Effective
January 1, 2002, Nestlé Smarties, Aero,
Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage will no longer be manufactured in a
peanut/nut-free environment. To ensure
Canadians with peanut/nut allergies are sensitized to this change, an allergy
alert will start to be added to packaging labels of Nestlé Smarties, Aero, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage over the
next eight months. As of January 1,
2002, the allergy alert will appear on all packages and Nestlé will allow
peanut/nuts into its Canadian chocolate factory.
After very thoughtful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that we are unable to continue to manufacture Nestlé Smarties, Aero, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage in a peanut/nut-free environment, effective January 1, 2002. To ensure consumers with peanut/nut allergies are sensitized to the change, we will declare an allergy alert on our Nestlé Smarties, Aero, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage chocolate products beginning in April 2001. By the end of 2001, the allergy alert will appear on all packages of Nestlé Smarties, Aero, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage, and we will no longer guarantee a peanut/nut-free manufacturing environment.
We know this decision impacts your chocolate purchases and regret the disappointment this causes, especially for children. This was a difficult business decision that was not taken lightly. This decision allows us the flexibility to meet growing consumer demand for peanut/nut chocolate products, and, as a result strengthens the position of our Canadian chocolate factory and its 500 employees. We considered other potential solutions including segregating a peanut/nut-free section of our factory, however, it would not meet our standards for a peanut/nut-free manufacturing environment.
To ensure the safety of our consumers, we’re making every effort to inform Canadians with peanut/nut allergies, along with their friends and family, eight months in advance of the change in January 2002. To this end, we’re directly advising:
· members of the Anaphylaxis Network of Canada, Allergy Asthma Information Association, Association Québécoise des Allergies Alimentaires, Medic Alert, and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
· public, separate and private schools across the country
· Canadian general/family physicians and pediatricians
· Nestlé Canada’s retail customers
In addition, we’re advising: the general public through a news release to media across the country; consumers through Nestlé Canada’s web site and toll-free telephone line; government; and medical, daycare, camping, food bank, and industry associations.
We would appreciate it if you can please pass this information on to anyone else who may be concerned about peanut/nut allergies.
Thank you for your understanding. For further information, please contact us at:
Pickering
ON
L1V
3T3
web site:
www.nestle.ca
Fax (905)
837-5009
Tel.: 1 800
387-4636 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. EST)