mickey ears ice cream bars?

[mtlmom]

Hi.
I am new to the board.

Going to Disney in August .
First time with the kids.
My DD is allergic to peanuts, treenuts, legumes and shellfish.
Does any one know if those Mickey ears ice cream bars would be safe for her?
I'm getting a little nervous about this trip already!!

Thanks

 

[DVCDawn]

MTLMom,

My oldest DD9 is allergic to peanuts and nuts, so I know your pain ! We were last in WDW at the end of April and at that point the Mickey Bars were safe for her to eat. I contacted Nestle directly and they assured me that she would be able to eat them. They do contain coconut oil which isn't a problem for my DD, but can be for other peanut and tree nut allergic individuals.

Here's my Mickey Bar tip of the day:
I called each restaurant we had ADRs for prior to leaving for WDW and if there wasn't a safe dessert for DD to eat (we were on the dining plan) I asked that they provide her with a Mickey Bar. Let's just say, she was one happy kid that week!

DVCDawn

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

I have made your post into a new thread since you had attached to a thread that has had no activity for about a year and a half.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #3 includes information and links related to special dietary concerns and should give extra help.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[mickeymom1]

They do contain coconut oil which isn't a problem for my DD,

can i ask how do you know it is not a problem for your daughter? (was she tested or exposed to it without a reaction). we are somewhat new to all of this allergy stuff (my ds is 3) and the whole coconut thing is really confusing to me and there doesn't seem to be any solid info out there either. my ds is allergic to peanuts and treenuts & at his last allergist appointment i questioned the doctor about coconuts and he said it is considered a tree nut and to avoid it (but never tested him specifically for it). it would be soooooo much easier if he could have mickey pops with everyone else (and popcorn at the movies, etc.) but we usually talk him into an itsacadoozie pop.

sorry to hijack this thread, but this is something that i really could use some help with! thanks.

 

[cinderella73]

I was and still am a bit confused about the whole coconut thing as well. Last year my severly nut allergic child did have the Mickey Bars. I was told they were nut free but no one told me about the coconut oil or I would not have let him try them. But he did ... and he was fine. But that was us. Now that I know the connection and know that coconut is a nut ( I thought it was a fruit with the word nut at the end because of its shape!) I am not sure how I feel about him having them again.

It is confusing isnt it? And so darn frustrating really.... I do have a lot of plans in mind for this next in regards to safe snacks I can bring in.

Oh and just so you know they do sell something called Divvies at Mk in the Bakery. They are prepackaged and nut free and made in a dedicated facility. But I reccomend going to the website ahead of time and ordering a box of them and taking a few with you . For one its cheaper and second you will have them handy in every park. They dont taste any different than regular choc chip cookies and even my non allergic kids love the,. The cupcakes are heaven as well.

Last thing .. You are allowed to bring in a small soft sided cooler and safe foods . If you do get any problems at the gate mention the food allergy and Brenda Bennette as well. Her number can be found on these boards if you dont have it already. And its a great place to keep ur epi pens as well since they shouldnt get to hot and we all know how hot it gets at wdw! Im looking into a cooler backpack. If I spelled it right I think the Divvies site is www.divvies.com

 

[mechurchlady]

Definitely be very specific on what legumes he cannot have as that term may not be fully understood by some people. Same with casssein and glutin, huh is what I hear but if I say no wheat and dairy they know what I am talking about.

Coconuts are nuts but this is a scientific definition only. Peanuts are really legumes. The coconut is a very far cousin of the walnut as shown below. We are closer relatives to snails probably.

Coconut
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Tribe: Cocoeae
Genus: Cocos
Species: C. nucifera

Walnut
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Juglandaceae
Genus: Juglans L.

Peanut (legume)
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Aeschynomeneae
Genus: Arachis
Species: A. hypogaea

 

[1stluvispooh]

Coconut oil is the ban of my existents! My DD is allergic to casein ie milk and on the list of things that her allergist gave me to watch out for at the very bottom was 1 little line that said "may also react to coconut, coconut milk, coconut oil" Ugh I have been know to purchase cereal that was safe for her before and then boom where having a reaction but from what. Oh they changed the cereal and put in coconut oil.

Sorry had to vent.

 

[mickeymom1]

thanks for all the info about the coconuts. i am glad that it is not just me !!!

wanted to add that at one sit down meal (i think it may have been tony's town square) they gave my son a divvies brownie for dessert (still in the package). thought that was very nice. everyone was very kind and helpful when dealing with the allergies.

 

[Selket]

On FAAN they have answered the ? about coconuts:

http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/treenut.html
Should coconut be avoided by someone with a tree nut allergy?
Discuss this with your doctor. Coconut, the seed of a drupaceous fruit, has typically not been restricted in the diets of people with tree nut allergy. However, in October of 2006, the FDA began identifying coconut as a tree nut. The available medical literature contains documentation of perhaps six cases of allergic reaction to coconut; none occur in people with allergy to other tree nuts. Ask your doctor if you need to avoid coconut.

William is allergic to some of the tree nuts he has been tested for. The dr. told us to watch out for coconut but he has never had a problem with it. He is touch allergic to peanuts though - so very allergic. He eats the Mickey bars without a problem. You'll have to figure out the coconut thing on your own though - no one can say 100% it is safe or unsafe but it would be extremely rare. FAAN is a well respected organization, FYI - if you aren't familiar with them.

I *always* suggest that people contact Brenda Bennett (email in FAQ) to get the latest info on food allergies before they go. Just because the bar was peanut/tree nut safe in March when we were there doesn't mean it is today.

Good luck!

 

[dizcrazee]

I was glad to read this thread - we are trying to figure out the coconut thing too! My daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, but she has always eaten coconut without a problem. Since coconut has been classified as a tree nut, I'm afraid to give it to her, and her allergist said "he's leaving that up to me" (not much help there). Coconut oil is in so many things! For now, we are avoiding all coconut, but I'm waivering on whether or not to continue that since she had eaten it for years with no problem. I guess my concern is that since it is related to tree nuts, maybe it's something that she will be more likely to develop an allergy to. So confusing.

 

[SueM in MN]

I *always* suggest that people contact Brenda Bennett (email in FAQ) to get the latest info on food allergies before they go. Just because the bar was peanut/tree nut safe in March when we were there doesn't mean it is today.

Good luck!

 

[hildarumpole]

The coconut thing is creating a lot of confusion, especially with the labeling. Food manufacturers now have to label for common allergens, but they may simply use "may contain tree nuts" when it's really just coconut and not any other tree nuts, so many people may needlessly be avoiding some foods. I asked our allergist about coconuts for my 2 tree nut/peanut allergic kids. When they were initially diagnosed years ago, coconut was never mentioned as a potential problem for tree nut allergic folks. He said there was no reason to avoid coconut since the incidence of allergy to it is so rare. My kids have had curries with coconut milk, fresh coconut, and movie theatre popcorn "butter" that contains coconut oil without any reaction. On the other hand, we had to avoid soy, lentils, and peas for several years, because they are in the legume family and there was a concern with the peanut allergy. Neither child developed soy allergies, but DD10 is allergic to lentils and peas.

If anyone is worried about the coconut oil in the Mickey bars, try something with coconut a few times before your trip in a controlled environment. You wouldn't want to find out at Disney that it is a problem. Check with your dr. to be extra safe.

 

[cinderella73]

I was glad to read this thread - we are trying to figure out the coconut thing too! My daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, but she has always eaten coconut without a problem. Since coconut has been classified as a tree nut, I'm afraid to give it to her, and her allergist said "he's leaving that up to me" (not much help there). Coconut oil is in so many things! For now, we are avoiding all coconut, but I'm waivering on whether or not to continue that since she had eaten it for years with no problem. I guess my concern is that since it is related to tree nuts, maybe it's something that she will be more likely to develop an allergy to. So confusing.

We are dealing with the exact same issue. What you said about your concern that if you continue to give your daughter the stuff she may develop a future reaction to is exactly what I was worried about.

BUT here is the other side to that and why its so hard to know. The stuff they are doing right now , working on what they say may be the cure to Peanut allergies , is giving people in a medical setting extremely small miniscule amounts of nut flour and slowly increasing it intill the person develops the immunity. They call it immunotherapy. Basically the body gets used to the allergen and no longer recognizes it as a hostile or foreign intruder.

Soooo I am thinking that if maybe we take the oil away that they are not reacting to will start to become more allergic if their bodies become unfamilar? Or will giving it to them make them more likely to a future reaction?

I look in my fridge today and son loves whip cream on his pancakes sometimes. Well the 3rd ingredient is coconut oil! I went through everything and we had a lot of stuff with it.

It would help if some of these allergists even knew what they were doing. I dont know about your DR. but ours knows nothing! We are changing...

 

[Selket]

Well William was dx'd with the peanut/tree nut allergy about 2.5 years before the FDA decided coconut was a tree nut. So he happily ate coconut for all that time without problems.

I think the coconut thing is nothing to worry about for those with tree nut allergies. It *is*always possible you will be case #7 of those ever reported reacting to coconut and the first ever tree nut allergic person reacting to coconut. Those are odds that I would take. I would want the allergist to give me some really good evidence that coconut is a problem for those with TN allergies.

You could always go over to the peanut allergy boards (http://www.peanutallergy.com) and ask about coconut there.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

We just got back from the World last week and my two boys who are extremely allergic to peanuts/tree nuts ate mickey bars all week and had no problems.

 

[Zoebear]

We had no problem 3 weeks ago; DS is 4+ to peanuts ? Tree nuts.

 

[bumbershoot]

I look in my fridge today and son loves whip cream on his pancakes sometimes. Well the 3rd ingredient is coconut oil!

My son can't have canned whipped cream b/c of the corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup (turns him into a raging demon with an extra bad attitude), so if he wants whipped cream we just get heavy cream and whip it. Pure, simple, and not TOO much work.

Of course he can't have it while we're out b/c it's the junky stuff, can't have "syrup" either unless we bring our own pure maple syrup, so he's gotten used to just powdered sugar (but not every kid with corn issues can have that, as they cut it with cornstarch, but DS isn't that sensitive) and butter on pancakes.

That's my only contribution to this thread since the mickey bars have corn syrup, so we can't have them at all!

 

[dizcrazee]

We are dealing with the exact same issue. What you said about your concern that if you continue to give your daughter the stuff she may develop a future reaction to is exactly what I was worried about.

BUT here is the other side to that and why its so hard to know. The stuff they are doing right now , working on what they say may be the cure to Peanut allergies , is giving people in a medical setting extremely small miniscule amounts of nut flour and slowly increasing it intill the person develops the immunity. They call it immunotherapy. Basically the body gets used to the allergen and no longer recognizes it as a hostile or foreign intruder.

Soooo I am thinking that if maybe we take the oil away that they are not reacting to will start to become more allergic if their bodies become unfamilar? Or will giving it to them make them more likely to a future reaction?

I look in my fridge today and son loves whip cream on his pancakes sometimes. Well the 3rd ingredient is coconut oil! I went through everything and we had a lot of stuff with it.

It would help if some of these allergists even knew what they were doing. I dont know about your DR. but ours knows nothing! We are changing...

I've actually had the same thoughts about immunotherapy and avoidance. It seems like there's two schools of thought on food allergies - one is complete avoidance, while the other tries to build tolerance in a controlled setting. More confusion here.

I also relate to you about the cool whip situation - my kid loves cool whip, but it's off the list of safe food now. However, I'm thinking about trying Dream Whip. You mix it up yourself and it comes out like cool whip. My mother used it in the 1970's, and I checked the other day and found out that it's still around. I didn't see coconut oil on the list of ingredients, but I'm going to check again. You can find it at amazon.com and check the ingredients. I will use it for recipes that call for cool whip, and use canned real whipped cream for toppings. At least that's my plan.

 

[DCDisney]

My DD is allergic to peanuts, treenuts, legumes and shellfish.
Does any one know if those Mickey ears ice cream bars would be safe for her?

If you avoid all legumes then the Mickey bars and other ice creams are not safe. I am also allergic to legumes and I think every one has guar gum, locust bean gum, or carob bean in it. The only commercial ice cream that doesn't have these legume products is Hagen Daz. This also applies to cream cheese, cottage cheese, and ricotta cheese. All the soft serve ice creams also have these legumes. I am also nut allergic and they often tried to serve me gluten free products as their allergy safe foods but these often had sunflower oil/seeds (Amy's gluten free pizza they use for allergy safe) in them which isn't safe for nut free people usually and the gluten free rolls have guar gum and sunflower oil. The rice dream ice cream also has guar,locust, or carob beans as well. I'm not sure about the tofutti ice cream they serve because the soy is a legume too.

Frankly, I had an awful time at CS this year because all baked goods/buns/pizza crusts were multi grain with sunflower and the gluten free stuff doesn't work well for lots of other allergies and they kept telling me it was ok but then when I read ingredients it wasn't. At TS it was fine because they made me whatever (but no bread) but CS was tough unless she likes mac and cheese a lot. I used all my snack credits to buy a bunch of the allergy safe Divvies stuff at Main St Bakery and I just carried one or two of those with me for treats.

 

[Schmeck]

Have they changed the location of the manufacturing of the Mickey bars in the last 4 years or so? On our second to last trip, we did get a Mickey bar with a piece of peanut on it - it was stuck in the chocolate coating, and it looked like Mickey had a big pimple on his face. I broke it off to see what it was, and it was peanut! No one in our family has a peanut allergy, so it was OK that we got that one, but it could have been really bad for someone else.

But that was quite a few years ago, and I've never seen anything on the boards about it happening to anyone else. It just looked like one of those chopped nut toppings they put on sundae cones that they used to sell with the Mickey bars. I don't think they even sell them at WDW anymore!