Teddy Grahams - safe for peanut allergies

I don't usually buy Teddy Grahams, but I bought them this week for Rylie as a special treat. I read the ingredients (Mini Teddy Grahams Snak Sak, Honey) and they seemed safe for her to eat, but I noticed that Kraft/Nabisco also make Nutter Butter bites, in the same size resealable bag.

This made me a little nervous, because cross-contamination warnings are not mandatory in the US. I called Kraft today to ask if Teddy Grahams and Nutter Butter Bites are made in the same plant or on shared equipment. The woman told me that it is Kraft's policy to put a statement on the package when products are made on shared equipment or in a plant that processes peanuts, and the Teddy Grahams bag does not have this statement.

For some reason I still don't fully trust the answers I get when I call these food companies. I feel like they don't quite understand the risk of cross contamination and are reading from a script of answers to common questions.

At this point I feel like I've done all I can do - I read the ingredients and called the company about cross contamination. I feel pretty confident that the Teddy Grahams in the Snak Sak are safe for kids with peanut allergies.

This doesn't mean that all sizes or varieties are safe, because the manufacturing process might differ. Please read ingredients and manufacturing statements on all packages, every time.

Read Labels Carefully: Five Recent Label Changes

Recently, several food labels have changed, so this is a great reminder to read labels every time you purchase a product. Ingredients or manufacturing processes can change at any time. Please keep in mind that cross-contamination warnings (such as "may contain..." or "made on the same equipment that processes...") are voluntary and not required to be disclosed on labels.

1. Silk Soymilk labels now state, "May contain almonds or coconut," because the soymilk may be manufactured on equipment that is used by products that contain almond or coconut. Not all containers have this warning yet.

2. Clabber Girl Baking Powder labels now state, "Manufactured on equipment that also processes wheat, soy, milk and egg." The front of the can states they are still producing in a peanut-free facility. Old cans claimed, "Gluten Free".

3. Wheaties cereal states, "May contain almonds." Wheaties Fuel cereal states, "May contain almonds or peanuts."

4. Hostess Cupcakes are labeled with a "May contain walnuts" warning. Some Hostess Donettes are now labeled as "May contain walnuts and pecans."

5. According to the Spangler candy website, Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in the USA are free of peanuts, tree nuts, egg, gluten, and milk. But be aware that Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in Brazil are manufactured in a facility where peanuts and milk are used in the manufacturing of other products. Please check the back panel of the item you are purchasing for country of origin. This information is only on the original bag, not on the individual wrappers.

I need to contact Silk about their soymilk. Rylie drinks soymilk because she is allergic to cow's milk, but she is also allergic to tree nuts. I need to find out more about possible cross-contamination with almond ingredients.

Label change info from Kids with Food Allergies

A close call with tomato paste

I was making homemade spaghetti and meat sauce last week, and I thought about adding a can of tomato paste to thicken it up. It turned out that I didn't need it, so I put the can back in the cabinet. I didn't plan on reading the label, because it was made by Contadina and I remembered reading the label at the store.

Thank God I didn't add it into the sauce - I read the label later and it turns out I bought Tomato Paste with Italian Herbs. Sounds harmless, right? I read the ingredients and it contained MILK!

Holy crap, that would have caused Rowan to have an anaphylactic reaction. We would have had to use the epi-pen and call 911. I must have bought a couple cans and grabbed that one by mistake?

This is such a great reminder that you need to read labels and ingredients EVERY TIME, even when you get home from the store.

Tomato Paste Ingredients: Tomatoes

Tomato Paste with Italian Herbs: Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste, Water), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Dried Onions, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Cottonseed), Spices, Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten, Soy & Wheat Gluten Proteins, Grated Romano Cheese Made From Cow's Milk (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Garlic, Citric Acid, Yeast, Soy Flour. Contains Soybeans, Wheat, Milk.

All of this got me thinking about possible cross-contamination in the manufacturing process. I emailed Contadina to find out more, and you can read their response after the jump.