Trader Joe\'s

Becca, Thank you for this post! I used to go out of my way to the Swampscott Trader Joe's but after moving to Melrose (and Zou-Zou's positive PA) have not even bothered checking out the store in Arlington. You've given me hope that maybe taking the effort to get back to an awesome store might be worth my while! I'll be happy to share any info about Trader Joe's products...I hope that other will do the same. Thanks again, Diane

Hi! I shop frequently in Trader Joe's too. I know SOME products that are safe to eat there. I, too, mentioned the fact that they sell an awful lot of protein bars that are NOT safe for us PA people to eat. He said he would mention it to the people in charge.

I've eaten the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, the cat cookies, choc. chip cookies with no problems. I've also eaten the pizzas (the frozen ones-the mushroom, 4 cheese one, the baby tomato/basil one, pepperoni one, and the cheese refrigerated-
one too. I've also eaten the mushroom something overs (sorry the exact name has slipped by me), spanokapita, blueberries, almost all of the frozen vegetables, the breads, all with NO problems whatsoever. I also am not too fearful of the nut section b/c they are closed tightly. My particular store doesn't sell as many as other's I've been in. I've also eaten the pecan granola, and the strawberry and raspberry granola with no problems either. I am not tree nut allergic, btw.

Hope this helps! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

I recently had to stop buying Health Valley cereal bars because they started showing up with a "may contain" label. (I called the company, and the cross-contamination was new--not just a new label.) At a friend's house yesterday, I noticed she had Trader Joe's cereal bars. They are not labeled. Does anyone know if they are safe? If I go to the store and ask, can they find out? Does anyone know of an 800 number to call--I checked their website and it's like they don't want to be contacted. There's no ph number, no email, just a mailing address.

I buy the chocolate chips from Trader Joes. I called about them and was told they are made in a peanut free facility! They are also milk free.

I would suggest calling for yourself though to confirm the info and make sure they are made in the same facility as I imagine things can change.

There are some products that are labled well there but others are not. I bought some popcorn there w/o any warning label and called on it first. They couldn't gaurantee that it was peanut/tree nut free so I didn't let ds have it. They have different suppliers for different products.

When I called the store by me in IL they also gave me (781)433-1234 for Corp.
The manager then offered to email Corp for me and call me back regarding the 3 products I'm inquiring about. He also seemed very understanding about the PA allergy. I guess they are big on customer service and figure if they get us in their for these non-peanut items then we'd be likely to buy other items.
I'll post back in a couple days when I get a response on the multi-grain Pretzel Nuggets, chocolate candy sticks and oatmeal Choc Chip cookies.
Pamela

Bensmom, if you go into the store and talk to a manager, they should be able to call the nutritionist, or give you a phone # for the nutritionist, so that you may call for any specific items and they will check back to the supplier. Refer back up to my original post. becca

Becca, I did go to the store and I talked to the manager. I asked if TJ's products are labeled with a warning if they may contain nuts. He said they generally are, but couldn't guarantee anything. He wasn't as helpful as I expected after reading this thread, but it sounded like a cya answer--yes they'd be labeled, but don't blame me if they're not. I decided to get them--there are no nut varieties, only apple and strawberry. It's within my comfort zone--I usually let Ben eat things without a warning without checking with manufacturers. Thanks.

That is too bad the manager was not more helpful. I had been letting my dd have a few things from there because I did see so many warnings. I assumed that id there were none, it was safe. What I now think is that it depends on the plant. So, if something is made at one particular facility(I think some are in CA), they have warnings where applicable. I have noticed this just by checking tons of their labels, really. They will usually say where they are manufacutred as part of the labelling.

I have not actually introduced any new Trader Joe's items, so have not called. I do allow the schoolhouse cookies since we have used them as long as she could do finger foods without troubles.

I am in MA, so I am not sure if there production is regional, or if you could try the # for the nutritionist I posted, since my manager and she seemed more helpful than yours. I do need to check some items since I now have a Trader Joe's in my town. Before I had to travel so only had my Dad grab those and soy butter for us.

Good luck, and I will post if I find any new things that are okay. We are limited on cookies due to egg allergy, so I usually just bake. becca

I just got a call back and the oatmeal Choc Chip cookies are now made on a line that also makes Peanut Butter cookies.

Also they gave me a different line that is direct to the nutritionist (Rachael) 781-455-7320. She's checking on a couple more items for me.

Becca, who makes the schoolhouse cookies you referred to?

Pamela

Trader Joe's Chocolate Cat's Cookies now have a warning on them that says made in a facility that processes peanuts. I have a horrible peanut allergy and have never had a problem. But, the ingredients changed too, now there is sunflower oil and it has a U with a D after it, so I now have to call them as well since my almost 6 y.o. cannot have any milk products.

This is so frustrating.
Amy

Yes, I noticed recently that it seems all of the cookies have warnings now. Except the school book cookies which we have used since before dd was diagnosed.

Sadly, I inquired about those and have been informed they share lines with a peanut cookie of some kind. I am so bummed. I wish I didn't ask! We always have those in the house(luckily have not really been eating thwm much lately). becca

IMO I think it is best to stay away from private label items.

If you speak with Trader Joe's today about a product and they give you the ok, then you may not be safe if they suddenly change suppliers or if they have more than one supplier for a particular item.

This is just my comfort level.

Actually, after speaking with a manager, I believe Trader Joe's uses some better known manufacturers as opposed to the cheapest supplier. They carry many organic, and more "wholesome" offerings which just are not as widely available in mass produced bulk. I was told Annie's makes their boxed mac and cheese(definately the organic one, but to call a name I was given to be sure to check). She said she was not supposed to tell me that, but I was asking for annie's and she directed me to theirs. Then I explained why I wanted a brand and she explained.

But, I agree that one should call on such things more frequently or ask if they ever switch suppliers. Their labels for cookies generally are very specific locations that appear to be three bakeries. I suspect IM Healthy makes their soy butter(lable is nearly identical).

Anyway, seems there are fewer and fewer products I even want to check there. I mostly get coffee, soy butter and some odds and ends for dh and I there. Frozen fruits and veggies as well.

It is not that the cookies I checked changed. I had never called before. Dd had eaten them all her life, even before PA. There are a few items we kept in our list like that, as long as they had no warnngs. becca