I had a positive experience with a company today re: their labeling. I purchased a store brand (Meijer) of chocolate chips - specifically because there was no warning label on them. I was suspicious, though, after hearing of the Nestle choc. chips new label. I called the store headquarters which gave me the name of their chocolate supplier, Kargher Chocolate. When I told them of my son's PA they recommended I return the chips to the store unopened!! Turns out they also make a PB chip and use peanut flour as well in their factory. I told them they needed to make a change in their labeling and gave them my name, etc. They explained they are a supplier for many stores, and it was up to the individual stores to make the labeling change. I called Meijer again... and just received a call back from their office asking me how I would like the label to read!!! They thanked me for bringing this to their attention and they are willing to change the label to "May contain..." ASAP!! Glad to see speaking up has its benefits. Hope to spare some other little one from a reaction.
A Change! Score one for us!
Posted on: Fri, 09/29/2000 - 4:00am
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Becky-
That is wonderful! Congratulations....if all of us started doing this then maybe we would never have these problems in the first place. But of course, who has time to call every manufacturer on this earth? Certainly not me. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Could you imagine what might have happened if you fed your son/daughter those chocolate chips? Anyway, congratulations and great work!
BeckyA, I am curious about your reference to the new labels on Nestle's chips. Can you tell me more? (I did a search onthe boards & couldn't find anything...)
I noticed Nestle's new PB & chocolate chip mixture &, being somewhat obsessive, I read the ingredients. I noticed an odd 'peanut traces' listed on the choclate part of the ingredients (I know it is standard phrasing for lots of Nestles's products but, duh, it is in a bag that is half full of PB chips. I would think there would be peanut traces on it!!!) Anyway, I called Nestle's to ask them if there was going to be a problem w/ the regular Tollhouse Morsel's (which we have eaten without problem for years)-- like were they changing the production method, were they changing the label, whatever -- & the customer service person *assured* me that they weren't. Was this person mistaken?
Thanks for whatever info you can provide.
Anne (who also hates how htere is PB flavored everything these days)
Becky, I do practically all of my shopping at Meijer. I do buy some meijer brand foods as well. I have never seen a may contain on any of the labels. Did you find out anything about the other foods they make? Do they or will they label all their foods this way? And to Anne, I have read somewhere on this site that Nestle choc. chips do have traces, and they are planning to start labeling them, but I just checked a package at the store, and it wasn't labeled yet. My son has had them, and has no problems, but I stopped using them anyway. I use the hershey's chips. Hersheys' is very good with the labels. If it is not listed or if there is no warning, it is safe. hope this helps.. amy
Hi, Amy & Anne... Just to update you, many Meijer brand products do have "may contain traces of peanuts" on their labels. For example, the Meijer chocolate chip cookies - all varieties, the vanilla wafers, the animal crackers, etc. Especially anything with the "Ed Venture" guy on it! Of course these are targeted for kids and none of these products are safe.
I was suspicious of their chocolate chips because of the info. I heard from Nestle. I had always purchased their products before without a problem. I had 2 packages of Nestle choc. chips in my cupboard and when I went to make a dessert with them, out of habit, I read the label. One said "peanut traces" The other did not - so I called. I was told that all of the labeling is being changed and that I had 1 package that was old and 1 that was new. Nestle told me that none of their baking chips are safe for someone with a peanut allergy and to avoid using them. This was this summer - and I have seen the labeling at the store but not on all of the bags. Obviously they are not recalling the gazillion bags that had the original labeling.
They were very informative when I called and I hope they are not passing out bad info. now. Also, I have been very impressed with Meijer's efforts to change their labeling and plan on writing a follow-up letter this week to make sure this issue is not left on somebody's desk! Thanks for the encouragement guys!
Becky,
Let's go back to ten years ago...I want to make a cake and use the semi-sweet chips from Meijer (nephew has peanut allergy and have always used these chips in the past). Has Meijer changed their chocolate supplier since then that you know about? It still does not say "processed in a place with peanuts." Did they change suppliers or just not change their labels as promised? Thanks! I won't use these chips anymore but I really want to know the answer if you know anything!
Becky,
Great work! Just think about how many kids you kept safe with that one phone call.
Well done Becky. This is so great to read what you just did.
I'm a co-founder of ipiit, the food ambassador where we work on creating a space where consumers can reach out to brand and have a dialogue with the brands.
Sometimes it only takes one to change things. Way to go Becky.
/Rosalie
@ ipiit the food ambassadro