Reverse Allergy Alert Quaker Crispy Minis are Nut-Safe again

This is great news. We love rice snacks and the Quaker brand was always the best. When they started producing them on a line that also processed peanuts we were shocked and promptly dropped them from our grocery list.

We were pleased to receive this notice today telling us they are reducing  the allergens by changing the production of some of their treats.

NOTE: this is from the notice below.

The changes will reduce the number of potential allergens in most flavours of rice chips products only. Allergen labeling on other Crispy Minis products, including Crispy Minis Bite Size rice chips, Crispy Minis Delights cookies and Crispy Minis rice cakes, remains the same.

NOTICE FROM: PepsiCo Canada

March 2010

IMPORTANT NOTICE: QUAKER BRAND TO REDUCE ALLERGENS

IN SEVERAL CRISPY MINIS® RICE CHIPS

As part of its ongoing mission to deliver healthy and convenient options that fit into a healthy lifestyle, PepsiCo Canada’s Quaker brand is making changes to its manufacturing and allergen control procedures for its Crispy Minis rice chips.

The changes will reduce the number of potential allergens in most flavours of rice chips products only. Allergen labeling on other Crispy Minis products, including Crispy Minis Bite Size rice chips, Crispy Minis Delights cookies and Crispy Minis rice cakes, remains the same.

The reduced allergen Crispy Minis rice chips are now on store shelves in major Canadian retail outlets. Accordingly, ingredients listings will be changing, and precautionary labeling will be adjusted only on affected products, as follows:

The Quaker brand reminds consumers of these important tips regarding the importance of carefully reading food ingredient labels:

Food-allergic individuals and those buying for them are encouraged to read food ingredient labels at least three times: once when purchasing the item; a second time when putting the item away; and a third time just prior to serving the item.

Take steps to improve your understanding of labeling regulations and their limitations. It should never be assumed that all sizes and flavours have identical allergen profiles, so check the label every time.

Products with a “may contain” warning could be problematic for individuals with life-threatening food allergies. If there is a precautionary warning, it is possible that the product contains traces of the allergen.

ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED ALLERGENS IN LOTTE AND CROWN BRANDS OF BISCUITS FROM KOREA

UNDECLARED ALLERGENS IN LOTTE AND CROWN BRANDS OF BISCUITS FROM KOREA

OTTAWA, June 12, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to milk, eggs or hazelnuts not to consume various Lotte and Crown brands of Biscuits described below. These products contain allergens which are not declared on the labels.

All codes of the following Lotte and Crown brands of Biscuits, products of Korea, are affected by this alert. Product information below can be found on the package and the sticker applied for the Canadian market.

via ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED ALLERGENS IN LOTTE AND CROWN BRANDS OF BISCUITS FROM KOREA.

Kellogg and Kashi bars to contain almond and peanut

Notice form Anaphylaxis Canada:

Kellogg Canada Inc. and Kashi Canada Inc. have recently made changes to the
production of three of their products: Kashi Chewy Granola Bars Cherry Dark
Chocolate and Kellogg All-Bran Chewy Bar Dark Chocolate Chip and Kellogg
All-Bran Chewy Bar Strawberry Flavour.
These products have been re-formulated and have new ingredient labels, which
now include new allergens that were not previously found in their products.

Please read the notice below for the specific changes to each product.

If you have any questions/concerns, please contact Kashi Canada or Kellogg
Canada directly through their customer relations departments at the numbers
listed below.

For your information,

Anaphylaxis Canada

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Allergic to Other Foods? Quaker Has Warnings for You Too.

Today, I contacted PepsiCo Canada, and they kindly faxed me the notice regarding the introduction of new allergens in their Rice Cakes and Crispy Minis products (see our previous article ”News of Quaker Rice Cakes New Allergen Warnings Slow to Spread”). In addition to peanut, which may now be present in all Quaker Rice Cakes and Crispy Minis, several other allergens have been added (in addition to the allergens that previously were present):

If you are allergic to barley, be aware that Butter Toffee Cracker Jack Rice Cakes now contain barley.

If you are allergic to egg, be aware that the White Cheddar and the Butter Rice Cakes now contain egg, and the BBQ, Ketchup, Sea Salt & Lime, Cheddar Cheese, Caramel Kettle Corn, Dill, Sour Cream & Onion, and Butter Crispy Minis now may contain egg.

If you are allergic to sulphites, be aware that Caramel Kettle Corn Crispy Minis now contain sulphites.

If you are allergic to wheat, be aware that Ketchup, Sea Salt & Lime, Cheddar Cheese, Caramel Kettle Corn, Dill, Sour Cream & Onion, Butter, and BBQ Crispy Minis now may contain wheat.

If you are allergic to soy, be aware that BBQ Crispy Minis now may contain wheat.

News of Quaker Rice Cakes New Allergen Warnings Slow to Spread

Although it has been a little over three months since PepsiCo Foods Canada announced that their Quaker Rice Cakes and Crispy Minis now may contain peanut, I’ve been disturbed that they are still on the menu at daycares with peanut-allergic children in our city. In fact, these products were for so long considered a staple as a “safe-snack,” and many still consider them as such. I was a regular consumer of these rice cakes, and I might not have learned of the formulation change (which is the result of the introduction of the new peanut butter flavours) if I wasn’t a regular visitor to the Allergic Living message board where someone had posted an alert. I think these alerts were sent to those who have registered to receive Quaker Foods product alerts and not many, if any, other folks.

Luckily for me, I was pre-warned of the change, and carefully inspected the packaging of the Quaker Rice Cakes, eventually finding the “MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS” warning. Shortly after, when a friend of mine was packing a few bags of these rice cakes to bring on a trip she was taking with her peanut-allergic son, she was shocked when I told her that she’d better look for a warning on the packaging. Her shock turned to annoyance as we both tried to straighten out the top of the rice cake package, scrunched together with a bread-bag-type tie, to read the warning. The warning is, shall we say, NOT obvious.

These rice cakes were a staple at my son’s child care centre, and I’m having some difficulty erasing the concept of Quaker Rice Cakes being a safe snack from their minds. I’ve finally found them an alternative brand (NoName) for which I’ve obtained the manufacturer’s assurance that they are free from peanuts. But change is slow, and this week the child care centre accidentally purchased and served the Quaker brand (I was able to intervene before my son was given any).

I’ll continue to spread the news to others and hope the news continues to spread. It would be nice if the multinational, billion-dollar-earning, food-producing corporations could help out too.

PECAN ALLERGY ALERT

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company is recalling “Simply Enjoy Pina Colada White Chocolate Gourmet Cookies” due to undeclared pecan.

The product was distributed to Stop & Shop Supermarket stores.

The 7-oz. packages are marked with UPC 6 8826705538.

Consumers may return their receipt to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call (877) 846-9949

via FoodAllergy.ORG.

UPDATE - **THE FOOD ALLERGY & ANAPHYLAXIS NETWORK SPECIAL FOOD ALLERGY ALERT

NOTICE**

PECAN ALLERGY ALERT-UPDATE
April 24, 2009

Brent and Sam’s is recalling “Simply Enjoy Brand Pina Colada White
Chocolate Gourmet Cookies” due to undeclared pecan.

The product was distributed to Stop & Shop stores in Connecticut, Maine,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

The 7-oz. metallic packages have the date code 1ASep 26 2009 carton UPC 6
8826705538 and case UPC 6 8826745538.

Consumers may return the product to place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may call (704) 554-5548.

ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED PEANUTS IN BERGEN BRAND APPLE CINNAMON

ALLERGY ALERT

UNDECLARED PEANUTS IN BERGEN BRAND APPLE CINNAMON COOKIES

OTTAWA, April 16, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Dollarama are warning people with allergies to peanut proteins not to consume the Bergen brand Apple Cinnamon Cookies described below. The affected product may contain peanuts which are not declared on the label.

All Best Before date codes of the Bergen brand Apple Cinnamon Cookies, product of Poland, sold in 150 g packages are affected by this alert.

This product has been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Consumption of this product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to peanuts.

The importer, Dollarama, Montreal, QC is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on peanuts, one of the nine most common food allergens, visit the Food Allergens web page at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/peaarae.shtml

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

via ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED PEANUTS IN BERGEN BRAND APPLE CINNAMON COOKIES.

ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED PEANUTS IN BERGEN BRAND ALMOND COOKIES

OTTAWA, April 10, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Dollarama are warning people with allergies to peanut proteins not to consume the Bergen brand Almond Cookies described below. The affected product may contain peanuts which are not declared on the label.

All Best Before date codes of the Bergen brand Almond Cookies, product of Poland, sold in 145 g packages are affected by this alert.

This product has been distributed nationally.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

Consumption of this product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to peanuts.

The importer, Dollarama, Montreal, QC is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

via ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED PEANUTS IN BERGEN BRAND ALMOND COOKIES.

ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED MILK, SESAME SEEDS, SOY AND ALMONDS IN CERTAIN FOODS FROM KOREA

UNDECLARED MILK, SESAME SEEDS, SOY AND ALMONDS IN CERTAIN FOODS FROM KOREA

OTTAWA, April 3, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to milk, sesame seeds, soy and almonds not to consume the various food products described below. The affected products contain milk, sesame seeds, soy and almonds which are not declared on the label.

via ALLERGY ALERT – UNDECLARED MILK, SESAME SEEDS, SOY AND ALMONDS IN CERTAIN FOODS FROM KOREA.

Food Allergy Labeling Not Always Accurate

This is quite allarming and why we need to know what companies we can trust. This is also the reason we need to push our governments for stronger labeling laws.

MONDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) — A small number of food products with a “may contain” label actually do contain an allergen, while about 2 percent of foods products without such a claim also contain allergens, new research shows.

 
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ALLERGY ALERT – Undeclared peanuts in JAPANESE STYLE SESAME MOCHI

OTTAWA, March 4, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to peanut proteins not to consume the Japanese Style Sesame Mochi described below. The affected product contains peanuts which are not declared on the label.

Read the rest of this entry »