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Effective January 1, 2002, Nestl� 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 Nestl� 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 Nestl� will allow peanut/nuts into its Canadian chocolate factory.
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After very thoughtful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that we are unable to continue to manufacture Nestl� 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 Nestl� 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 Nestl� Smarties, Aero, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and Mirage, and we will no longer guarantee a peanut/nut-free manufacturing environment.
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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.
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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 Qu�b�coise 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
��������� Nestl� Canada�s retail customers
In addition, we�re advising: the general public through a news release to media across the country; consumers through Nestl� Canada�s web site and toll-free telephone line; government; and medical, daycare, camping, food bank, and industry associations.
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We would appreciate it if you can please pass this information on to anyone else who may be concerned about peanut/nut allergies.
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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)
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