Testing for Peanut Allergens

What is tested?

All received ingredients:

• Cookie Ingredients
• Brownie Ingredients
• Baking Mix Ingredients
• Baking Powder Ingredients (Bulk and Super Sack)
  • Cornstarch
  • Soda
  • MCP
  • SAS
  • SAPP

A sample of each ingredient is taken upon arrival at the facility. The sample must also be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (C of A) and all paperwork must match.

The received ingredient is not taken to its designated production floor until testing is complete and shows less than 2.5 parts per million.

Every cookie blend produced at Clabber Girl is also tested on site.

• One tub from each finished production run is sent to an independent laboratory for additional testing.
• An additional finished tub from every production run is kept in an on-site library at Clabber Girl.
• A test is performed on one finished baking powder product, picked at random, every week.

Testing Method

Neogen Veratox® Allergen Testing

• Quantitative results determine if an ingredient or product has been cross contaminated with a peanut allergen.

  Description

  • 50 grams of a sample is ground to the consistency of finely ground coffee.
  • A 5g sample is taken from the ground sample.
  • Warmed extraction fluid and extraction additive are added to the sample.
  • The samples are shaken in a water bath for fifteen minutes.
  • The samples are removed from the water bath, and allowed to settle.
  • Five controls, along with each of the samples are transferred into red-marked wells.
  • Upon completion, the contents of the wells are transferred into antibody-coated wells and allowed to incubate for ten minutes.
  • The wells are then washed out using wash buffer. The wells are then tapped out until the wash buffer is removed.
  • Conjugate is then added to each well, and allowed to incubate for ten minutes.
  • The wells are then washed out using wash buffer. The wells are then tapped out until the wash buffer is removed.
  • Substrate is then added to each well, and allowed to incubate for ten minutes.
  • Red stop solution is then added to each well at a 45 degree angle.
  • The bottom of the wells are then wiped off and read in a well reader using a 650nm filter.
  • The results for each sample are then printed out.

Vendor Statements

• All of our vendors have filled out a form listing what allergens of the “big eight” are present in their facilities.
• Most of them do not contain peanuts, but there are a few who do have peanuts in their facility.
• Vendors with peanuts present in the manufacturing plant have stated on the designated form that peanuts are not run on the same line or that they have effective procedures to avoid cross contamination.