Parents of kids with peanut allergies are accustomed to keeping them away of certain snacks, including many candies and granola bars, that may contain peanut ingredients. Until now, peanuts have been safe. That's all about to change, though, with the introduction of Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter.
According to ABC News, this General Mills cereal promises “Real peanut butter taste without derailing your diet.” But it has some parents worrying that it could cause their kids to experience serious allergic reactions if shared by a classmate.
The appearance of regular and peanut butter Cheerios is similar, making it difficult to tell the difference between the peanut-free and peanut butter varieties. Parents have also Other parents have noted the danger of cross-contamination if both varieties are made at the same facilities.
In response to the concerns, General Mills issued a statement saying that the company could state with 'complete confidence' that the peanut butter Cheerios will not cross-contaminate other varieties of Cheerios. According to the company, “General Mills employs the most stringent allergen control practices in the industry.”
The company also commented on the possibility that parents could accidentally purchase the Peanut Butter Cheerios instead of the traditional variety, saying “The food industry and the allergen-sensitive community have worked together diligently to educate consumers that allergens are best identified on product labeling. That’s why we’ve made it a top priority to ensure that our packaging and labeling clearly communicate what’s inside the box.”
General Mills also rejected suggestions that the Peanut Butter Cheerios should be made to look more different than traditional Cheerios, saying “Altering the product’s appearance… would not be an effective way to distinguish allergens.”
I e-mailed General Mills this
I e-mailed General Mills this afternoon to ask them to reconsider this new product. Still no response. We as parents and caregivers need to stick together and let food companies aware of the dangers to food allergies.