Contacting Manufacturers

We allergic consumers, spend a great deal of time, contacting manufacturers by phone or e-mail. What method do you prefer?

The hours of e-mail are better, in that they really don't care if you send an e-mail question three O'clock in the afternoon, or three O'clock at night. Some allergic people prefer being able to read the tone of the customer service person's voice. With e-mail, if an e-mail answer does not sound right we can always send another question via another e-mail, if get another answer, flags go up in our heads.

I like that more companies are putting allergen information on their websites, however often we have more questions, and do not like being short answered. Allergic consumers are very knowledgeable about our allergens, and appreciate knowledgeable answers. We get VERY frustrated if we are told that they only give out allergen information to health care professionals. Manufactures be aware we allergic consumers talk, blog, Facebook and Tweet about allergies, and manufactures who do not provide us with the answers we NEED!

Lately I have been hearing of people being asked for doctors notes, before manufactures will give out allergen information. I had this experience a couple of years ago, it is coming back as a mini trend.

Manufactuers

Manufacturers and restaurants often give separate allergy information when it comes to American and Canadian production lines, allergy policies, and ingredient lists. If your looking for Canadian (or American) information be careful your looking at the right information.

Here are some examples:

Campbelles Soup USA has allergy information on it's web site Campbells Canada does not. Butterball USA has allergy information on it's site, Butterball Canada does not.

Sun Rype USA has cross contamination information, that includes information about the product being cross contaminated with major allergens including milk, nuts and wheat. Sun Rype Canada has information about how their products are produced in a facility free of these allergens.

Restaurants even with major chains can also be different in their ingredients.

Canadian Restaurants
American Restaurants

Irritating manufacturer Part 2

Irritating Manufacturer Part 2

I E-mailed the Oral Care Company who wanted a doctor’s note to find out if their dental floss contains milk.

I explained that there are more cooperative manufacturers. I named a company who was willing to tell me all their products where milk free. I also named a company who had both milk and gluten free products listed on their website all with out a doctor’s note.

Surprise Surprise they gave me the information I wanted.

See
Allergens in your toothpaste more information

Irritating manufacturer

I just received; I believe the most irritating E-mail from a manufacturer yet.

I requested information from a dental care manufacturer about dental care products that contain milk.

I received a form E-mail letter that asked me, to ask my doctor to write a letter to them.

Apparently they request that physicians write to them on office letterhead with specific information so they can have it researched as thoroughly as possible.