Cayley's Mom, thank-you SO much for providing the link so we can e-mail Nestle directly from this site. I think it's really important. I have to sit back before I actually compose my letter because I'm going to include things that don't have to do with PA (my memories of Smarties, in particular, as a child so many years ago). Also, my head virtually exploded when I read the news so I do have to calm down although I was calm when I spoke with the Nestle CSR on the telephone.
This would be excellent if we could somehow keep this thread alive by actually getting the manufacturer to change their mind. I know that I have felt much positive stuff just by co-ordinating it and I can't even explain why. Perhaps because I knew that friendships did develop and that it wasn't just about candy.
I had to break the news to Jesse on the way home from school to-day, and, as always, he is a way cool kid, who gets it far better than I do. When he grows up, he will have a store that sells only things with no peanuts and he will have made Smarties with no "may contain" on them. Of course, he said the same thing about M & M's! He is cute though.
I admire that. I had thought that I would have to deal with some sort of disappointment, etc., but he just seems to take this information rather matter-of-factly. Not that Nestle needs to know this!
Again, Cayley's Mom, thank-you. I hope everyone does write and maybe we can get this thing changed around before it's too late.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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Chris, you were posting at basically the same time I was, so I missed your post all together. I do think it was important that Cayley's Mom posted the link in this thread as well for people that may only come to the board to see if they have been matched up in the Smarties thread yet or not (it does happen, LOL!).
Sue, I'm sorry, I completely missed your post because I automatically went to Page 5 and you were the last post on Page 4. I think what you're saying makes perfect sense. Also, you know, I can't close a thread anyway. Only Chris can do that. But, I do think it would be excellent if some Canadians were able to send some out, as well as stockpile for themselves, especially to people that have been on the list for quite some time.
I know that when I spoke with the CSR to-day I told him that I would probably have to stockpile some and that was when he gave me the shelf life of 40-52 weeks (I don't know if he thought I was insane or not [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] ). Then, this afternoon, I picked up my MIL's Easter package from the post office and she had included "safe" chocolate bars for my DH and I - Coffee Crisp and KitKat.
My head is really close to exploding re this even though Jesse dealt with it really well so I am going to close for now. But, I did want to say, that yes, of course, if we can get some out before they're "labeled", then that would be great. I don't even mind still co-ordinating that and perhaps it will make me more diligent now that it has become a time concern.
That's the only good thing I can say about being Stuck in Stayner. Our stock of items moves really slow. For example, when we had "unsafe" treat bags from Trebor-Allan, they hung around town forever (actually, I think they're still here). So, if this goes the same way, I may have "safe" Smarties for a bit longer than people would say in Toronto.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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Cayley's Mom, I think you did the absolute right thing posting the same information (excellent information at that) in different threads. I often do this if there are several threads re the same topic going on the board at the same time. The last time I can remember doing this is when I received information from Nabisco Canada and the safety of their products. There were Oreos threads, Chips Ahoy threads, Nabisco threads, Christie's threads, so I posted the e-mail in all of them. What the heck. Also, Eileen posted The Toronto Star story in more than one thread to-day also.
I also think your recognition of our American friends separately was important. If Nestles Canada actually hears from some American people (and I know they have already) that are upset that they can no longer receive Canadian Smarties from their Canadian friends, they may pay even more attention.
(Also, I had been wanting to start a KitKat thread in the same manner recently because KitKat in the U.S. is made by Hershey's and not considered "safe". Well, so much for that!).
Redtruck, I must say that that is the FIRST time I have ever seen you use an angry face smilie on this board! I well understand it as my head has still exploded on this matter.
I would really like to think that we can get them to reverse their decision by our sheer numbers but I'm not sure that we'll be able to. Does anyone have an example of anyone reversing a decision based on public pressure, of this sort? I'm just so unsure about our voices being heard. But, I did telephone my Mother tonight and asked her permission to send an e-mail to Nestle on her behalf as well. She is a very unhappy Grandmother right now also!
I am going to compose my e-mail tonight when things have settled here. I just can't imagine my children not being able to eat Smarties. I can remember the joy of Smartie lipstick and lining them up colour wise. These things may seem silly, but I do remember them. My children won't have that.
Also, since I'm discussing this and don't feel like traveling the board, I did see a segment of this on CityTV tonight. I had asked DH to please try to pay attention to the news when it was on for anything about this. They did a really good segment I thought and Laura DiBaptista did say that she thought it was a poor decision based on the limited amount of treats that peanut/nut allergic children have to choose from. I thought she was especially good. Anne M___
replied that she hoped Nestle would put out good advertisements so that the public would be aware that the products were no longer "safe" as of January 1, 2002. I didn't like her take on it as much as I liked Laura's.
Anyway.
Again, Redtruck, I'm shocked that you used an angry smilie, although I completely understand why. Now, you just have to add a [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img] one to the text!
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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[This message has been edited by Cindy Spowart Cook (edited April 19, 2001).]

Sue, I love your S.O.S.! It's wonderful! I think Nestle has heard from so many people already and will continue to be hearing from them that we may have a slim chance of getting their decision changed. I'm really hoping they do.
To-day when we were in the grocery store, Jesse started to tell the cashier how he won't be able to eat Smarties anymore and she looked at me quizzically and I explained. She said that it must be awful.
The really sad part about all of that was, it was in the very same store, just the day before Nestle's annoucement that I went through the safe and unsafe chocolate bars with Jesse as we were waiting at the check-out line. Of course then, Nestle chocolate bars and Smarties were safe and he was able to point them out as such. Now he can't.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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