here's a response I got from Necco:
*************
is your sweetheart candy hearts peanut/nut safe?? Please advise.
Thanks!
Linda
Dear Linda,
Thank you for contacting New England Confectionery Company with your
question about our Sweetheart Conversation Hearts.
Conversation hearts are manufactured and packaged in a facility where
peanuts are used in other product lines but are manufactured where peanuts
are not used. However, Sweethearts may be packaged on lines where we also
package products that may have come in contact with peanuts. We do a wet
wash on these lines between product runs. However, in your case it may be
best to stay away from those products, which are: 1 and 1&1/8 ounce boxes ,
1/2 ounce packets and a 2# bag that we make for Wal-mart (our product code
30368). One product that we make that would be manufactured and packaged in
areas free of peanuts is Necco Wafers.
I hope that you will find this information helpful. If you have any other
questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail.
Sincerely,
Chuck Bemis
Quality Control Manager
Oh well at least the Necco wafers are safe. I used to like them as a kid maybe we will have to try them again. Thanks for the information.
Jaime
I saw a similar heart product made by Starburst. Has anybody checked it out?
Andrea
I saw the Starburst product and the label reflects that it is safe, and I belive(if memory serves me) that it is a Hershey label, which I trust. I have used other Starburst and Skittles products without any problems, so I gave the okay to our teacher to use these in place of the Necco product od several cinnamon heart brands I was unfamiliar with.
I recently pulled up old threads on Necco, and contacted them myself, and they always answer a bit differently. I was told the Necco Wafers were made on dedicated lines and packaged on dedicated lines but lots of nuts are around, or something to that effect, making me feel a bit squeamish. If I have time I will pull it al up later. Just alot of comlicated answers as to a particular sized box is "usually" okay, and some inconsistencies among us all here with responses. becca