HEALTHY FUND RAISING MEANS PEANUT FREE FUNDRAISING
Peanut Free Information
Food allergies are more common than ever in the U.S. We are becoming more aware of the seriousness of severe allergic reactions and the potential life-threatening risks for anyone suffering from severe allergies.
Due to the life-threatening risks associated with peanut and nut allergies many of our schools, social groups and community organizations are implementing peanut free and nut free policies.
Peanuts are legumes (the term “legume” comes from the Latin verb “to gather”). As well as peanuts, the legume family includes peas, beans, lentils and soy.
Anyone suffering from peanut allergies should avoid all food and products that contain peanut and peanut derivatives. This includes any product that has an ingredient list that warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” peanut.
Tree nuts, on the other hand, are almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts (filberts), macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts (pignolias), pistachio nuts and walnuts. Anyone suffering from tree nut allergies should avoid all food and products that contain tree nut and tree nut derivatives. This includes any product that has an ingredient list that warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” tree nuts.
Consumers should be aware that cross-contamination can occur through the transfer of an ingredient to a product that does that normally have that ingredient in it. Cross-contamination can occur in food manufacturing during the production and packaging processes. Only products that are labeled “peanut and nut free” can truly make the claim that their products have been manufactured and packaged in a peanut and nut free facility.
Our Peanut Free Process
All items marked with the Nut-free logo are manufactured in a nut-free zone. This area is completely closed off from the rest of the plant, and restricted to authorized personnel only. As an example, it is never included in the plant tour that is sometimes given to customers. Samples of each production lot are analyzed for traces of peanuts and almonds.
Ingredients come through the reception area, which is common to both zones. However they arrive packed and skidded, and remains so until they are transported to the zone that will transform them. In the same way, finished product is stocked in the shipping area which is common to both zones. However, before leaving the nut-free zone, the chocolate bars are entirely packed (wrappers around the bars, bars in carry cases with factory-seal, and carry cases in sealed shipping cartons.)
The nut-free zone has its own manufacturing equipment, which is not used for any other production process.
Nut-free zone employees only work in that zone; they are never transferred to the regular factory, they have no access to it. They arrive in their regular street clothes, change into their work clothes and shoes, and wear hair nets and gloves, and their lunch boxes are inspected. Hair nets and gloves are disposed of within each specific production zone.
We are acutely aware of the dangers of peanut or tree nut allergies, particularly in children; our staff is also informed of the potential dangers.
Van Wyk Confection’s chocolate has been certified peanut-free since 2000 and nut-free since 2001, and are regularly inspected government agencies. Although nobody can claim zero risk of cross-contamination, we feel it is well-controlled throughout the manufacturing process and until the product is shipped to our customers.
