Food Allergy Support

Discussion Boards => Main Discussion Board => Topic started by: Jessica on November 19, 2013, 12:13:47 PM

Title: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: Jessica on November 19, 2013, 12:13:47 PM
Someone said there was a labeling change so I emailed them and this is their reply. So now we need to find a new adult vitamin brand (my kids are all teens). Any ideas?

Thank you for asking about Vitamins. In response to your inquiry, even though the risk is low there may
be a chance of cross contamination of tree nuts other than coconut in out vitamins. For additional
information about Church & Dwight Co., Inc. products, company history and our sustainability efforts,
please visit www.churchdwight.com (http://www.churchdwight.com).



Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: Jessica on November 19, 2013, 07:47:35 PM
I put this in the wrong forum-sorry. Also, the old company was Northwest Naturals and now they are made by Church & Dwight. Which shows the problem with them designating coconut as a tree nut. I was told by Northwest Naturals that the only "nut" was coconut so when I saw "made in a shared facility with tree nuts" I was sure it was the coconut. Apparently not. Luckily my PA/TNA doesn't take vitamins. I'll keep getting them for the other two, probably.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: pitter patter on November 20, 2013, 06:38:47 PM
I called last weekend and was told that the only tree nut in the facility was coconut!??????
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 20, 2013, 07:15:47 PM
Hey Jessica, I don't know if it helps but I take Walmart brand vitamins. There are no warnings on them. Your DD is old enough to take adult vites? I also have the Equate calcium citrate w/D3 no warnings on that either.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: Jessica on November 20, 2013, 10:05:44 PM
Yes, she can swallow pills and has been on adult vitamins. She actually quit taking them a while back without telling me. Just as well since the latest bottle is from the newer company.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: hezzier on November 21, 2013, 06:51:28 AM
My kids currently take  a probiotic by Jarrow Formulas.  I need to order the kids multi vitamin by them also.

This is the statement on the kids multi:

Contains: Soy.

No wheat, no gluten, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no peanuts/tree nuts.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 24, 2013, 12:31:57 PM
My bottle says the location is still in Vancouver, WA. It's possible if they have tours I can go up and look at the facility myself. Normally for tree nuts I don't have to worry for DS1 but DS2 makes it worth to check for milk because they have a line of supplements that have warnings for traces of milk. When I could go is another story, but I do have a friend I am soon visiting in the area just south of it.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: hezzier on November 24, 2013, 02:36:15 PM
Quote from: hezzier on November 21, 2013, 06:51:28 AM
My kids currently take  a probiotic by Jarrow Formulas.  I need to order the kids multi vitamin by them also.

This is the statement on the kids multi:

Contains: Soy.

No wheat, no gluten, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no peanuts/tree nuts.

I saw a review after I bought the vitamins...apparently taste horrid.  I tried one last night, I have to agree.  My kids are not going to want to eat the Jarrow ones.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: lakeswimr on November 25, 2013, 05:29:26 PM
They told me the only tree nut is coconut.  I think that sounds like CYA.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: Jessica on November 25, 2013, 10:10:28 PM
Quote from: twinturbo on November 24, 2013, 12:31:57 PM
My bottle says the location is still in Vancouver, WA. It's possible if they have tours I can go up and look at the facility myself. Normally for tree nuts I don't have to worry for DS1 but DS2 makes it worth to check for milk because they have a line of supplements that have warnings for traces of milk. When I could go is another story, but I do have a friend I am soon visiting in the area just south of it.
The newest bottle we have says Ewing NJ and says Church and Dwight  on it.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 26, 2013, 02:30:47 AM
QuoteThe facility that manufatures these products also produces products that contain soy
http://nnpvitamins.com/lilcritters/nutrition101.php (http://nnpvitamins.com/lilcritters/nutrition101.php)

^"manfatures" is their spelling error. I copied & pasted as is.

and then there's
Quote©2013 Church & Dwight Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Acquired in 2012.

This is their direct number. (360) 690-8527.

I'm going to ponder CYA from C&D or two different facilities or different labeling over a bowl of cereal. My bottles are from Costco. I wonder if they haven't run out of the Costco labels yet so those bottles get old label until they run out.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: hezzier on November 26, 2013, 07:39:02 AM
Quote from: Jessica on November 25, 2013, 10:10:28 PM
The newest bottle we have says Ewing NJ and says Church and Dwight  on it.

I have the same on my little critters gummy vites
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 26, 2013, 09:16:08 AM
Costco or smaller bottles? Just trying to figure out if there's different labels for sizes and retailers.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: hezzier on November 26, 2013, 09:19:01 AM
Mine is the smaller bottle only containing 70 gummy bear vitamins.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: Jessica on November 26, 2013, 11:46:42 AM
Mine is a giant bottle of vita fusion multis.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 26, 2013, 12:16:25 PM
Time for a visit to the factory in Vancouver.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on November 27, 2013, 12:12:50 PM
Reporting live from Costco there are mixed labels. I think it has to do with stock on hand and refresh. The refresh multivites have a label that says shared facilities with egg, fish, shellfish and tree nuts (unspecified).

As far as I know NNP is still operating in Vancouver. For me it's more of a local call so I will make it on Monday to their direct line. Or maybe DH with his Northwestiness passive NPR voice will be more effective. Either way I make the local direct WTF call to sort out the label and facility inconsistency out.

Now, off to battle my way through the cattle chute.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: hezzier on December 04, 2013, 02:18:27 PM
Ok, the saga continues.  I went to target to try and find the old bottles, no such luck.  I did pick up the target brand of gummy vitamins and this is the label...

(http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu281/hezzier/IMG_0702_zpse470f0a2.jpg)

Under ingredients it does list "fractionated coconut oil"
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: CMdeux on December 04, 2013, 02:42:28 PM
That looks like the label that I saw at Costco yesterday, Hezz.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: twinturbo on December 04, 2013, 02:56:54 PM
Freshly rejected from the impenetrable bureaucracy of the Vancouver manufacturing facility DH is trying mother corporation right now. I'll update after.

Here's what I think the current state is: The Vitafusion line and acquisition might have changed the products being produced in the facility.




Per CSR

wheat - yes, new products but not all lines are shared wheat
egg - yes, unspecified product
fish - yes, used in facility for Omega3 product
shellfish - yes, specified used in facility in various products
milk - yes, used in facility (probably for probiotics and others)
soy - yes, has always been used in facility

peanut - no
tree nut - ONLY coconut

NO peanut, NO tree nut other than coconut in facility.

The Northwest Naturals website is not up to date. Old labels are not up to date per CSR. Time stamping this call made 12/4/13 1:00 pm Pacific time. Made second call to verify on peanut and tree nut, specifically with regard to coconut or other tree nuts. Reiterated only coconut. No other tree nut, no peanut in facility.
Title: Re: Lil Critters and Vita Fusion may no longer be safe for TNA
Post by: CMdeux on December 04, 2013, 03:43:22 PM
That tallies with my suspicions, too, TT-- that they've acquired a new product line and that the milk, egg, wheat (and maybe shellfish??) risk is NEW-- and probably  ill-defined at this point in time.