We have among our fellowship a 4 yr old who is extremely - as in life threatening - allergic to nuts, so we cannot afford any mistakes on what foods we bring when we share fellowship meals. For the benefit of any who might not be used to dealing with such things, I asked Cindy to make a list of easy to find, or easy to prepare foods so that our fellowship meals can be safe and simple to plan for. This is what she came up with, plus a few comments and additions from the Pike house.

Here are some things that are easy to make or there is no baking involved. Even though this list is safe this week it does not mean that manufacturers might not change some things. Just recently we found out Wal-Mart brand cheese is not safe. Make sure you check all labels every time, even if you safely bought the same thing last week.

1. Fresh veggies or frozen veggies are usually safe. If you buy can veggies or even frozen make sure you check the label. (I found a can of beans that had been processed with peanuts, so be careful of your can foods.) Fresh fruits and frozen fruits are safe. You could make a fruit salad. Remember no Strawberries, because we do have someone in church who is highly allergic to them. If you are making a salad remember to check the labels on your salad dressings. Salad dressings are the most likely to have contamination. We usually buy Kraft dressing. We also had to switch to Kraft cheese. If you decide to bring croutons for salad make sure you check the label. Our motto is if we are not sure if it is safe we don't buy it or we call the manufacturer of the product.

2. Edwards makes some pies that are safe and require no baking. (examples: Hershey creme, lemon meringue, cookies & creme, and key lime pies) Please remember to check the label. These are pretty easy to read, because it will tell you: May contain or contains: Soy, Wheat, Milk, etc. (frozen section in store)

3. Some of Mrs. Smith's pies are safe. (frozen section in store)

4. Banquet crispy chicken family size. (frozen section in store) Just requires some baking.

5. Tyson chicken nuggets and tenders. (frozen section in store) Just requires a little baking. Be careful when buying sauces for nuggets.

6. Bush's Baked Beans. Don't forget to bring a bowl to put them in after they're hot.

7. Spagetti and Fettichini alfredo are easy to make. (We usually use Ragu spagetti sauce and alfredo sauce) (The noodles we use is Creamette)

8. Fresh veggies and dips - check the label on the dips

9. You can find coleslaw mixes. (Found in fresh fruit and veggie aisle) The mixes tell you what ingredients you need to complete the mix. Just make sure you check those ingredients.

10. Some brownie mixes are safe. In times past we have bought Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies plain. Make sure there are no nuts or walnuts.

11. There are some cake mixes that are safe. (Betty Crocker or Pillsbury) We also buy their icings too. Remember just make sure that they are not mixes that contain nuts.

12. Hot Dogs (Oscar Meyer Brand) Buns (Merita) Chili (Bush Brand)

13. Rice-A-Roni (chicken flavor or beef flavor) or just plain rice

14. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

15. Most of your fresh meats are safe, just be careful about the seasoning you use. Make sure you check the seasonings!

16. Canned fruits. Generally safe, check the label. Bring a bowl to put it in.

17. Chunk cheeses. Once again, check the labels.

Please remember to use clean utensils, pots, pans, cutting boards, and countertops. For example if you made a peanut butter sandwich on your countertops and turn around to make a peanut free meal on those countertops, then it can cause someone to have a severe allergic reaction caused by cross contamination. Make sure you use an anti-bacterial soap for hands and a good anti-bacterial cleaning supplies for all utensils and countertops. I know this may sound like a repeat, but even the slightest bit of cross contamination can be fatal. So make sure you check all labels. Look for labels that say Contains or May Contain or Processed in a plant that processes: - and it will tell you if they also process nuts or peanuts.

**All Deli Foods contain some form of cross contamination. Even though they may tell you that they do not use peanuts or tree nuts in their chickens or salads or even certain cookies. A lot of people that work in there do not understand the deadly risk of such contamination and they will tell you it is safe.** Every deli I have been to, such as Wal-Mart and Food City has admitted that it is not safe. I have even checked out deli food on-line and have gotten the same response.

If you have any questions about what is safe or not, you may contact me at 323-1783 or 863-1614. I would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you all very much for making every effort to make our church family meals Peanut and Tree Nut safe.

Cindy

P.S. My best advice is make sure you check all labels each time you plan to fix peanut and tree nut safe food. If you're not sure about the label don't buy the product or you may call me or the manufacturer. Make sure the person you are talking to understands the severity of the allergy. Ask questions such as "Do you use peanuts or tree nuts in your products?", but don't stop with just that question. Ask them if it is possible that it could have come in contact with any of those products or if they were processed on the same equipment. If you can't get a straight answer or they seem unsure, don't buy the product.