I wrote to Iowa's state inspection office regarding the number of grocery stores that have uncovered bins of fresh peanuts in the produce dept. I also had been in a neighborhood grocery store and noticed in the meat dept. that an employee was mixing ground beef with a Playtex (latex) glove. Geez!
Apparently, from the reply below, it might be helpful to write the FDA if you have had a reaction due to loose nuts in grocery/retail stores. Maybe, they would consider regulations. While I have not had a reaction, I am afraid to eat any foods merchandised close to them. So, there goes the use of fresh produce that I love so much.
Here is the reply I received...
In retail food establishments, this issue has not been addressed in the
2001 Food Code. FDA and ourselves are reviewing allergen issues on the
inspection of food processing plants that have one or more of the 8
major allergens of concern, which includes peanuts and tree nuts. The
main issues of control is adequate labeling (which is not new) and
adequate "clean-out" between products that contain allergen ingredients
and those that don't. Food processing plants also need to verify that
incoming ingredients are free from "cross contact" with allergens of
concern. Re-work is also an issue that needs to be addressed. Due to
the complexity of the issue and the large number of products handled at
one retail store, it has not been addressed at retail. We have not
received any guidance on this issue at retail from FDA at the present
time.
If you have any further questions, please contact Robert Haxton of our
Food and Consumer Safety Bureau at 515/281-6539 or by e-mail at
[email]rhaxton@dia.state.ia.us[/email].
Sincerely,
David Werning
DIA Public Information Officer
[email]David.Werning@dia.state.ia.us[/email]
Thanks for posting about this Cathlina. I found that sending a letter directly to the grocery store managers or owners helps. There's a copy of a letter I sent a while back under TAKE ACTION (topic- a long grocery store letter). I was able to convince two stores in my area to only sell peanuts in prepackaged bags.
I noticed this week that my local Kroger just moved their loose peanuts and placed other vegetables in their place. I'm wondering how well they cleaned those bins after the move and if those vegetables are contaminated.
I am sure the food is contaminated...my experience is that they don't have a clue about allergies.
I am using frozen vegetables or buying things in produce that are prepackaged in a bag far away from the nuts.
My local Wal-Mart did remove loose nuts from their store after I e-mailed their corporate office about it.
If anyone has any trouble with Wal-Mart, let me know...whether it's loose nuts or boiled peanuts in the store.
I am a stockholder and I usually get them to pay attention to my requests.
I live in Winston-Salem, NC. Last weekend DD and I were in the produce department and there were two large open bins of peanuts- right in the middle of all the veggies! I'm so irked.
wow, we should do that too!
there are lots of stores in my town that sell peanuts and all sorts of nuts in those bins with the scoops and you get a clear plastic bag full, which really annoys me. what if your peanut allergy is airbourne, and you cant avoid those bins? its pretty ridiculous in my opinion.
See my post not to long ago in Main Discussion - Albertson's, Kash n Karry and Publix - oh my gosh!