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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To warn those with a peanut allergy?

59 replies

Chocnuts · 09/05/2022 18:42

Aibu to warn those with a peanut allergy to watch out for anything with soya lethicin/ lethicin in general in it, not to eat it for the time being?

I work in the food industry, investigations ongoing but looks like a contamination of peanut oil further back in the supply chain hasn't been picked up.Lots of manufacturers now awaiting test results/ doing calculations to see if the levels they've used leaves a big enough trace by the time it gets to the end product. Lots of products are already on the shelf with this contaminated soya lethicin in it.

Usually used in ice cream/chocolate but can be in lots of other things.

OP posts:
lightand · 09/05/2022 20:46

Gosh, this is bad.

I have a relative who has to be in a different country for now[and cant speak much of the language]. I will need to tell him about this, and he will need to know the translation of soya lethicin asap.

Yarnasaurus · 09/05/2022 20:47

Spacemonkey2016 · 09/05/2022 20:44

Agreed. I told DP not to give DS any foods containing soya lethicins, and I was met with a 'oh, if it's on Mumsnet, it must be true' sarcastic reaction.

Show quote history

I've posted the official notification upthread.

Ohdoleavemealone · 09/05/2022 20:47

OP I hope you are prepared to become a whistle blower as this is going to be picked up by news oulets everywhere!
You have been very brave to share this but be careful to cover your tracks.

SpringLobelia · 09/05/2022 20:48

OP is this being made public to the various news outlets do you know? My DS has a peanut allergy and this is terrifying. It needs to be massively circulated.

Dibbydoos · 09/05/2022 20:53

Def warn people. This allergy is particularly tricky and a killer.

lightand · 09/05/2022 20:56

Yarnasaurus · 09/05/2022 18:54

This is the official notification:

webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/544197

The shortage of sunflower oil from Ukraine is meaning that food producers are subbing alternative oils and derivatives and are not, as yet, required to alert consumers to the change on packaging.

This is a massive concern to all of us with severe allergies.

The official notification is dated 19th April 2022

Is it usual that it takes so long for it to be warned about?
Many thanks op.

SparrowChick · 09/05/2022 21:17

I wouldn't be surprised it's being covered up. Babies died in the USA due to contaminated milk powder and thus took MONTHS to come to light 😡😡😡

crosbystillsandmash · 09/05/2022 21:24

Op, I've tried to gently talk to ds and he's pretty down about the news (he is already negotiating his life with several allergens to contend with!)
We have biscuits/chocolate in the house that he's been happily eating with no problems. Presumably they're fine?

Yarnasaurus · 09/05/2022 21:24

ReallyIrish · 09/05/2022 21:11

I'm not sure why you're posting that.

Some people who are allergic might still react to refined oils.

It might only be a tiny proportion but nobody who has ever had anaphylaxis, or watched their child have anaphylaxis, will want to take the risk that it might be them.

Londontown12 · 09/05/2022 21:29

Many thanks 🙏

2023wish · 09/05/2022 21:41

thank you

Original poster
Chocnuts · 09/05/2022 21:58

After testing and calculations are confirmed, it might be that the risk is minimal. And I'm sure an update will come from then onwards.

As someone who has a close family member who suffers severe reactions to peanuts, I'd rather not wait and see. I'd prefer to know there's a risk, no matter how small, with products previously thought safe.

OP posts:
lightand · 09/05/2022 22:07

In these types of situations, I am not sure what "risk is minimal" actually really means.

whenwillthemadnessend · 09/05/2022 22:14

Thank you for the advance warning. Please do update us of any further info

SickAndTiredAgain · 09/05/2022 22:26

After testing and calculations are confirmed, it might be that the risk is minimal.

Is there a likely timeframe for the testing etc? How long does that sort of thing take?

crackersforcrackers · 09/05/2022 22:57

Thank you for telling us OP. I was wondering why in the last few months 4 finger plain KitKats (which I've previously been fine with) have been giving me allergic reactions.

2023wish · 10/05/2022 00:15

crackersforcrackers · 09/05/2022 22:57

Thank you for telling us OP. I was wondering why in the last few months 4 finger plain KitKats (which I've previously been fine with) have been giving me allergic reactions.

odd you say that as i ate one today and my mouth felt itchy

SpringLobelia · 10/05/2022 05:25

Thanks OP again.

FWIW I have e-mailed the official notification posted upthread to my DC's allergy clinic. Just to say I had come across it and did they know more. In case they do not know about it and want to pursue it with Public Health england etc.

Now to discuss it with DS. He is already down about his allergies plus everything else that is going on with him.

Solasum · 10/05/2022 06:07

Thank you very much @Chocnuts

You are probably all already aware, but just to say that some Nivea suncream now contains almond oil www.allergyuk.org/news/nivea-change/

Out of curiosity, do others with anaphylaxis ever eat anything containing refined nut oils? I have been assured that they cannot cause allergic reactions, but I do not want to try…

ApresSailingQueen1 · 10/05/2022 06:08

SpringLobelia · 10/05/2022 05:25

Thanks OP again.

FWIW I have e-mailed the official notification posted upthread to my DC's allergy clinic. Just to say I had come across it and did they know more. In case they do not know about it and want to pursue it with Public Health england etc.

Now to discuss it with DS. He is already down about his allergies plus everything else that is going on with him.

That's a really good idea @SpringLobelia I have just done the same with my DS's allergy clinic. (And advantage of getting up early is it will be in their in-box nice and early)! His clinic is truly excellent so they probably know about this already, but just in case. I sent them the EU link. It might be a small risk for most, but a potential risk none-the-less.

Thanks to OP.

crosbystillsandmash · 10/05/2022 06:41

Can anyone suggest a decent substitute for kit kats, wagon wheels etc?
Obviously they also need to be nut free!

whenwillthemadnessend · 10/05/2022 06:56

Aldi do a Kit
Kat and a chunky version but I admit I dont know the ingredients but worth a check.

Getupoffthesofa · 10/05/2022 07:07

Chocnuts · 09/05/2022 20:37

Thanks @crosbystillsandmash the issue is that one of these usually safe substitutions has been contaminated without the full knock on effect being known. Normally soya lethicin would be fine, but there's a significant amount in the food chain that does now contain peanut oil.

@FolkloreEvermore I can only say what I know from our experience, but so far it's as far back as December, which means Jan onwards into the shops. They are still awaiting lab results for the batch we received in Jan/Feb!

With known allergens we have calculations on all ingredients and "allowed" levels which then dictates what claims can be made on labels, and strict process on site to ensure no cross contamination etc, but this contamination in the raw ingredient has been identified months later and the extent of it is still unknown... it's a worry.

Send to newspapers.

Icelandicsox · 10/05/2022 07:50

My DS has an allergy to peanuts. I read this and really panicked but before we start severely restricting our and our children's diets we need to look at the OP.

What are their qualifications? What's their position in their organisation? Which organisation do they work for?
Do they actually know the ins and outs of this or could it be a case of a little information is a dangerous thing?

Also please consider that this has been a thing since mid April, why have they chosen now to publish this?
And why publish via Mumsnet (with no checks before publishing straight to millions of us) rather than going to the BBC or the national newspapers who would be more likely to check the veracity before publication?

A quick internet search doesn't seem to show anything, there's no alerts or recalls or blog posts or news articles. Its been know since mid April and it appears to only be on this site.

The OP could be a highly clued up whistle blower who has saved a load of people from harm, they might be a well meaning bungler, they might just have stumbled across the bulletin and decided to mess with us all for their idea of a laugh or they may be truly malicious. We have no way of telling this from a few lines written by an anonymous forum user.
OP, I apologise if you are genuine and well meaning

Some very sensible PPs have suggested discussing this with our allergy teams and I think that would be the most sensible thing to do here.

Good luck folks.

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