Today there is some good news to share in our food allergy world: Snack Safely is formally announcing the launch of their Manufacturer Partnership Program! Dave Bloom, Snack Safely co-founder explained, “the goals of this program are to change the way manufacturers disclose the potential allergens in their products, arming the consumer with much more reliable information than is mandated by the FDA under FALCPA labeling guidelines”. Manufacturers will submit information to Snack Safely regarding their products and if they qualify, Snack Safely will add them to their Safe Snack Guide. The manufacturer be then authorized to display the Snack Safely Partner Manufacturer badge on their website (see below). If you are not familiar, the Safe Snack Guide is a list of peanuts, tree nuts and eggs based on items mostly used by schools, sports teams and other groups.
I visited Surf Sweets and saw the badge proudly displayed on their site
11 Major Allergens addressed!
When you visit Snack Safely.com, you’ll find the Safe Snack Guide AND the Partner Manufacturer’s page which lists the manufacturers who disclose how 11 major allergens are processed during the manufacturing of their products! This is a really big deal in my world since my son is highly allergic to sesame seed–which is outside of the 8 major allergens. The 11 allergens are: peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, soy, fish, shell fish, wheat (top eight major allergens) and sesame, mustard and gluten. More than 20 companies (some of our most beloved food allergy favorites are on that list) are currently participating with Tootsie Roll Industries and Enjoy Life Foods recently joining the list! This is great news for my family due to the sesame seed allergy. I always call manufacturers to ask about sesame in the factories, etc.
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!..