Has anyone had (let your PA kids have) birthday cake from the Walmart bakery? We went to a birthday party today and the cake was from Walmart. There were no warning labels (may contain...mfg in a facility...etc.).

We do not let our children have any store bought birthday cakes unless we have personally talked to the bakery. What we have found is that most bakeries a) recieve the cakes from a main facility even if they decorate them locally b) do not feel comfortable guarenteeing that they have not been run on the same equipment as some of their other products containing nuts.

We always send a cupckae. We love cup-a-cake holders. They are for a single cupcake and help protect the frosting.

That being said, I have not had a discussion directly with Wal-Mart. We just stay away from bakeries.

Great question!

I know for a fact that my son reacts to trace amounts of peanut, even foods which are not labeled "may contains" so we never permit him to eat store-bought baked goods unless I have spoken to the owner and confirmed it is a dedicated peanut-free, tree nut-free facility, such as A & J Bakery (www.aandjbakery.net) or Sweet Alexis (www.sweetalexis.com).

Getting baked goods from a dedicated facility is really a treat, so I normally bake a batch of cupcakes, either from scratch or CBK (Cherrybrook Kitchen) and carry one in a cup-a-cake holder as Dina, of Beyond A Peanut, described.

Take care,
Jennifer B
www.foodallergybuzz.com
www.peanutfreebaseball.com

I'm in the same boat as Jen and Dina. We never ever let our allergic son eat any cake outside of our home whether it be a bakery cake or in store cake. Too much risk for us.

The two places Jen recommended are great places. Divvie's also sells peanut free cupcakes and more and more bakeries are popping up all over that are allergy safe.

Just an FYI--warning labels are not mandatory by law so just because there isn't a warning label doesn't mean there might not be an issue with cross contamination.

Thank you everyone for your opinions. If anyone has more, I would love to hear your thoughts. I wasn't comfortable with it either and followed my instinct to say no. I'm glad I did and I'm pretty sure he won't need therapy for it when he's an adult :-) lol.

My son also has a PA, he has had birthday cakes from Walmart's bakery and didn't have a reaction. However like the others have said not everything has the warning label. However I believe my sister had asked them to prepare that cake first before anything else to make sure that it didn't come in contact with peanuts. Also when we order our cakes from the grocery store bakery where my husband works they mark in big bold letters, MAKE FIRST, NO NUTS. We have read the label on the cake itself as it comes prebaked. But we also contacted the company that makes the cake.

Walmart cupcakes clearly state may contain nuts. My daughter's preschool didn't check the labels before allowing them to enter her classroom for a birthday snack. My daughter brings her own safe snack & drink and sits at her own special desk. Her classroom is supposed to be a nut free zone. I double check the class snack before allowing my daughter into her class. Thank goodness I caught it, along with dangerous diego dino eggs to be given out as a take home treat. The candy filled eggs clearly stated may contain peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews and macadamia nuts. I didn't allow her to attend class. My husband and I have had an extensive meeting with her teachers and director in the past about the severity of this. They just didn't check or have time to check is what we were told last Tuesday in regards to the cupcakes & candy eggs. The parents of the other children were strictly reminded to check labels and be careful when purchasing snack for the class. 90% of the other Mothers are wonderfully helpful and cautious. It's just those few that seem to not care. Unfortunately, I guess this is the beginning of us seeing how inconsiderate some are... And, how I always need to stay 2 steps ahead.

Have to agree with everyone else here. We would have to say no. We do not eat anything from a bakery.

I am looking for a forum for my daugher to chat with other teenagers with PA.
Any suggestions?