Nothing beats going to a supermarket on a Bank Holiday and finding it to be fairly quiet.. This was my lucky fate yesterday when doing the weekly shop at Tesco where I found these NEW Cherry Bakewell Shredded Wheat! I haven't heard anything about them nor see them advertised so was feeling pretty jammy - I love almondy Bakewell anything, after all!
The 360g bag was priced at £2.49 - No introductory offer sadly!
Whole grain wheat with real Cherry filling coated with crunchy crumble topping
I opened the bag to see lots and lots of 10p sized pieces of cereal which smelt essentially the same as the regular large sized rectangles, of not an awful lot! I popped one in my mouth and off I went. Crunchy with the signature Shredded Wheat taste but with the flavour sensation of Cherry Bakewell hidden inside, ready to be revealed when munched - The almond flavour was spot on! As noted to MSW "Well this is the best thing of life" before giving her one to then also see her eyes light up in delight - An amazing cereal all around, we thought.. Things then turned sour.
Sprightly Snack Warrior is No More
Can anyone spot a certain allergen amongst that list of ingredients which can often prove fatal to a lot of people? No? This wouldn't surprise me considering the "MAY CONTAIN HAZELNUTS" writing is larger than the ACTUAL nut it does contain! PEANUTS, Folks, PEANUTS!
Now, regular readers will be more than aware that I am allergic to Peanuts to the point, as my darling BSW would put it, I would literally explode if I ate them. The fact that this NEW Cherry Bakewell Shredded Wheat contains Peanuts and it is not made crystal clear, is absolutely abysmal. I spent my Bank Holiday in bed, recovering from a nasty reaction which can only be summarised as having a very tight and itchy throat and mouth with a horrendous tummy ache and feeling as though I was on fire.. And that was after only eating 1! I would hate to think what would have happened if I had, had a bowlful.. I don't expect anyone wants to spend their Bank Holiday in A&E, do you? Exploding is anything but lucky fate.
Overall.. Obviously, my experience with these NEW Cherry Bakewell Shredded Wheat was a train wreck. The cereal itself is delicious and will most likely be extremely popular but the fact that Peanuts are present and it is not as clear as day to see IN WORDS, ON THE FRONT of the packet, is not only stupid and irresponsible but also ridiculously careless. I have contacted Nestle Cereal to inform them that this is not on and as expected, they don't seem to give much of a Monkeys. I just hope it doesn't take anyone, heaven forbid a child, to be REALLY poorly for them to stand up and listen.
There is also a Apple Crumble version which I suspect also contain Peanuts, for any of those who are interested and are fine and dandy with such things - As for me, I think I have been put off cereal for life. Its a -5 out of 5 today - Onwards and upwards, aye!
Thank god you only popped one in your mouth cupcake! Ridiculous response from Nestle we appreciate it's on the packet but how can may contain hazelnuts be in bold huge capitals and an actual ingredient be teeny tiny!! xx
ReplyDeleteI COULD HAVE DIED! Dramatic yes but seriously.. Peanuts need to be written on the front and if not that, Nuts at least so it prompts people to double check. Hazelnuts aren't even in the same category as Peanuts in terms of allergies. Cupcake gets cross! xx
DeleteSorry you had such s bad reaction to these, and shame on nestle for not making it clearer on the packaging! x
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be able to eat them either but because of the wheat...I'd be limping in pain for days if I had em!
I am not impressed at all, bad times butty :( Oo are you having a problemo with wheat? I know you dabble in gluten free malarky but I didn't know it was super bad? You poor thing! x
DeleteYeah been avoiding it for a while...last time I accidentally had some, I was limping for several days! I'm not celiac though, according to tests, just a sensitive snowflake lol.
DeleteWell bless your cotton socks, you sensitive snowflake, you :D Maybe you should get retested in a few months to check they were right.. You can never be to sure and its worth another shot if it makes you that poorly :D
DeleteGosh that's dreadful!! Poor you! You think Nestle would be more bothered and have clearer allergen labels. I bought the Apple Crumble version and they contain peanuts too but only have the same hazelnut warning too.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe they are that reckless.. You would have thought by now that every food item that contains peanuts in some form or another has a recognised symbol stamped on it to ensure no one can miss it. I don't think you can ever be to careful when it comes to peanuts! I hope you enjoy the Apple Crumble version - Let me know if they are yummy :D x
DeleteAside from being a little on the sweet side and maybe lacking in cherry a little i thought these were delicious! I was pretty surprised to see peanuts in there to be honest, but out of habit I always scan through every ingredient of any new product I buy
ReplyDeleteAs do I! I am about as vigilant as you can get and yet it never occurred to me that these would have peanuts in - I am slacking and have paid the price clearly! :/
DeleteWhat should they do? Put a huge picture of a peanut on the front of the bag to account for those who don't bother spending 5 seconds looking at the bolded allergens?
ReplyDeleteNo, that would be most silly. I want the word PEANUT written in massive writing going across the bag. And compensation. Definitely want compensation. I deserve compensation. :)
DeleteSorry, my first comment was a bit coarse/inappropriate. I don't have any food allergies, so I don't know how terrifying it must have been to see the word 'peanut' on the packaging.
DeleteI'm glad that you didn't consume a bowl full because that could have been fatal. They should, along with the traffic lights, have pictures of allergies that may be affected by consuming the product.
Its quite alright. Until you're in that position, its hard to fully appreciate the potential fatal consequences. I will just have to be extra vigilant from now on if Companies have decided its ok to exclude the word "nut" from their product names - I don't think a "NUT/PEANUT" stamp on every product that contains such things, is to much to ask really.
DeleteSorry to hear about your horrible experience :( Not having clearly highlighted allergy risks is very reckless and definitely a safety issue. Hope you are feeling better :D xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey, I am feeling much better! :) Nestle Cereal are still failing to see the issue by stating that since they are in line with EU Regulations that there is no problem. Debatable, I think! xx
DeleteSorry but its clear as day to see, its in bold and stands out like a sore thumb. Anyone that is allergic to nuts should read the ingredients list BEFORE purchasing let alone consuming any product that is new to them!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I am not as perfect as you. Reading has always been a struggle. I'll get there eventually.. Might even manage to kill my self along the way if we are really lucky :D
DeleteJust so you know for the future anything cherry bakewell flavoured will most likely have almonds in it. I know it's hard to keep track of everything the thing you're alergic to is in (especially if you're allergic to more than one thing.) I'm glad you're okay though :)
ReplyDeleteEr the almonds weren't the issue.. I am not allergic to drupes. It was the peanuts which weren't made clear on the front that I've got deathly problems with. xx
DeleteOops, that's what I get for reading this and then coming back the week after to comment without re-reading and only looking at the picture and even then I didn't spot the peanut allergy warning just the almond warning. Sorry for being a pain I promise to actually reread before commenting next time. Sorry I just realized this review is 6 months old I probably shouldn't of bothered you by commenting :)
DeleteHaha happens to the best of us! Don't be silly - I always love reading everyones comments.. Even if some do leave me a little puzzled lol. xx
DeleteI am allergic to peanuts too and I understand your frustration, cherry bakewells are not at all associated with peanuts!
ReplyDeleteAs a shredded wheat, and cherry bakewell lover I was just about to run out and go buy some of this amazing sounding cereal and would have stuck a good spoonful in my mouth before realising, so thank you, reading this probably saved me a trip to a&e!
It is really infuriating when although the 'peanuts' is in bold, it still took me a good look to notice where it said it, they really should have it in capitals, with the hazelnuts.
And since when did shredded wheat contain peanuts!!!!!??? (mini rant about peanuts taking over the best classic snacks at the mo..)
PEANUTS ARE THE WORST! Haha xx
DeleteAll nestle's new cereals have been released and I remembered this review, checked the packaging and there is still a pathetically small warning on the pack - needs to be sorted out!
ReplyDelete