There are two types of messages we often receive regarding conflicts between the information in our Safe Snack Guide and what our readers hear from the manufacturer’s consumer line when they call. Here’s an example of one type:
I’m sure you get emails on Oreos all the time, but I felt the need to contact you today. I have called Nabisco/Mondelez many times and we have decided to avoid because of conflicting info I have received at times. The one thing that as always been constant is that they have never released info to me about dedicated lines. I see on my groups all the time about how Oreos are on a dedicated line. I figured Id give it another shot, since Im making calls today. It was told to me just now by a customer service rep that Oreos are on shared line and that the ONLY product on a dedicated line are the Ritz crackers.
Then there are the others:
What is wrong with you people? I called oreo and they say they make all their flavors on the same lines including the ones with peanut butter! Are you trying to KILL ME???
As we confirmed recently regarding the manufacture of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers, the response you hear from a customer service representative at a major manufacturer is often scripted and may or may not bear resemblance to circumstances in the real world.
Oreos are a “black dot” item in our Guide, which means the manufacturer (in this case Mondelēz) is not a member of our Manufacturer Partnership and as such we have no direct relationship with them. That said, we do often have contacts, so we reached out to Kimberly Fontes, Senior Manager Communications at Mondelēz International and asked her to please check to confirm our previous assertions.
She replied as follows:
Hi Dave,
Thanks for reaching out. The statement you have is still correct: The plain varieties of Oreo Cookies are made in a number of facilities throughout North America. While these facilities are not guaranteed to be peanut and tree nut free, the lines are dedicated, do not process peanuts or tree nuts, and special care is taken to limit opportunities for cross-contamination.
In addition, we always encourage consumers to read product packaging for current information and to contact the company for current info.
Thanks,
Kim
So to summarize, you can rest assured that the varieties of Oreos we list in the Safe Snack Guide (Original and Double Stuf) are indeed made on dedicated peanut and tree nut free lines, though they are made in facilities that may process these allergens.
Keep in mind that items preceded by a green symbol are manufactured in facilities that do not process peanuts and tree nuts or are explicitly marketed as peanut and tree nut free by their respective manufacturers.
In closing, we truly appreciate your feedback when you receive conflicting information from manufacturers regarding the products we feature in the Safe Snack Guide and Allergence, our interactive product screening service.
(Confidential to AR from Texas: No, we are not trying to kill you.)
