Nestle's Itzakadoodle and Mickey Bar

[CindyCat]

I called Nestle to see if my daughter could safely eat the Itzakadoodle and Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar that Nestle manufactures for WDW.

I felt a little surprised when the customer service representative told me that the FDA does NOT require them to disclose cross contamination, so she could tell me nothing about cross contamination risk. I figured I was dealing with some one new and asked to speak to a supervisor.

Imagine my SHOCK when the supervisor informed me that the FDA does NOT require them to disclose cross contamination and they have no information about cross contamination risks. This supervisor was adamant that she had no information about cross contamination and kept reiterating that they had no legal obligation to release any information about cross contamination.

I have called many manufactures about cross contamination risks. I have never encountered this type of shocking attitude -- we don't have to tell you and we won't -- nor been told that they simply don't know anything about cross contamination.

I really cannot believe that Disney, given their reputation for zealously trying to ensure the fun and safety of children with food allergies at their resort, would support Nestle's disinterest in the must rudimentary aspects of food allergies: tell the parents if the product is safe when they ask.

I intend to write Brenda Bennett and request that she consider asking Nestle to manufacture the products they manufacture especially for Disney on dedicated lines. If others felt similiarly inclined, I'm sure Disney's purchasing power could effect the change.

 

[Selket]

Nestle is a PITA. Do they not label some of their products as "may contains" however? I can't remember....I know I don't buy their chocolate chips and I thought that was because they had a warning on them. I have called other manufacturers who have told me they are not required to label for may contains and the like (only contains) so they could not give me info other than what was on the package.

That being said, my touch allergic pa/tn son has eaten Itskadoozies and the Mickey bars for the past 4 years without problems. They are on Brenda's safe list. I have not run across anyone in the past 4 years who has reported a reaction to either. I think the mickey bars used to be considered unsafe but that changed before my son started eating them.

 

[Schmeck]

I did find a piece of chopped peanut under the chocolate of my Mickey bar quite a few years ago (more than 4 years) - it was very obvious, looked like Mickey had a pimple! I also think they've changed the bars since then.

Nestle's customer service department must have been given a mandate not to discuss cross contamination over the phone. It's a big liability issue, and not one to be left to a 'he said, she said' phone call. Of course this is to cover their butts from a lawsuit. If we weren't such a sue-happy country, getting this necessary info would be a lot easier.

Pretty soon everything is going to be labeled as 'possibly containing just about everything' IMO. I don't know how anyone with a life-threatening food allergy is going to be able to think that anything is safe to eat!

I guess you'll have to check out the wrapper at the parks? Can it be trusted to be correct though? Will Brenda Bennett care that Nestle wouldn't tell you? She'd have her own info from the company, and she could let you know what is safe, right?

 

[kyirish25]

Since the new laws requiring them to bold the top 8 allergens I have become a bit more comfortable with just reading labels vs. calling the companies directly. Like previous posters have stated you aren't going to find many companies that will say 100% on any sort of cross-contamination issues. Most will offer if they have actual nuts in their factory and what process is used to clean their equipment but other than that it is a CYA response you will get.

My DS has been eating the Mickey Bars and Itzakadoozie's now for 6 years without any problems. The ice cream sandwiches used to have a warning but they no longer do, at least not the Mickey shaped ones, the cookie sandwich ones do have a warning if memory is serving correctly.

 

[Chuck S]

Heck, there is no law to disclose all the actual ingredients, either. Mom & I both have reactions to certain seasoning, hers to savory, mine to coriander and capsicum.

Many, many products simply list such ingredients as "spices and seasoongs" or "spice extract" with no hint as to what "spices and seasonings" are used, nor is there any definition as to what "spice" is used for the
spice extract.

 

[RevJATB]

Heck, there is no law to disclose all the actual ingredients, either. Mom & I both have reactions to certain seasoning, hers to savory, mine to coriander and capsicum.

Many, many products simply list such ingredients as "spices and seasoongs" or "spice extract" with no hint as to what "spices and seasonings" are used, nor is there any definition as to what "spice" is used for the
spice extract.

That is the boat we are in. Our 10 year old son is allergic to many preservatives and food addities, including MSG. "Natural flavors" and "natural colors" on a label are no help at all. Tell us what those "natural flavors" and "natural colors" are! One of those "natural colors" could be carmine (made from insect exoskeletons!), to which he is highly reactive. We take his antihistamines with us wherever we go, not to mention EpiPens . . .

 

[RevJATB]

Had a look around the Nestle and Edy's Grand sites (Edy's Grand is made by Nestle and, according to Brenda Bennett, is the type of ice cream used at WDW. The Mickey Bars and the Itzakadoozie treats bear the Nestle name.) Edy's Grand has no adverse ingredients for our son. It contains corn syrup, but not HFCS. And the only colors it uses are annatto (a plant extract that he's OK with) and turmeric (ditto). However, the Itzakadoozie is colored with tartrazine, an artificial coloring that causes reactions in lots of people. So we are just going to stay away from the frozen treats sold on the carts and stick with the scooped stuff.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Pretty soon everything is going to be labeled as 'possibly containing just about everything' IMO.

Funny you should mention that... I just happen to have a jar of Peter Pan Peanut butter here. Where I've bolded any text, it's because it's bold on the label:
INGREDIENTS:Roasted peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oils (cottonseed and rapeseed), salt, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. CONTAINSEANUTS

Duh And don't start with me on the PHVO - I just read the full ingredient list now