BAKER\'S CHOCOLATE AD!!!!!!

MJ's mom, I'm sorry you were so upset by this ad. I have to say though, I don't believe that was their intent when producing the ad.

I have a number of cook books which contain recipes entitled "death by chocolate" the reason for the title was not in reference to any peanuts or nuts the dish may contain but rather to the "decadence" or "sinfulness" of the chocolate component in the recipe.

Regards,

Katiee (Wade's mom)

I just tried the Baker's Chocolate site. You come up on a Kraft Foods Kitchen site 1st, then click on 'Baker's Chocolate'. (This will give you a full color picture of the "Death By Chocolate Cookie"). At the Baker's site, click 'Contact Us'. Then click on 'corporate'. Then click on 'contact Kraft Foods' which gives you a E-mail page. I hope this helps, and please tell me what you think of this.

Hi Katiee...thanks for your response. I thought about exactly what you said...that their intent is to say that this chocolate is "to die for"....amazingly rich and decadent. And I think that 'political correctness' can be taken too far. This ad just seems so amazingly insensitive and inappropriate. There just seems to be so many other descriptive words in the English language besides "death". Am I over-reacting?

No, not as the parent of a PA chid but think of it this way, as far as I know cigarette advertizing is still legal in the US I believe. If I had a loved one dying of lung cancer, I would likely feel the same way about those ad's. I don't much like any advertissement for peanuts but for people who do not have to deal with this allergy, it's just another ad.

Take care!

Katiee (Wade's mom)

You know, one of the regular desserts we have at family gatherings is my cousin's version of "Death By Chocolate" - I never thought of it as offensive before, but now that you mention it, it does remind me of another food name that always made me cringe.

The really hot sauce for chicken wings called "Suicide Hot" really struck me as insensitive - but my huband's ex-wife lost 2 close family members to suicide (I knew one of them) so I guess "dumb" names like this only broadsides the certain members of society it affects.

Still, even though a friend's husband is severely allergic to chocolate - "Death By Chocolate" still didn't make me cringe, Hmmm... I wonder why?

I just checked out the Baker's choc. site. If you check out the recipe, it lists that the walnuts are optional. I like recipes where the nuts are optional. I just leave them out anyway. I understand about the name of the cookies, but I agree with Katiee that it refers to the decadance of the chocolate. It does seem like a really rich cookie. (Yum!)

I have seen the "Death by Chocolate" cookies advertised in many magazines and it really has never hit me the wrong way. I take it to mean that the cookie is very rich in chocolate. Just another one of those crazy names! I'm sure our "significant others" aren't too thrilled about those "Better Than Sex" cake recipes!
Christine

Thanks for all of your responses. I actually had never before heard the expression "Death by Chocolate", so maybe I'm the one who is ignorant. I normally try not over-react, and don't expect the world around me to be sensitive to the realities of severe food allergies. It's just that "Death by Chocolate" is not a heavenly sinful idea to me, it's something I fear terribly for my child, especially as Easter approaches, but also just in every day life...we had a few close calls around Valentine's Day (for example, my older kids brought home unsafe chocolate from school...I wasn't aware of it, and the kids left it out without thinking. I intercepted it just as the baby was about to help himself).

We do a lot of visiting for Easter (both grandparents and a friends annual Easter egg/candy hunt). I'm still trying to figure out how to change our lives, one holiday at a time, so I can try to keep my son safe. He has also suddenly gotten extremely independent about seeking out his own food...before he would wait for what I gave him only...he's just turned two.

He recently started pushing chairs to the kitchen counter, so he can climb and gain access to the upper cabinets. He's so active, and at this age you have to watch them every minute whether they have food allergies or not.

I guess I'm feeling overwhelmed and going through an especially fearful period. Is anyone else having "Easter anxiety"?

MJ's mom--
Now that my son is 6, I have really gotten over all of the "holiday candy" anxiety, but I certainly had it at the start. Have you considered ordering your child's Easter candy (and candy for the family egg/candy hunt) from Vermont Nut-Free chocolates? I just received their Easter brochure and it has all the stuff most kids want in their baskets. Neatly wrapped chocolate bunnies, etc. You can also order small, foil wrapped chocolate that are good for candy hunts. Additionally, there are many safe candies out there such as Skittles that work well for this type of thing. I'm sure your family would go along with having safe candy for this event and it is not that hard to do. I have pretty much figured out what holiday candies are safe for my son and they are now mostly stress-free!
Christine

Thanks, Christine....I was thinking of ordering Vermont Nut-Free. I haven't tried them yet, but have heard wonderful things about their candies. Also, thanks for the info. on Skittles...I wasn't sure if the were safe or not.
We have a huge extended family, which makes for lots of Easter baskets at both Grandma's houses as well as ours, and at the egg hunt, as I mentioned. Ordering enough safe candy for all may be out of the question, but I can at least provide information and safe candy for my kid's participation in this holiday event's. I'm looking forward to the time when I have the experience and knowledge of how to handle each holiday under my belt, so that they can be more joyful than fearful. Thanks again, Christine!