I called McKee Foods, the makers of Little Debbie snack cakes and Sunbelt snacks. They have several plants in the southern US, including the three primary manufacturing plants in Collegedale, TN, and are expanding nationally. They also voluntarily label their packaging with a "Manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts and other nuts" statement. My question was, had they, or would they, consider establishing one of their plants as a nut-free facility. The representative I spoke with indicated that they had been asked that question in the past, but sporadically. I mentioned that there were almost 3 million nut-allergic Americans, not to mention their family members, who would be potential customers if they could have guaranteed nut-free products. She agreed with me that if there were enough interest to indicate such a profit condition, they would certainly consider it, and gave me the President's mailing address (she did not have an e-mail listing).
SO, any of you who are interested in encouraging McKee to set up a nut-free plant, please write to the president:
McKee Foods
Attn: Jack McKee
P.O. Box 750
Collegedale, TN 37315
(800) 522-4499
Just a note - I wrote to McKee and received a reply in less than a week that they appreciated my comments and were forwarding my letter to their research department to look into my suggestion about making one of their facilites peanut-free.
If any of you have any questions about this, or have written to McKee, please let me know.
Also, if it's easier for you to e-mail me with a note supporting this idea than writing to the company directly, please do so. I will print and mail copies of all such messages to them.
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PS - Thanks!!!
[This message has been edited by Shawn (edited February 16, 2000).]
Today I spent the day at the local grosery store with my PA daughter who starts Kindergarten in the Fall. We looked in every isle of the store for items containing peanuts, mixed nuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, and the may contain statement. When we got to the packaged snack section I pulled a box from the shelf and showed it to my little girl, "you see this sweet little girl on the box, you can not eat anything with her picture on it." My daughter asked what her name was and I said Little Debbie. When we were reviewing information in the car she said "and I cant eat anything with the picture of the little girl on it." They are portraying a wonderful image in the mind of my 5 year old.
Thanks for the address and number. I will write in support of a peanut free plant.
I have also contacted Little Debbie. The representative was extremely helpful and took my name and info and promised to pass on the request to production. I have always avoided the products that have the warning labels "manufactured on equipment....." or "may contain peanuts", but recently have began to feel quite frustrated that so many have now blanketed their ingredients with this "generic" warning. I picked Little Debbie because it is quite popular in my area and our school system offers their treats. My son starts Kindergarten in September. I hope we can get through to at least one of there manufacturers - life would be alittle easier!!