN/TN (and/or dairy)? 

(I cannot have anything with shared lines it seems, no matter how well they clean them - too many mystery hives trace back to those type of items.)
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Jessica on December 09, 2014, 06:24:25 PM
We use the So Delicious ice cream sandwiches during the summer.
Title: Re: Peanut-free Ice Cream
Post by: Gimmesix on January 10, 2015, 01:39:03 PM
For those looking for safe ice cream products for children with peanut allergies, Yarnell's is one of the few we've found that lists all the allergens it uses at its factory. It does not have a dedicated line, but was not using peanuts in any of its products the last time we checked. If it is, the allergen would be listed in the "manufactured on equipment" warning, according to the company.

Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: lakeswimr on January 10, 2015, 06:40:39 PM
We use So Delicious. I talked with them extensively and felt they had very good cleaning and testing practices in place.  YMMV. 
Title: Re: Ice Cream - Nut free
Post by: Anna W on April 07, 2016, 10:20:29 PM
I just checked with Straus as we are new to the US and this post was a little old. The response I received on Apr 4 2016 was "Straus Family Creamery’s production plant is peanut free. It is also tree-nut free, with one exception—coconut oil. Coconut oil is an ingredient in Organic Vanilla Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (only in the chips), and Organic Caramel Toffee Ice Cream (only in the toffee pieces). We have internal controls, including mandatory equipment cleanings, to ensure that there is no cross-contamination between products.

To ensure that our purchased ingredients do not have any allergen contamination, we have implemented and maintain a supplier-guarantee program, which ensures that all suppliers of ingredients to Straus Family Creamery have validated allergen control programs in place."

Yahoo! We will have a very happy eight year old.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Anna W on April 07, 2016, 10:22:20 PM
Straus icecream is available at Natural Grocers.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on April 08, 2016, 06:52:13 AM
In what part of the US?  It would be amazing to find a safe ice cream source!
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: PurpleCat on April 08, 2016, 07:58:39 AM
http://strausfamilycreamery.com/

 :'(  I searched within 100 miles of my zip code (hey it's ice cream!) and no one sells it near me. 
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: starlight on April 08, 2016, 08:20:06 AM
Straus is US west coast. A La Mode of NYC is supposedly going to be distributing in Costco's (I've been there a few times, it's amazing, I kinda hope it doesn't make it to the Midwest or I'll put on 100 pounds), but not sure where and when that's happening. I've heard that North Star's St. Louis facility is peanut-free (plant code 29-277), but I'm not sure if it's TN free and it's second-hand info so ymmv.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on April 08, 2016, 08:47:35 AM
[url]http://strausfamilycreamery.com/[/url]

 :'(  I searched within 100 miles of my zip code (hey it's ice cream!) and no one sells it near me.


Ditto!  :tongue:
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Macabre on April 10, 2016, 11:39:58 AM
So according to their website, two stores sell it within 100 miles of me. We were passing by one yesterday, so I put a scoop, plastic spoons, and paper bowls in baggie to take with us. I called, and the store said they didn't have it. Boo.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: MamaBear on May 23, 2016, 10:40:25 AM
I am new to the world of food allergies. My son is 13 months old and is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts (almost all), and eggs. We are an ice cream loving family! I am still breastfeeding so I have altered my diet to accommodate his allergies. We are learning to read food labels and have found a few ice cream flavor that appear to be safe. DS hasn't tried ice cream yet and after reading this thread I am questioning the safety of the ice cream I have been eating. We still battle with eczema and I am now thinking the ice cream could play a part in that.  What questions do I ask when contacting the manufacturer? We buy Breyer's vanilla most often.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: hezzier on May 23, 2016, 10:46:06 AM
If we buy it, we only use Breyer's Natural Vanilla (no eggs in it), otherwise we make it ourselves...it's quite easy.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Macabre on May 23, 2016, 12:41:14 PM
One of our members in Northern Virginia had a reaction to Breyer's Vanilla about 7 years ago (her son did).
 I buy it with a bit of unease, but we do but it sometimes. The Cuisinart ice cream maker is amazingly easy though. And zoku is an option for Popsicles (though there are a few safe ones you can buy, too).
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: GoingNuts on May 23, 2016, 07:29:12 PM
Only Mr. Softee or Carvel soft serve (and even then only at stores that only serve chocolate and vanilla).  Otherwise it's homemade for us.  And it rocks.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: spacecanada on May 23, 2016, 08:55:51 PM
Another vote for homemade! We like to blend up frozen bananas for a delicious and creamy frozen treat; add some frozen fruit or cocoa and make a variety of flavours. Yum!

Screamin Brothers is free of top-10 and more, but I don't know if they use corn in their packaging.  (I don't know what that waxy cardboard is made from, nothing I am allergic to, but you can call any manufacturer to find out.). We love their frozen desserts, maybe a little too much lately. 

I need to buy and freeze more bananas.
Title: Re: Ice Cream
Post by: Brittany Lehman on April 24, 2020, 08:42:28 PM
Yep, So Delicious has screwed me over from ever trusting their brand ever again. I tried their soymilk one and it tasted DISGUSTING, not to mention it also gave me a not fun reaction afterwards. Not anaphalaxis, but it definitely sent me into a panic attack shortly after eating it. I now know I have a tree nut and peanut allergy,  and that may have been the culprit,  but I STILL won't trust their brand ever again! >={8