ALBUQUERQUE, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Parents of some children with peanut allergies say they are worried the Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter cereal may set off a reaction.
Jodi Loftis, of Albuquerque, said her 9-year-old daughter knows to avoid certain candies and granola bars that may contain peanut ingredients and now she has to watch out for the new cereal from General Mills Inc.
"Even as a 9-year-old, you can continue to tell her every day, every week, make sure you don't share any foods with anybody," Loftis told ABC-TV News. "But sometimes it's hard for a 9-year-old to remember that."
Other parents said they are worried about cross-contamination at facilities manufacturing both traditional Cheerios and the new peanut butter Cheerios.
In a statement, General Mills said the company it had "complete confidence" that Multi Grain Cheerio Peanut Butter will not cross-contaminate other Cheerios varieties.
"General Mills employs the most stringent allergen control practices in the industry," the cereal company said. "The food industry and the allergen-sensitive community have worked together diligently to educate consumers that allergens are best identified on product labeling. That's why we've made it a top priority to ensure that our packaging and labeling clearly communicate what's inside the box."
