Restaurants, Dining Out

Wendy’s Reformulates Salad Dressing Based on Food Allergy Community Feedback

by on May 16th, 2014

 

 

[The interview portion of this AllergyEats Blog entry was conducted by Adrienne Walkowiak]

Earlier this Spring, Wendy’s added a new Asian Cashew Chicken Salad to their nationwide menu. After learning that the salad’s dressing contained peanuts, the peanut allergy community spoke loudly, sharing their concerns with the fast food chain.  In response, based on this customer feedback, Wendy’s management made the decision to reformulate the dressing to be peanut free.

Wendy’s has just introduced the new, peanut free version of the Light Spicy Asian Chili Vinaigrette dressing, which accompanies their Asian Cashew Chicken Salad.  The peanut free dressing is now being served in Wendy’s restaurants nationwide, according to Bob Bertini, Wendy’s spokesperson.

“We modify our recipes from time to time, but this is the first, to my knowledge, related to an allergen,” Bertini explained.  When asked what other menu changes have been made to accommodate customers with special dietary needs, Bertini responded, “It’s not a change, as we have done this for some time, but the tree nuts used in our salads (pecans and cashews) are provided in individual packets.  The customer can decide whether to apply these ingredients as toppings to their salads.”

According to Bertini, Wendy’s is demonstrating its commitment to accommodating food-allergic guests in a variety of ways.  For instance, all Wendy’s managers are required to be ServSafe certified, which includes education on the major food allergens and the signs of reaction.  Wendy’s provides information on seven major allergens: eggs, milk, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, and fish.  (The chain doesn’t serve any shellfish in their restaurants.)  In addition, Wendy’s has a customer call center and two registered dietitians on staff, available to respond to consumers’ questions about ingredients and allergens.

 

I am pleased that Wendy’s modified this new menu item to make it peanut free based on our community input.  And while tree nuts are still present, I appreciate that the company provides the pecans and cashews in a separate, sealed package.  Individuals with food allergies must still keep their guard up at Wendy’s, particularly given the size of the chain and the amount of employee turnover in the fast food industry, but I appreciate Wendy’s effort to be sensitive to the peanut allergy community.

I do also feel the need to remind everyone – particularly those with dairy allergies – about our posts 2-1/2 years ago involving the buttered buns Wendy’s made a staple of most burgers.  You can find the last post in that chain here: “Important New and Corrected Information About Wendy’s New Menu and Dairy Allergies.”  I haven’t confirmed that Wendy’s still uses those buttered buns, but a look at their allergen table only shows the Basic Jr. Hamburger as not having dairy.  Even there, however, dairy-allergic patrons need to be cautious that the buns aren’t toasted as that would be a cross contamination risk with the buttered buns that go into the same toaster.

The bottom line is that virtually all fast-food restaurants have elevated risks due, if nothing else, to their high employee turnover.  That said, I still applaud this latest move by Wendy’s and hope this one simple effort will, in hindsight, be yet another small step toward larger industry-wide sensitivity down the road.

 

What do you think?  Are you excited by this change or is it a ‘non-event’?  Could this be the start of a trend?  Does it bother you that Wendy’s is being responsive to those with peanut allergies, but not as much so to those with other food allergies?  Or are you okay with that, assuming that eventually we’re all benefit if this is the start of a trend?  Share your thoughts – positive, negative, or otherwise in the Reply box below.  We want to hear what you have to say!

 

While I have your attention, let me please remind you to go to our core site (www.allergyeats.com) or free app and rate any and all restaurants you’ve dined at recently.  YOUR quick reviews are what has already made AllergyEats a great resource for our food allergy and intolerance community, but we still have so much more room to improve and become an even more effective tool for everyone.

Comments

    Author:
    jana
    Written:


    Thanks for this information, and I am happy to see any positive step when it comes to food allergies. Having items come in individual pouches is also a positive step as it cuts way down on the risk of cross contamination. Having employees trained is a great commitment. I applaud Wendy’s efforts and hope other restaurants continue to address the needs of the food allergy community.

    Author:
    Lisa Giuriceo
    Written:


    This is a positive step. Thank you allergy eats for all you do to educate restaurants about food allergies. You provide a fabulous resource for food allergic customers. Bottom line is Wendy’s, like other restaurants want to provide options for food allergic customers. They want the business and if they show they have an awareness, food allergic customers will become loyal patrons.

    Author:
    Katie
    Written:


    Love Wendy’s! Oy place my soy and peanut free son can enjoy chicken nuggets and fries together! Also there frosty are allergien free (for him!) such an ease for us now when we hit the road and forget food or take a trip!

    Author:
    Tomasita
    Written:


    Do you know if the buns on the grilled chicken sandwich are buttered?

    Author:
    Scotty
    Written:


    It’s good they listen to their customers. I can understand that we all hear about, and know many kids that are peanut allergic. So it seems understandable that they would be sensitive to the peanut issue, where other allergens may be overlooked. I did learn that they serve salads with nuts in paks to be added by customers. I didn’t know that. And its good to know management is allergen trained!! Which, begs to be asked, even just a little, with some establishments seemingly easily offering gluten-free buns for hamburgers, why others can’t do the same. But I digress. I’m still happy to someone listening to their customers and doing what they can to help.

    Author:
    Leah
    Written:


    Glad to hear they are listening to us! We eat at Wendy’s quite a bit with my dairy-, egg-, and nut-free daughter. She eats the hamburger kid’s meal with fries and LOVES it! No issues with the bun, and we’ve been doing this for about 6 or 7 years now. Happy to hear they have trained managers everywhere, too.

    Author:
    Jennifer B
    Written:


    It is noteworthy. I appreciate their responsiveness. There is some effort, some acknowledgement there and you are right to highlight it. We never eat at Wendy’s but I will re-examine their menu for my son.

    Author:
    Mary Quattrone
    Written:


    It is very reassuring to again hear about the advocacy Allergy Eats provides to our children/grandchildren with food allergies. Awareness,, awareness, awareness is so important and (we) thank you for your continued commitment to safety. Thanks to Wendy’s for taking this seriously .

    Author:
    Kellie
    Written:


    Great step forward. Also shows the power of speaking up. Thanks for making sure we are all aware of what’s going on in the industry.

    Author:
    Kelly
    Written:


    I know this is old, but I still want to respond. It is always nice to see restaurants responsive to food allergy concerns. As a parent of a tree nut allergic child (cashews), I actually have trouble explaining to people that tree nuts are different from peanuts. However, I am happy to hear that the tree nuts are individually packaged and sealed, and the level of awareness and responsiveness is above many other restaurants. Any awareness is a welcome improvement.

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