Talking Allergies

I don't walk through the cookie aisle very often, but yesterday was one of those days and I came across Dare ALMOND cookies with 'pure almond extract' on the ingredient list and then their 'baked in a nut free/peanut free facility' disclaimer. We wouldn't buy them anyway, but red flags were raised in my head - contradicting information; could this mean the facility really isn't nut-free? I've sent an e-mail to Dare for clarification. If their extract isn't actually from almonds, they should state that on the package to prevent such confusion.

http://www.darefoods.com/Flavour.aspx?id=9&lang=en

I'll let you now what Dare says.

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

WOW . I really can't believe this. I checked out their website, and the ingredients make no sense at all! Here's the link:

http://www.darefoods.com/Flavour.aspx?id=9&lang=en

If the ingredient list is correct, this is NOT safe! Pure almond extract?? If they've made a mistake, this will have to be reported the the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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18 yr old daughter: no health issues
16 yr old son: allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, egg, fish, sesame,sunflower,mustard,poppy seeds, peas, carrots, some fruits, instructed to avoid legumes(except soy & green beans),pollen, cats, horses, cold urticaria

Please post what you find out.

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DD 12 yrs -no allergies
4 yr old DS - asthma/eczema Anaphylactic to Peanuts, all tree nuts, sesame , all pea/lentil legumes, gelatin.
Allergic to trees, grass,ragweed, feathers, dander, mold and dust.
Outgrew eggs, fish, shellfish

I looked into this a few years ago, and found (NOT through dare) that pure almond extract is often extracted from peach pits. I still avoid those cookies (although we use to eat them without issue) but trust the other simple pleasures ones.

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DSs 12, 12, 14 all PA

Any info back from Dare?

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me: allergic to crustaceans plus environmental
teenager: allergic to hazelnuts, some other foods and environmental

Not yet. I have been too busy at work to call them during business hours. I'll try to call them by tomorrow.

Edit: I called today and left a message with the concerning details. I hope they'll call me back!

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

Completely understand life getting in the way! Thanks for following up.

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me: allergic to crustaceans plus environmental
teenager: allergic to hazelnuts, some other foods and environmental

Got a voice mail from Dare - they say their almond extract is heavily processed and that no proteins remain. And since proteins cause allergic reactions, they're calling it safe.

I haven't decided if I want to call them back to request better labelling or not. I can imagine they get calls about this quite often.

Can't say I'll be buying Dare Simple Pleasures (any flavour) any time soon... not that I buy cookies anyway - it's far too fun to make them at home.

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

But...is it still a peanut/tree nut free facility?

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees

I think some more investigation needs to be done. Anyone here with more experience on the matter care to call? I don't think I am asking the right questions. Or post a list of questions here and I'll gladly call and find out.

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

woulda shoulda shouldbe... Hm, if I had one in my hand even if it declared safe I really wonder if I could let DS eat it....I might think about it but I don't think I would.

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DD 12 yrs -no allergies
4 yr old DS - asthma/eczema Anaphylactic to Peanuts, all tree nuts, sesame , all pea/lentil legumes, gelatin.
Allergic to trees, grass,ragweed, feathers, dander, mold and dust.
Outgrew eggs, fish, shellfish

I *finally* got an e-mail response from Dare. It echoes what Becky said earlier:

Thank you for contacting Dare Foods Consumer Response regarding the Almond Simple Pleasure cookies.

The almond extract used is made from apricot pits, which have the same flavour compounds as almond oil. There is no actual Almond proteins in this product.

Thank you again for your inquiry and we hope you will continue to enjoy Dare Foods products.

I have e-mailed them back to request this be made clear on the packaging to prevent further confusion. I can't be the only one who has called them on this! If they don't comply, couldn't it be a CFIA labelling issue? Saying something is what it isn't?

I also wonder if apricot and/or peach pits would be in the same nut family as almonds? (Oh, why does my brain over think things so much??)

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

According to the (CFIA)Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising > Chapter 4
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/ch4ae.shtml

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees

Thank you, Susan. I have written an e-mail to the CFIA. I don't know if they can do anything, but the idea of almond cookies made in a nut-free facility, whether or not the extract contains nuts, doesn't sit well with me. Just imagine if someone brought these cookies to a party as a 'safe' snack (per the label). What would people say? Especially if it was outside call centre hours. We shouldn't have questionable 'nutty' ingredients on things that say they are nut and peanut free.

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anaphylaxis to tree nuts, peanuts, potato, wheat, sorghum; asthmatic, dairy intolerant, vegan
other family members allergic to to dairy, egg, peanut, peach, sesame, environmentals

_________________
Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees