Brach's response

We emailed Brach's candies about their labeling. Our concern is that people with food allergies may tend, as we do, to read the Allergen Warning at the bottom of the ingredients list first. The allergen warning does not mention that there are allergens actually in the product. The labeling law says that they don't have to and they don't.

Here is the response from the manufacturers of Brach's:

Thank you for writing Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. regarding Brach's® California Raisins Choc Covered Raisins. Hearing from our consumers better enables us to continue to provide quality products and services. Consumer feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. takes allergen issues seriously. Packages must be labeled appropriately for potential allergens. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines suggest labeling for at least the “Big 8” allergies.

Current labeling for product manufactured and/or packaged on lines with other products containing any of the “Big 8” will contain an allergen statement. Allergens listed explicitly in the ingredients may not be listed dually in the allergen statement.

Farley's & Sathers Candy Company maintains several manufacturing and packaging facilities. While some of these facilities are nut free or free from all of the "Big 8" allergens, others are not. In addition, processes may change from time to time. Please consult the package label or contact us for additional allergen information on the product you purchased. Please refer to the packaging, as the packaging contains the most current ingredient and allergen statements. Packaging is updated anytime a change is made to the production location of any item.

Due to constant changes in manufacturing and packaging, Farley's & Sathers is not able to offer a list of allergen affected items.

Thank you for contacting Farley's & Sathers Candy Company with your request for information on our allergens. Please contact us directly at 1-888-247-9855 (Consumer Affairs) with any additional questions or concerns about allergens and our products.

Please visit our website at www.farleysandsathers.com for additional information about our products and services.

Sincerely,

Suzie Webb
Consumer Relations
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Thank you for your response Suzie. Your lengthy response that says nothing more than that Brach's meet the minimum requirements of the law and read the whole label which complies with the law.

Oh yeah, and thank you for the reading list.

Suzie, I didn't write you to complain about compliance with the law. I wrote to let you know that your labeling is not helpful to people with food allergies.

Thanks for the form letter, and I guess you know by now just how helpful you have been