I called Land o Lakes to check on their 72 slice American (process) cheese. The rep told me that they cannot guarantee ANY of their cheese products because they are not processed on "their" equipment, they are processed in another company's plant and there "could" be a cross-contamination issue. All attempts at getting more information about that plant were stonewalled. Is Borden the only safe cheese out there?
Cabot is safe, too.
[url="http://www.cabotcheese.com"]http://www.cabotcheese.com[/url]
Heather, thanks for the info on Cabot. I will look for their products next time I shop. Do they have individually packed sliced American cheese?
Does anyone know about Land-o-Lakes Butter?
My husband spoke to Land o Lakes a few weeks ago about their butter and got the same answer as for the cheese -- manufactured elsewhere, in facilities they don't control. We are now buying Cabot butter and cheese.
We have been usually Land o Lakes butter for years w/o a problem. I am going to change to Cabot after hearing this though.
This is getting insane. We can't feed our children anything without worry! I feel like such a hypocrite when my 4 yr old asks if the food he is eating is safe and I tell him it is. Do I really know?? Thanks for the heads-up on the butter (which we have been using) and for the info on Cabot's.
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] This is not good. Land-o-lakes is the *only* brand of butter, other than generic, that is available at our store. Nothing I can do but pray, I guess. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Gale
i HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CALL CABOT FOR 3 DAYS WITH NO RESPONSE ..THEY TELL ME TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND SOMEONE WILL GET BACK TO ME WHO KNOWS THIS INFO AND THEY NEVER DO. I ALSO ALWAYS USED LAND O LAKES AND WITH EASTER I HAVE ALOT OF BAKING ARE YOU SURE CABOT IS SAFE I JUST NEVER USED ANYTHING WITHOUT CHECKING MYSELF FIRST... THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING MY FEAR.. KATHY ANN
Hmmm...after a mysterious reaction we called Land-o-Lakes on their butter and were told it was absolutely safe.
This is now the third time in one year that I have received info from a company which conflicts with the majority.
I guess I am going to call again.
Here is my e-mail correspondence with Cabot regarding cheese and butter (butter is on top because that was most recent -- then cheese):
Thank you for responding to my email message. We are very pleased you
are also interested in our fresh creamery butter. Your support is
greatly appreciated.
All Cabot butters are free of nuts, and at no time are our butters in
contact with nut products. Both our cheeses and butters are safe to
consume by those allergic to nuts.
Thank you again for contacting Cabot. Please feel free to contact us
anytime. We are always pleased to hear from our consumers.
Sincerely,
Michael Provost
Cabot Customer Satisfaction Manager
*********************************************************************************\
>>> 03/07/02 10:42AM >>>
Thank you for your quick response. Can I ask in
addition, does this apply to Cabot BUTTER as well as
cheese?
--- Cabot Customer Satisfaction
wrote:
>
> Thank you for visiting the Cabot website and asking
> your fine question. Here at Cabot, everyone from
> the farm to the shipping docks feels a strong
> commitment to the quality standards of our
> award-winning products. We are always happy to
> provide our consumers with information that will
> help them to better understand... and enjoy... Cabot
> products.
>
> Those who are allergic to nuts can freely indulge in
> Cabot cheeses. All Cabot cheeses are nut free, and
> do not come in contact with any type of nut during
> the cheese making process. Our cheeses are a good
> healthy snack, which provides much of the
> recommended daily calcium intake for young children.
>
>
> Thank you again for contacting Cabot. Each time you
> select Cabot products you are directly aiding
> hundreds of small family farms throughout the
> Northeast. We pledge to continue working diligently
> to ensure you receive natural, wholesome, satisfying
> products.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Michael Provost
> Cabot Customer Satisfaction Manager
[This message has been edited by abers (edited July 03, 2002).]
I called Land-o-lakes today to ask. The lady that I talked to seemed to know just what I was asking, and mentioned that she just checked on it for another caller recently. I'm sure they've been getting a few extra calls lately. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] Anyway, she said the cheese is safe and the butter is safe, but she would have to get back to me about the margarine. I usually don't use L-O-L margarine, but I bought some last time because it was on sale plus I had a coupon (almost free!). I've never even heard of cabot's, so I'm super happy that L-O-L is safe. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Gale
Well, I probably should have waited until I cooled off a bit, but I just sent an e-mail to Land O'Lakes. I'll post the reply if I get one:
I recently spoke with one of your Customer Service Representatives to inquire about the safety of your processed cheese for my severely peanut allergic child. Your representative informed me in no uncertain terms that no Land O'Lakes cheese product should be considered safe for a peanut allergic individual because the cheese is processed in another facility over which Land O'Lakes has no control. I was told that Land O'Lakes will not guarantee any cheese product to be "safe". Today, I was informed that another person had called Land O'Lakes with the same inquiry and was told that Land O'Lakes products ARE safe for peanut allergic individuals.
Here is what you can do to help me (and countless others): Please provide your employees with adequate training to ensure that your product is being represented correctly. The maze that allergic individuals must go through to find safe food is ridiculous and if major companies would at least be able to provide us with accurate information, we could be a little less fearful that our precious child's next bite could be fatal.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Dawn
Dawn-I think your letter is perfect. They really need someone to speak harshly with them. Even after calling them, I'm just a tiny bit nervous still. I will probably just stick with the butter for now.
Gale
BTW -- Cabot is a Vermont company and I think only distributes to the New England area -- which may be why some of you have not heard of it.
Too bad about the contradictory info. from Land o Lakes...I'm one of the ones that got the "facilities we don't control" response. I hope they get their act together.
Here is the response I received today from Land O'Lakes:
We apologize for the inconsistency of the replies you have received
regarding the
cross-contamination by peanuts of the LAND O LAKES
Unless I hear otherwise, we've been using the Olivio brand spread. It's made with olive oil and my daughter loves it. But, with my luck, there will probably be something wrong with this down the line too! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
So, bottomline..the L.O.L. butter IS safe?
Or not?
That's all I am interested in right now?
Thanks...momomom
Here is the reply I received today. I guess it means they have poorly trained customer service reps working the phones?
Thank you for visiting the Land O'Lakes Web Site.
We understand you concern about potential allergens in food products
and apologize fur
the delay in our response. We are aware of this issue and have
developed quality
programs that attempt to identify or control allergens in our products.
Land O' Lakes, Inc. identifies allergenic ingredients including nuts
and peanuts and all
ingredient constituents on the labels of our packages. These labels
contain the most
accurate information on the ingredients in our products. Furthermore,
we hold suppliers of
our ingredients to these same high standards and require that they
disclose the contents of
their products to Land O' Lakes, Inc.
As we continuously improve the quality of our products at Land O'
Lakes, Inc., the
identification and management of potential allergen concerns will be a
significant priority
for us.
Thank you again for contacting us. It is our goal to supply consumers
with the finest
quality products. As a valued consumer, please feel free to contact us
if we can be of help
in the future.
Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the future.
Sincerely,
Land O'Lakes Consumer Affairs
They mention actual ingredients, but what about cross-contamination issues? I think I'll still limit my land-o-lakes purchases to the real butter.
Gale
If you go on the Cabot cheese website you can find stores in your area by going to "products" and then "where to find us". I live in Pennsylvania and I have found Cabot in Walmart, Shop Rite, and Mr. Zs. Some stores carry more of a variety of products.
I found these products in Florida too.
I hope this helps. This is the link to get you right to the store finder page.
[url="http://www.cabotcheese.com/f1.tmpl?left=menu-ourproducts.html&right=htm/storefinder.html"]http://www.cabotcheese.com/f1.tmpl?left=menu-ourproducts.html&right=htm/storefinder.html[/url]
[This message has been edited by Emmie (edited May 10, 2002).]
Thanks Emmie. I checked and the closest is around 40 miles away. I might check it out anyway, the next time I'm in that area. Does cabot make cream cheese also? I didn't even look at the website-I forgot.
Gale
A new PA mom wants to know if you are using LOL butter. I called today and they said they had to get back to me with the information but I need to start baking ASAP. I need input!!!! Quote:Originally posted by Dawn:
[b]Here is the reply I received today. I guess it means they have poorly trained customer service reps working the phones?
Thank you for visiting the Land O'Lakes Web Site.
We understand you concern about potential allergens in food products
and apologize fur
the delay in our response. We are aware of this issue and have
developed quality
programs that attempt to identify or control allergens in our products.
Land O' Lakes, Inc. identifies allergenic ingredients including nuts
and peanuts and all
ingredient constituents on the labels of our packages. These labels
contain the most
accurate information on the ingredients in our products. Furthermore,
we hold suppliers of
our ingredients to these same high standards and require that they
disclose the contents of
their products to Land O' Lakes, Inc.
As we continuously improve the quality of our products at Land O'
Lakes, Inc., the
identification and management of potential allergen concerns will be a
significant priority
for us.
Thank you again for contacting us. It is our goal to supply consumers
with the finest
quality products. As a valued consumer, please feel free to contact us
if we can be of help
in the future.
Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the future.
Sincerely,
Land O'Lakes Consumer Affairs[/b]
Danielle, I do use Land O'Lakes products. I felt that the last response I got from them was pretty much as good as I'll ever get from a company (unless, of course, they tell me that they will never, at any time, even [i]think[/i] of any peanut products while manufacturing the products I might buy [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] ). We've not had any problems.
Land o lakes is the only butter I've used in over a year. Our only alternative is generic and I just don't do generics, as a rule. for margarine we're using promise and ICBINB and for cheese we're still using kraft.
Gale
I love Cabot's Smoked Cheddar. Mmmm, I use that and my husband doesn't even notice the lack of ham in the scalloped potatoes (I'm vegetarian).
I've bought it in Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Florida.
I don't use LoL at all. I've reacted to it several times, but I suspect soy or latex contamination, not peanut.
ygg
I'd love it if you would share your scalloped potatoes recipe with me.
Peg
Quote:Originally posted by krasota:
[b]I love Cabot's Smoked Cheddar. Mmmm, I use that and my husband doesn't even notice the lack of ham in the scalloped potatoes (I'm vegetarian).
I've bought it in Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Florida.
[/b]
I'm in Indiana but have never seen Cabot cheese anywhere. Can you tell me where you bought it?
Gale
FWIW, I called today, 11/15/04, concerning thier Snack'n cheese To-Go and was told that they are made on dedicated lines, so no risk of cross contamination. She said they only thing they couldnt guarantee was processed cheese b/c it contains ingredients from other manufacturers, but all their natural cheeses were safe.
She was very nice, answered on the 2nd ring (no automated menu to get through), understood why I was calling and was just generally helpful.
Wow! I used the Cabot storefinder link, and it says that the Walmarts in Nebraska carry Cabot. That's great news. Thanks so much for the link.
i called Kellers butter, here in harleysville PA and they say they are safe.
I use LOL butter and have for years. I also do get Cabot or Roche Bros(cabot makes it for them) here in MA).
Since hearing about Cabot, I do get it most often nowadays, because I like supporting the smaller, local business, on top of feeling more reassured about allergens.
However, I do use any of these: LOL, Cabot, Roche Bros, or Stop and Shop if it is all I can get, or if it is on super sale at baking season. I consider butter a low risk, for some resaon, sort of like a gallon of milk. Maybe I am being ignorant. I don't know. I feel like some simple, single ingredient things are a low risk, where they are made in huge quantities all at once. becca
Ah, I see I never bothered to reply to a couple.
I make scalloped potatoes by parboiling sliced potatoes. I then drain 'em and toss them into a casserole dish. I butter them and pour a cheese sauce made from cheese, milk, and cornstarch over them. I usually add dry mustard powder and other tasty things (mushrooms if hubby isn't eating the dish).
As for where I bought cheese in Indiana . . . I have no idea. It could have been a Kroger in Henry County, a Marsh in Delaware/Henry/Marion Counties, or a Kroger or Meijer in Elkhart County. I only go back to visit family these days. Wild Oats would also be worth checking. And Kroger's select line of cheese is made by some company which starts with C--I can't remember for sure, but I think it *might* be Cabot. I know it's *not* Cracker Barrell.
ygg