New Peanut Butter Cheerios Worry Parents of Allergic Kids
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — General Mills has recently introduced Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter cereal, which the manufacturer touts as allowing consumers to ”(i)ndulge in real peanut butter taste without derailing your diet.”
But parents with children who have peanut allergies worry that the new product could, in fact, derail their kids’ peanut-free diets if playmates share their snacks with them.
Others have voiced concerns of cross-contamination at facilities manufacturing both traditional Cheerios, a long-favored snack among toddlers, and peanut butter Cheerios.
In a statement, General Mills said the company could say with “complete confidence” that Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter will not cross-contaminate other Cheerios varieties.”
“General Mills employs the most stringent allergen control practices in the industry,” the company said.
The Cheerios fears come on the heels of the death last week of a Virginia first grader who suffered an allergic reaction during recess. Her mother told reporters she had a peanut allergy. Police reported on Wednesday that she had received a peanut from another student who was unaware of her allergy.
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