I am a self-proclaimed fan of Sun Cups®, which are nut free and gluten-free. Even more important to me is how this company operates and what they are trying to do within our food allergy world: create a mainstream candy product that will meet the needs of folks who eat peanut nut free, tree nut free and gluten-free. Sun Cups® is participating in an Indiegogo Campaign, “Sun Cups – A Healthy Indulgence for Kids with Allergies”. to raise funds to be able to send samples to every single food allergy walk in the country. I’m sure you are thinking, “why in God’s name would I donate to a for profit company,” right? Here’s the deal: main stream manufacturers are very slowly realizing our nut free, gluten-free market has value and until they “get it”, we need quality, good tasting organic, non-GMO, rainforest certified chocolate products. Small food allergy related companies are usually started by parents of food allergic children or they have food allergies themselves. These companies need us to help them compete with the likes of Twix or Reese’s Cups!
Indiegogo Campaign, “Sun Cups – A Healthy Indulgence for Kids with Allergies”
They need us to try the products, share with our family and friends and support their small business. I’ve watched many of my favorite food allergy companies sell or close their doors due to lack of funds. Now, we have a chance to support Sun Cups® by helping them raise the appropriate funds to send their samples into the masses. The benefit of Sun Cups® at the food allergy walks is that food allergic children will have the chance to taste them (allergen appropriate of course) AND that friends, families and schools attending these events will be exposed to allergen friendly candy that can be found in Whole Foods Markets and regular grocery stores!
Standing in line at my local Raley’s Grocery store, I spotted these and snatched up a pack for my daughter. This was my food allergy equal to buy local Saturday!
I adore Peanut Free Planet and shop often (thank you PFP and Black Friday for some awesome sales), but my children’s classmates are not going order class snacks on-line before a party. Instead, they are going to dash to the closest grocery store and buy convenience–which hopefully will include my child. As a consumer, I want and need more mainstream food allergy safe products available in local grocery stores. Beyond being a culinary fan of this company, I adore David Lurie, the company co-founder and fellow Swiss Chocolate foodie. David is an old hospitality industry kind of guy and in our past lives we have crossed paths, but never knowing each other until a phone call not long ago. Therefore, I am biased towards David, since we both share a love for hotels, good food, Switzerland, fine chocolates and food allergic children.
Image courtesy of Sun Cups®
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Such great points C! Had not thought of the local aspect with classmates having the opportunity to buy certain products!
Even if our kids don’t love them, it is important to have those options.
Great article, Caroline! I *love* Caramel Cups and I met David at the recent Food Allergy Bloggers Conference. What a great person and a great company!
I just love him! What a great spirit. I love those cups too!
This is a topic that is near to mmy heart…
Many thanks! Where aree your contact details though?
If you are reading on this please donate or help them make money to keep this going and hopefully have more peanut free products in the future. I am a kid that is allergic to all kinds of peanuts. Ive never had a snickers or kit Kat or butterfinger or anything like that. My whole life ive wished and wanted to be able to eat what every one else was eating to finally know what it tasted like. These were a first for me I loved them and am trully grateful for something like this to fall into my hands. ♡