http://snacksafely.com/2016/03/petition-to-kelloggs-do-not-add-peanut-flour-to-your-products/ (http://snacksafely.com/2016/03/petition-to-kelloggs-do-not-add-peanut-flour-to-your-products/)
I don't think I've ever seen these products before. Maybe they're not available in Canada, or maybe have a sesame warning.
Anyway, someone on-line was saying they always had a peanut warning for may contain. Anyone know if it's correct?
I do not like the wording of that petition at all. I agree with the idea of a petition in this case, but the inflammatory language is nit the way to go, IMO. And it leaves out some very important points, while making some that, while it may happen, is truly the responsibility of the consumer, not the manufacturer.
I currently have the Keebler Club and Cheddar Sandwich crackers as well as the Keebler Toast and PB sandwich crackers at home. I do not have the boxes they came in, but there is no may contains warning on the cheese crackers that I can see (package is a little hard to read with the crackers in there).
Am wondering if the manufacturing / "may contain" label varies by region?
Yeah, not thrilled with wording in that petition.
*sigh*
I don't think I've ever seen a may contains warning on any of these packages. I have to agree, I won't sign that petition due to the wording.
The only thing I disagree with is:
"Furthermore, shoppers that have no reason to believe that a cheese cracker might contain peanuts may never read your advisories, endangering themselves or the children ...."
Because these were the only ones that were actually safe. All the others have a May contain statement and the logic that people might not think the read the label, therefore you shouldn't add peanut flour doesn't hold.
People can die by not reading the labels of other similar crackers out there that contain peanuts (trace amounts).
Language used in that petition that I might not have used and opted for something less strong or potentially emotional (but maybe that's just
the me, now, in 2016 ;D ):
outraged
unethical
and the follow on:
Quote
By signing the petition, you will send a clear message to Kellogg's that adding peanut flour to their crackers (and subsequent products) is irresponsible, unethical, and will not be tolerated.
All just my own humble opinion.
Just updating with their follow up post . . . still don't agree with some of the wording OR the reasoning behind some of the word choices:
http://snacksafely.com/2016/04/answering-your-questions-about-the-kelloggs-no-peanut-flour-petition/ (http://snacksafely.com/2016/04/answering-your-questions-about-the-kelloggs-no-peanut-flour-petition/)
Accusing this major corporation of being "unethical" in this instance seems not the best course of action . . . .
I agree-- I wasn't going to comment other than simply not signing it-- but--
Keebler, has been one of the most AMAZING examples of voluntary labeling of shared production spaces on the theory that people who are extremely VULNERABLE due to having low threshold doses for pn/tn can be harmed by traces that won't necessarily be eliminated by "cleaning" or "GMP" or "allergen handling protocols" or even, as it happens-- by "testing" for protein traces.
All of which is true, IMO/IME.
In fact, this is the precise reason why we have NEVER been able to trust Kraft, and why we've slowly had to eliminate a ton of General Mills products from DD's life, as they've walked back to a Kraft-like stance themselves, divulging only what they KNOW is a problem, and figuring that don't-ask-don't-tell is good enough for everyone. (arrogantly, if you ask me) Trader Joe's, similarly...
Well, Keebler doesn't treat peanuts that way.
I appreciate that. ENORMOUSLY.
My loyalty over that issue precludes me biting the hand that takes such care feeding us all, KWIM?
Keebler is owned by (part of?) Kellogg aren't they? Kellogg has always been good about labelling too.
Yes, Kellogg . . . but there seems to be some shifting (or maybe further clarificaton?) as to how Kellogg's does and does nOT label . . . as usual there seems to be confusion and maybe mixed messaging.
:bye: Hi, SL, nice to see you!
HI :bye:
I had been wondering if this really was NOT an ingredient change such as an actual ADDITION of peanut flour, but rather a manufacturing change to a facility where now the items are a "may contain" due to unintended Xcontam and peanut flour in other crackers made in same facility?
And now I've seen some postings as to Kelloggs that perhaps this is the case? (But have not seen anything posted by Kelloggs directly . . . )
Quote from: ajasfolks2 on April 01, 2016, 11:07:53 PM
I had been wondering if this really was NOT an ingredient change such as an actual ADDITION of peanut flour, but rather a manufacturing change to a facility where now the items are a "may contain" due to unintended Xcontam and peanut flour in other crackers made in same facility?
And now I've seen some postings as to Kelloggs that perhaps this is the case? (But have not seen anything posted by Kelloggs directly . . . )
Aacording to the FARE media release, peanut flour is an added ingredient.
http://www.foodallergy.org/alerts/ingredient-notices-feed (http://www.foodallergy.org/alerts/ingredient-notices-feed)
Quotestarting in April, 2016; Austin will be changing the allergen statement on four flavors of sandwich crackers under the Austin® label. The flavors, Austin® Cheddar Cheese Cracker Sandwiches, Austin® Grilled Cheese Cracker Sandwiches, Austin® Pepper Jack Cracker Sandwiches and the Austin® Variety Pack Cracker Sandwiches will contain Wheat, Milk, Soy, and Peanut ingredients. The products will contain a new ingredient, peanut flour.
My DD used to eat these routinely- both the Austin cheese crackers by Kellogs, and the Club cheese crackers by Keebler. They have never had a PN warning of any kind on them. And while I'm always frustrated when something she has enjoyed is no longer an option for her, I am more concerned about how schools will handle this situation. I realize that the way snack time is handled at everyone's school is different. However, in our school the older grades get to bring in their own snack (3rd-5th grades). We only require that the teacher monitor the snacks for blatant PN (something w/ PN or something PN butter flavored, etc) and not allow those items in the classroom. I'm fine with may contains/manufactured in a facility being in the classroom since DD will be eating her own snack from home and CC risk is low. Having an item like this that is not an "expected" source of PN, I can see a teacher not thinking twice about allowing it into the classroom and contaminating children's desks/hands within the classroom that is supposed to be "peanut free". That is my main issue with it. And the fact that I would guess it is consumed mostly by children, not adults- in an age where PN allergy is at an all-time high. I would also be concerned about that PN allergic teen who sees this item in a vending machine and knows it's always been a safe snack, wasn't informed of the change and goes ahead and consumes it without reading the label first. I realize, labels should be read every time. But, I'm guessing that teens don't always abide by that rule. I just think it's a step backwards for two major companies. I can't even think of any other snacks offhand that actually contain PN flour. The only item I can think of marketed towards kids that has PN flour is Count Chocula cereal. It's just not something that's common these days, to my knowledge anyway.
From what I have been reading it is being added to the ingredients of many products (nutrigrain bars may be next) because it is cheaper to do this than the headache of a facility change with the new laws FDA is enforcing as of this month?? They're adding peanut so they don't have to take all of the effort and precaution (and associated cost) to make sure there are no peanut traces from other products.....
http://snacksafely.com/2016/05/kelloggs-now-adding-traces-of-peanut-flour-across-product-lines/ (http://snacksafely.com/2016/05/kelloggs-now-adding-traces-of-peanut-flour-across-product-lines/)
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/)
I am going to go insane about this.
Seriously - getting ready to unleash the food allergy ninja mama that has been suppressed for years....
just read the thread....
sorry you guys didn't like the language.....but I think this change is BS and it's all to circumvent the law and it will lead to reactions and potentially deaths.
there are lots and lots of very bad words in my head right now.....
File FDA consumer complaints. Report deliberate addition of trace allergens timed perfectly with the effective date for large manufacturer compliance, and that industry-wide practice will not only gut the purpose of the rule to increase consumer safety by circumventing on a technicality, it will conversely and intentionionally reduce transparency putting an extremely at risk population at unreasonable life-threatening risk.
At the very least they need to put food manufacturers on notice non-compliance through disingenuous trace additions of the most potent allergens responsible for consumer deaths attributed to lack of transparency will be called as BS, backed by enforcement.
fda .gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/
You're experienced advocates. Show them how it's done.
I am a tired advocate who doesn't have time for this crap Kellogg's is pulling.
But--General Mills is just up the road. Hmmmm.
I'm tired too, been told by doctor to step away, but I'm on this one for sure. We don't use a lot of their products so it's not super personal, in my head, at the moment. So far only time for Twitter....but I will do more
Snack Safely posted this on FB: "Our apologies; It is NEVER our intent to mislead our readers, but we clearly got the facts wrong on this one. Please read this retraction."
Their site is bogged down so I have't been able to get to the article.
OK, I got on it.....site had crashed
http://snacksafely.com/2016/05/retraction-of-our-kelloggs-nutri-grain-article/ (http://snacksafely.com/2016/05/retraction-of-our-kelloggs-nutri-grain-article/)
"Yesterday, we posted an article entitled "Kellogg's Now Adding Traces of Peanut Flour Across Product Lines" that asserted that Kellogg's had recently begun adding trace quantities of peanut flour to Nutri-Grain Apple Cobbler Fruit Crunch Bars, much like their recent addition of peanut flour to the company's Keebler and Austin cracker varieties.
Despite our best efforts to verify the timing of this addition, we were wrong. Though the product information is listed on the company's website, the product itself has been discontinued. We apologize to you, or readers, and to the Kellogg Company for this error.
That said, this does not alter our belief that the company is adding minute quantities of peanut flour – as they have done with the Keebler and Austin crackers – to avoid the complications and cost of complying with new, stricter FSMA directives regarding the handling of allergens that take effect this September. We reiterate our call to the company to explain why they are adding this allergen to products and end the speculation."
We'll know when they put peanut flour in Corn Flakes!
http://www.snopes.com/kelloggs-peanut-flour-allergies/ (http://www.snopes.com/kelloggs-peanut-flour-allergies/)
QuoteThe "Fruit Crunch" Nutri-Grain bars mentioned in the Snack Safely blog post have been discontinued and are no longer on the market. Additionally, they always had peanut flour listed as an ingredient since they were introduced in 2012, and there is currently no new product or ingredient change.
I think Dave at Snack Safely has lost a lot of credibility, not just personally, but for Snack Safely as a brand . . .
just my humble opinion.
It was a mistake.....but I'm happy they are looking at this and for what they do
Quote from: ajasfolks2 on May 12, 2016, 10:21:55 AM
I think Dave at Snack Safely has lost a lot of credibility, not just personally, but for Snack Safely as a brand . . .
just my humble opinion.
I have to admit I never actually thought much of them before this. But seeing a post today where they used the term
Big Food while talking about Kellogg's....well I'm not going to post what thought popped into my head, but suffice to say, any chance of me ever giving them the benefit of the doubt on anything just flew out the window.
Quote from: SilverLining on May 12, 2016, 10:42:31 AM
Quote from: ajasfolks2 on May 12, 2016, 10:21:55 AM
I think Dave at Snack Safely has lost a lot of credibility, not just personally, but for Snack Safely as a brand . . .
just my humble opinion.
I also never really trusted Snack Safely and would secretly cringe when I saw the name pop up on school lists. I guess I didn't trust them because they were so focused on nut allergies.
I have to admit I never actually thought much of them before this. But seeing a post today where they used the term Big Food while talking about Kellogg's....well I'm not going to post what thought popped into my head, but suffice to say, any chance of me ever giving them the benefit of the doubt on anything just flew out the window.
I've noticed that too, and it bothers me.
Just want to add that I have asked Kellogg's in many different ways what else is made in the facility where they are using the peanut flour because I don't trust that peanut flour won't cc things even not on the same line. They refuse to answer. I have asked about specific products, asked about products in general, explained why I was concerned, gave real life examples (the amount of flour that gets all over my kitchen, even when I'm only using it in one area, is amazing sometimes) and more and they just say to read the label and how sorry they are to *have* to make this change. When they said they were working on a way to make a safe cheese cracker I pointed out that they already were so they could just keep doing it and I kept on getting the same "read the label and trust us" answers. On some messages they didn't even come close to answering what I asked at all. We're still buying pop tarts for now but I've quit all other kellogg's/keebler/sunshine/kashi products. The lack of transparency bugs me as much as anything.