Tofutti/Rice Dream desserts - Nut Warning?

[atmail35]

So we've never used it but I just read on their website that they have a warning "may contain peanuts" and they make peanut butter flavored Cuties (sandwiches) and also have one of the flavors with Almonds.

I hear this is the go-to dessert for food allergy folks since regular ice cream is usually not safe. I have to say this is disappointing to find out for my PN/TN allergic DD!

From the website:

"26. Does Tofutti use peanuts in any of their products? If so, how do you make sure that there is no cross contamination?
Regarding peanuts, we do have a peanut flavored Cutie. Our Cuties are run on a completely separate line in the ice cream plant where our frozen dessert products are manufactured. Prior to running our Cuties each day, the equipment is specially cleaned under the supervision of a Rabbi to ensure that there is no possibility of dairy contamination. This special cleaning will also take care of any other type of contamination. We only run one particular flavor of Cuties each day, never splitting the day between two flavors. Peanut butter Cuties are always run at the end of the week, so there is nothing being run after them until the following week. Further, when we run the peanut butter Cuties we run up a large quantity so that it is only run infrequently. All ingredients and packaging is kept separate from the rest of our other products.We also have a stick novelty, Monkey Bars, which has peanut butter flavor in it. The same rules of the Cutie line apply to our stick novelty line. Our products are made in an ice cream plant where other peanut products are present. We therefore cannot guarantee that there will not be any peanut contamination, no matter how unlikely the possibility. As for our other products, our Soy Nuts and candy products are made in facilities that do use peanuts. The packaging of these products does list a warning, “May contain trace amounts of peanuts.” We also have a peanut butter cookie that does contain whole peanuts. If you feel that the preceding information raises your concerns about the safety of our products regarding peanut contamination, please do not use our products. Safety of our consumers is always our number one priority. If you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us."

ETA: I looked at Rice Dream's website too and I guess they also have nut varieties....made at the end of the week and everything is cleaned which doesn't not sit well with me. I guess she won't eat that either.

From website...
"Imagine Foods produces close to 30 flavors of RICE DREAM Frozen Desserts. Several of the flavors (see list above) contain nuts. The state of the art equipment at our plant is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between every production run. Since we are aware of the severe allergies many people have to nuts, we run all the flavors containing nuts at the end of any production run. This means that no nuts are introduced into the processing system before or during the time all other flavors without nuts are manufactured."

I'm now curious what the label really says on these brands The Chefs are going to think I'm crazy that I won't let her have it when I say, "well I read on their website"....blah blah blah...not that I care that they think I'm crazy.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My interpretation of the statement posted by atmail35 is that the probability of contamination is about as close to zero as you can get, but they are required by law to warn that the chance is not actually zero.

I would imagine, also, that the packaging will state "Made in a facility that also uses peanuts and tree nuts" or words to that effect.

There is also a possibility that while walking down the street you will be struck and killed by a meteor falling from the sky. The probabilities are probably about the same. You cannot possibly protect against any possible occurance.

 

[atmail35]

My interpretation of the statement posted by atmail35 is that the probability of contamination is about as close to zero as you can get, but they are required by law to warn that the chance is not actually zero.

I would imagine, also, that the packaging will state "Made in a facility that also uses peanuts and tree nuts" or words to that effect.

There is also a possibility that while walking down the street you will be struck and killed by a meteor falling from the sky. The probabilities are probably about the same. You cannot possibly protect against any possible occurance.

Actually they aren't required to disclose a Made in Facility or similar statement, they are only required to disclose that any of the top 8 allergens are present.

I don't give DD "made in a facility" or similar statement products based on our allergist's recommendations.

I also have read that something like 7-25% of the "may contains" or "made in a facility" products tested POSITIVE for the allergen. Also an allergist once said at a lecture I attended that studies have shown that "may contains peanuts (or whatever)" is not necessarily MORE likely to have peanut traces than "made in a facility that process peanuts" or "made on shared equipment". The wording of the warning can be aribitrary by the manufacturer, per this allergist (I think there were studies done but I don't have time to look up the references).

I was really just venting, is the chance slight that it would have nuts, maybe, but why take the chance and run the risk of and ER trip and ruin our vacation? I suppose having Tofutti isn't more important than a safe trip. That's my confort zone, everyone's is different.

I'm sure one day everything will have a "made in a facility" or similar statement and DD won't be able to eat anything, but until then I guess there are plenty of things she can have.

And I sure hope a meteor doesn't hit me today since we leave this week!

 

[nfceagles]

I think it's the following that most of us are comfortable with:

"Prior to running our Cuties each day, the equipment is specially cleaned under the supervision of a Rabbi to ensure that there is no possibility of dairy contamination. This special cleaning will also take care of any other type of contamination. We only run one particular flavor of Cuties each day, never splitting the day between two flavors. Peanut butter Cuties are always run at the end of the week, so there is nothing being run after them until the following week. Further, when we run the peanut butter Cuties we run up a large quantity so that it is only run infrequently. All ingredients and packaging is kept separate from the rest of our other products."

That's about as good a process as you're going to find for preventing cross-contamination. I don't allow "made in facility" products either, EXCEPT when I'm privy to more detailed information about procedures from companies who are in the market of catering to special diets. The kosherization process is very extensive. I feel the same way about Turtle Mountain products.

Most TS restaurants have some sort of nut products on their menu and, therefore, in their kitchen. Most CS places serve Uncrustables. So unless you're not eating in them, then you are eating food "made in facilities" that use nut products. Everywhere you go in the park you're at risk of running into PB residue from all the kids eating stuff brought in by their parents. I think the risk of a Tofutti product, given the lengths they go to to prevent cross-contamination, is far less than the risks you're already taking elsewhere in the park. Just my two cents for another perspective.

I have two flavors of cuties in my freezer and neither list a nut warning. I don't have any pints right now, but I'm almost certain they don't put a warning on them either.

If you're still concerned, I would suggest asking your allergist about this specific situation. Read what Tofutti describes to him and see what he thinks.

 

[escapetodisney]

I've questioned the same thing with the chefs because I've gotten the same information about Tofutti and Rice Dream. If you're not comfortable with the warning (I'm not really) then my suggestion would be to work with the chefs so your DD has a safe alternate dessert. It may have to be fruit or an Itzakadoozie bar. At LeCellier they make their own sorbet so my DS has had that on occasion. At Crystal Palace they have a gluten-free brownie. I think you can fill out a form and request some foods or call the restaurant ahead of time to request certain desserts. For a special meal I've ordered a PN/TN/DairyFree cake for the whole family to enjoy as dessert. (You have to give them a week's notice I think) This does increase your meal cost though. Sometimes it means my family does not order desert and then w get a treat later in the afternoon or evening like a Divvies or slushie or shave ice. I always found it was best to discuss this with the family well before we got to the restaurant so the other kid and husband didn't make a fuss over no dessert. Good luck to you and best wishes for a safe trip with your DD.