Kellogg’s is reportedly adding peanut flour to some flavors of Keebler and Austin cheese crackers starting this month, and the decision has sparked allergy concerns.
SnackSafely.com launched a petition on Change.org urging the company to reconsider adding peanut flour to its products. The petition had more than 16,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning.
“While there is no doubt that you will relabel your products to warn of peanut content, your decision will put at risk thousands of peanut-allergic consumers who already purchase these brands,” the petition reads. “Furthermore, shoppers that have no reason to believe that a cheese cracker might contain peanuts may never read your advisories, endangering themselves or the children in their care.
“While we understand your interest in raising the protein and lowering the carbohydrate content of your products in as cheaply a manner as possible, doing so using peanuts – the allergen most responsible for triggering anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that can result in horrific consequences including death – is unethical and irresponsible.”
CBS Boston reported that the company has responded to some customers on its website's forums, saying that products including allergens will be clearly labeled.
“We know it’s not easy to find foods that people with peanut allergies can eat, and are truly sorry to disappoint you and your son,”
the company responded to one customer. “We take the health and safety of our consumers seriously, and are looking at ways to make a cracker sandwich you and your family can buy.”
According to WNYT-TV, peanut flour will be added to the following products:
Austin Cheddar Cheese Cracker Sandwiches
Austin Grilled Cheese Cracker Sandwiches
Austin Pepper Jack Cracker Sandwiches
Austin Variety Pack Cracker Sandwiches
Keebler Club & Cheddar Sandwich Crackers
Keebler Cheese & Cheddar Sandwich Crackers
Keebler Pepper Jack Sandwich Crackers
Keebler Variety Pack Sandwich Crackers
“People with food allergies, their parents, and caretakers sometimes become complacent reading labels, especially for brands they have relied upon for years,”
SnackSafely.com said in a news release.
“But the problem doesn't end there. Teachers, school nurses, daycare providers, scout leaders, youth sports league coaches – anyone responsible for children where snacks are traditionally consumed – may have been trained to recognize these products as safe alternatives, as have the parents of non-allergic children that must comply with nut-free classroom policies.”
Twitter users shared mixed reactions to the decision.