Krispy Kreme Introduces Snickerdoodle Donut – Do I Need to Worry If I Have a Peanut Allergy?

Krispy Kreme Introduces Snickerdoodle Donut – Do I Need to Worry If I Have a Peanut Allergy?

Recently, an AllergyEats user with a peanut allergy wrote to us concerned about Krispy Kreme’s introduction of a snickerdoodle donut and how dangerous the use of Snickers in Krispy Kreme stores could be to individuals with a peanut allergy.

Fortunately, I’ve personally been blessed with a mother-in-law who is a great baker and introduced me to snickerdoodle cookies long ago. As I reassured this writer, the term snickerdoodle has NO relation to Snickers candy bars (or the peanuts inside). To double check, I turned to Wikipedia, which described snickerdoodle as the following:

“A snickerdoodle is a type of cookie made with butter or oil, sugar, and flour, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Eggs may also sometimes be used as an ingredient, with cream of tartar and baking soda added to leaven the dough. Snickerdoodles are characterized by a cracked surface and can be crisp or soft depending on preference. Snickerdoodles are often referred to as “sugar cookies”. However, traditional sugar cookies are often rolled in white sugar whereas snickerdoodles are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon.”

Luckily, AllergyEats user Brian took it upon himself to speak with Krispy Kreme’s customer service – and beat us to it!

Here is the response he received:

“Talked to Krispy Kreme people today, the customer service person [said] they are receiving many calls regarding the Snickerdoodle donuts with the same concern.  She said no nuts, soy or coconut.   She said company knows they need to get information out to public.” [BOLD type added by AllergyEats]

[Important addendum: After publishing this post, many members of our community – as you’ll see a sample of in the comments below – shared with us that Krispy Kreme clearly lists soy-based ingredients for this product on their website.  The quote above remains accurate as to the statement from the Krispy Kreme representative, but it is inaccurate as far as a correct representation of the donut’s true ingredients.  All of which is a long way of saying that Krispy Kreme snickerdoodle donuts actually DO contain soy.]

A big thank you to Brian for getting this information. While some may be familiar with snickerdoodles and wouldn’t have even given this issue a second thought, I know there are many others (like me, before meeting my wife) who had never heard of them and would’ve made this same seemingly natural connection with the Snickers candy bars.

So fear not, ye of the peanut allergy. There are no Snickers in Krispy Kreme donut shops.

Since I’ve still got your attention, may I please respectfully request once again – on behalf of the community – that you take just a minute or two to rate any recent restaurant experiences you’ve had on the AllergyEats website or app? AllergyEats is flourishing and helping more and more people every day, but there’s still so many more people that can be helped if you will continue to rate those experiences – good or bad, fast food to fine dining, chains or independents. It’s all valuable. Thank you for your consideration!

Comments

    Author:
    Bri
    Written:


    Some of us with severe dairy (and other) allergies who cannot eat out of the house think that all this hub bub and what appears to be whining every time a junk food changes, is kind of ridiculous.

    Author:
    Linda
    Written:


    I have always understood that Krispy Kreme Donuts were not safe for people with nut allergies.

    Author:
    tara gatscher
    Written:


    krispy kremes is very adamant about being nut free and remaining nut free. I called and they said that used to have a pistachio donut and it was all fake and not real nuts. But they don’t even want to do that anymore. The way they talked to me made me think that the owner himself has nut allergies. Like, why would they be so strict about nut allergies? (I’m glad they are)

    Author:
    Natalie
    Written:


    Thanks for this great information, and for your kind humor. 🙂

    Author:
    Linda
    Written:


    I am not able to eat any milk products. Do they have any donuts that are dairy free? I love your site

    Author:
    Rachel
    Written:


    Their website says it contains soybean oil, soy flour, soy lecithin, and mono-diglycerides. Definitely not soy free. 🙁

    Author:
    Michelle G
    Written:


    There is DEFINITELY soy in this product:

    INGREDIENTS: SUGAR, ENRICHED WHEAT
    FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY
    FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE
    MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID),
    WATER, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (PALM
    OIL, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED
    SOYBEAN OIL, PARTIALLY
    HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL,
    COTTONSEED OIL, BHT AND CITRIC ACID),
    CINNAMON FLAKES SUGAR, VEGETABLE
    OIL (PALM, PALM KERNEL), CINNAMON,
    SOY LECITHIN, SNICKERDOODLE COOKIE
    PIECES (SUGAR, ENRICHED WHEAT
    FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, THIAMINE
    MONONITRATE, NIACIN, RIBOFLAVIN,
    REDUCED IRON, FOLIC ACID), MARGARINE
    (PALM OIL, WATER, SOYBEN OIL, SALT,
    MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, COLORED
    WITH ANNATTO. CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA
    ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS,
    ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR, VITAMIN A
    PALMITATE ADDED.), PASTEURIZED EGGS,
    CINNAMON, WATER, POTASSIUM SORBATE
    (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), SODIUM
    PROPIONATE ( TO PRESERVE
    FRESHNESS), NATURAL FLAVOR, BAKING
    SODA, SALT), CORN STARCH, EGG YOLKS,
    SOY FLOUR, WHEY, CINNAMON, SODIUM
    ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, CORN SYRUP,
    SODIUM BICARBONATE, SOYBEAN OIL,
    DEXTROSE, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NON FAT
    DRY MILK, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES,
    NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR,
    ARTIFICIAL COLOR, AGAR, POTASSIUM
    SORBATE (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS),
    CITRIC ACID, LOCUST BEAN GUM, SODIUM
    PROPIONATE (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS),
    CELLULOSE GUM, ETHOXYLATED MONO
    AND DIGLYCERIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL
    MONOESTERS, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH,
    SILICON DIOXIDE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL.

    Author:
    Jen
    Written:


    Whether I choose to eat the things or go to the places that folks review, blog about, etc., I am thankful that we’re a community who chooses to share our experiences to keep folks like us and more importantly, the kids, safe! I can’t help but wonder why someone who doesn’t eat out is complaining about what we review here. That’s the whole point of the site! Keep up to the work, AE, friends! You’ve been a help to me in the past and I appreciate it!

    Author:
    Julie Sane
    Written:


    My pn/tn allergic child has had two reactions to their donuts. When I asked about nuts in their facility, I was assured there were no nuts, HOWEVER, their email response indicates that ingredients may come into their facility contaminated. We no longer consider them safe. I did ask them to verify which ingredients were contaminated because if it was just the chocolate or sprinkles, we could avoid that and stick to the plain donuts only but they did not respond. Below was their response to me.

    “Thank you for your email regarding the presence of peanuts, tree nuts, or coconuts in our products. We will be more than happy to assist you.

    Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation (“Krispy Kreme”) is proud of its products, which have brought enjoyment to consumers of all ages since 1937. Krispy Kreme believes it is important that consumers have access to relevant information regarding the ingredients contained in the food that we serve.

    All of our products are labeled in conformity with state and federal regulations. However, the Company recognizes that many consumers are concerned about food allergen issues and in particular nut allergies.

    Our policy is to not sell products made with peanuts, tree nuts or coconuts. However, it is important to note that some of the products and ingredients that we purchase from third parties may come from facilities that have nuts on their premises. This policy statement relates only to peanuts, tree nuts, or coconuts. Our doughnuts do contain; wheat, soy, egg and milk, which are known food allergens. At Krispy Kreme, product quality and safety is our highest priority.

    If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at 1-800-4KRISPY (1-800-457-4779), Monday – Friday from 7am to 7pm EST. Or, you can email us again!”

    Author:
    Chris
    Written:


    But there is soy! AllergyEats, I’m disappointed that you would send this article via mass email and the blog states (in bold) no soy. Their website states soy flour in the ingredients!

      Author:
      Paul Antico
      Written:


      You are right – and we have corrected the blog post. The statement from the Krispy Kreme representative remains as it was delivered, but we have clarified below that the donut actually DOES contain soy, per the company’s own ingredient statements.
      Our apologies for not catching and correcting the representative’s error, and thus making one ourselves.

    Author:
    Caroilne Moassessi
    Written:


    Now, who doesn’t love a good donut conversation!

    Author:
    Rachael
    Written:


    I know this most is old, but note that KK is now offering a NUTELLA (Hazelnut) donut so this will be awful for some. We MAY continue to go on occasion and get originals right off the press as they are still “Safe”, but there will be nuts in the facility now.

    Author:
    KD
    Written:


    I believe the nutella donut is only available for a limited time in the UK, not here in the USA, for now.

    Author:
    Williams
    Written:


    My son has a nut allergy and Krispy Kreme has been his go-to safe indulgence. I just found out that the Krispy Kreme donuts they sell at Walmart say produced in a facility in which peanuts and nuts are present. He is crushed. It is important to read every label, even for those foods that have been on a safe list for years.

    Author:
    Melissa
    Written:


    I was at Kroger today here in Georgia, ALL the boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts have the produced in a factory with peanuts, tree nuts. My tree nut allergy child is crushed. We really wanted some pumpkin spice donuts! She has had the cake donuts in the past with no reaction, but now that they have it on there we won’t take a chance =(

    Author:
    jeff
    Written:


    A Reese’s donut is now being made in Australia. The article I read said that KK DOES have plans to bring it to the US. Please do not assume that KK is or will always be nut-free.

    Author:
    Peanut Allergy Mom
    Written:


    Now Krispie Kreme has a peanut butter donut. Disappointing!!! Was the last donut shop for those with peanut and tree nut allergy.

    Author:
    Adam
    Written:


    I checked the Nutritional Info on krispykreme.com for several doughnuts today and I now see a peanut and nut disclaimer. It says the disclaimer was added in September 2016.

    Author:
    Shoemaker
    Written:


    I’m sorry to say that Krispy Kreme is not safe for nut allergies. My son has a life threatening allergy and they now have nut items at Krispy Kreme. It is so sad they could not stay nut free. Not a lot of places to go that are nut free with sweets. It seems with the growing number of children some companies would try and stay nut free.

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