Peanut safe brands in US?

[casper_jj11]

We're thinking of ordering from Garden Grocer this trip but DD has a peanut allergy (peanut only, nothing else). I'm hesitant to order unless I know for sure the brands/items I order are peanut free. I know the brands here that are generally safe but have no idea in the US. Also, here its safe to assume that if a product states 'may contain x, y and z' but peanuts arent listed, that the company has put its mind to the concern and I don't need to worry. I'm thinking primarily of breakfast food and snack foods. Can anyone with peanut allergy concerns help me out with safe foods to order? I'll of course look at the ingredient list myself once we get there before I give the food to DD but at least I'll have an idea what to order.

Thinking of:

bread
bagels
english muffins
granola/breakfast type snack bars like nutrigrain or special K bars here
crackers
potato chips
boxes of raisins
fruit like candy... here, betty crocker makes them and they're peanut allergy safe



Here, yogurt, cheese, milk, juice, sandwich meat, kraft dinner, campbells soup are generally safe... meaning I haven't found any with a warning and the brands say its peanut free. Is it the same in the US?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[casper_jj11]

Anyone?

 

[EvangelineG]

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates packaged food. FDA regulations require that protein-containing ingredients derived from the top eight allergens (milk, egg, wheat, peanut, soy, tree nut, fish, and crustacean shellfish) be identified by their common or usual name.

When scientific ingredient names are used, the law requires manufacturers to list the common term in parentheses next to the scientific term, for example “casein (milk),” or to provide a “Contains” statement of each major allergen in the product directly after or adjacent to the ingredient list.

Such ingredients must be listed even if they are present in colors, flavors, or spice blends. Additionally, manufacturers must list the specific nut or seafood that is used (e.g., almond, walnut, cashew; or tuna, salmon, shrimp, or lobster).

The law makes an exception for highly refined oils, such as peanut oil and soybean oil. Highly refined oils are not labeled as allergens.

Allergy warnings such as “May contain…” or “Manufactured in a facility…” are voluntarily used by some food manufacturers. There are no regulations for the use of these statements. However, the intent of the messages is to alert you to a risk. Avoid products with these warnings.

Taken from the following website http://www.foodallergyalliance.org/foo.html. For our sons, we are comfortable with US companies that have labelled for "may contains", but don't list any traces of our sons' particular allergens. Most of the major food brands that are available here in Canada are also available in the States. I would see what you can order that you are already familiar with, and then research new foods on the manufacturer's website or by calling, before you order.

 

[noahcarter]

Hi,
My son has a peanut only allergy and here are some "safe" foods that we eat:

Bread: Aunt Millies 100% whole wheat bread
Bagels: Aunt Millies or lenders
Snack bars: Nutrigrain bars
Crackers: Goldfish, Nabisco Wheat Thins- original or multi-grain, Triscuits-Original, or Premium Saltines, Sunshine krispy Saltines
Pretzels: Rold Gold - plain
Oreos- original, double stuff, cool mint creme
Raisins- SunMaid plain raisins/ apricots or Ocean Spray Craisins
Fruit Snacks: Betty Crocker

The other foods you listed at bottom, (yogurt, soups etc) I have found to be all safe.

We do not eat any "may contain" products.

 

[casper_jj11]

Thank you so much! That's a huge help! I had a look at Garden Grocer and noticed that there are many brands that are the same but because processing facilities differ, I wasn't sure if peanut free here meant peanut free in the US. Its good to know that Nutrigrain and Goldfish are safe. I think I'll call a few of the other companies to see. I'll check on Kelloggs specifically. And also Thomas since we don't have Thomas here. I don't think GG sells Aunt Millie's products.

A side question, trying to order milk, I'm discovering that the brand milks are either soy/goat milk or chocolate or flavoured milk. The only actual real milk seems to be store brand... is this normal? We generally have two or three brand name brands of milk to choose from and no store brands here ...

 

[tinker-belle]

Hi,
My son has a peanut only allergy and here are some "safe" foods that we eat:

Bread: Aunt Millies 100% whole wheat bread
Bagels: Aunt Millies or lenders
Snack bars: Nutrigrain bars
Crackers: Goldfish, Nabisco Wheat Thins- original or multi-grain, Triscuits-Original, or Premium Saltines, Sunshine krispy Saltines
Pretzels: Rold Gold - plain
Oreos- original, double stuff, cool mint creme
Raisins- SunMaid plain raisins/ apricots or Ocean Spray Craisins
Fruit Snacks: Betty Crocker

The other foods you listed at bottom, (yogurt, soups etc) I have found to be all safe.

We do not eat any "may contain" products.

Be careful with lenders bagels. When we called them, they told us only their frozen bagels are safe for peanut allergies, and not to buy any of their bagels off the shelves that arent frozen.

 

[MSSANDRA]

There are so many different warnings here and they mean different things. You will see: contains peanuts. may contain peanuts. May contain traces of peanuts. Made on equipment with peanuts. Made in the same factory or bakery as peanuts. We follow our Dr 's advice and avoid all except made in the same factory thought I will sometimes allow him to have plain cake that has one of the other warning on it.

As a general rule, companies are VERY conservative in peanuts warning. If there is ANY chance that there could be any contact with peanuts, there is a warning. Not a lot of help but maybe some insight.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

in usa, you will find more store brand milk. the store i use only have one brand name milk and then the store brand milk. more brand name soy milk. looks like you are seeing normal for here.

 

[Eliserose]

We have peanut allergy and ordered from garden grocer. You can look at the brands they have and then cross reference them with the company websites. We ordered Thomas' bagels, lays potato chips, and pepperidge farm goldfish and all were safe. Labels will say if there is peanuts or cross contamination.
On another note, Disney is the BEST place to be with food allergies! In every restaurant the chef came to our table to discuss safe food.
PS. Dole Whips are peanut free Enjoy!

 

[Brenle]

I sympathize with you. Dealing with a peanut allergy is extremely difficult. You may want to check the foodallergy.org website. It gives lost of information about peanut allergens in particular.

 

[4under4]

Just an FYI: Milk will not be in aseptic packaging, it will be from the cold case (it just never caught on in the states). If you want to have aseptic milk, you will need to get soy, almond, or rice milk.

 

[Mary976]

Enjoy Life is another brand. Their candy bars are okay, although I didn't care for the cookies.

Also, Rudi's brand bread/rolls are safe, although a bit expensive.

Mary

 

[DVCDawn]

In the US, the food labeling law requires manufacturers to declare all ingredients, but they are required to state "may contain" or "processed in a facility with," etc.. As a parent of a child with severe peanut and tree nut alleriges, who has anaphylactic responses to even trace amounts of peanuts and nuts, we limit her consumption to foods from companies who have voluntarily chosen to declare "may contains" and "processed in a facility with."

Luckily, some of the biggest US food manufacturers do this. Among them are:

General Foods
Kelloggs
Nabisco
Frito Lay

To answer your specific questions, here's what we buy:

bread --my daughter likes whole wheat so we buy Strohemann's 100% Whole Wheat. If your son likes white bread, Wonder is also safe (Wonder is made by Interstate Bakeries, which labels for cross-contamination, so you're fine with this brand, too, provided the label reads OK)

bagels -- Thomas Bagels

english muffins -- Thomas English Muffins

granola/breakfast type snack bars like nutrigrain or special K bars here
crackers -- Nutrigrain Bars

potato chips -- Lay's or Pringles. Be especially careful with potato chips in WDW. Some locations serve Miss Vicki's chips which are cooked in peanut oil.


boxes of raisins -- Sunmaid

fruit like candy... here, betty crocker makes them and they're peanut allergy safe -- My DD likes Skittles and Starburst, which you can find all over WDW. In terms of gummy fruit snacks, I have not found any that weren't safe, but to be fair, my DD doesn't really like them.

Hope this helps.

DVCDawn