Alpine Dark Wafer (88-720)

From: Meredith Koss Corporate Quality Manager – Clasen Quality Chocolate, Inc. RE: Allergen Information – Watertown, WI Facility The majority of the products manufactured at Clasen Quality Chocolate’s Watertown, WI Facility contain both SOY and DAIRY ingredients. SOY: Majority of products contain Soy Lecithin as an ingredient and is listed on all applicable product ingredient statements, labels, and product specifications. SOY-FREE: For products formulated without Soy Lecithin, CQC follows the guidelines referenced in the FARRP Expert Opinion: Soybean Lecithin – published on January 31, 2006. Within these guidelines is the following statement: “No conceivable allergenic risks would occur from the use of shared equipment for products that contain soybean lecithin and products that do not. The amount of soybean proteins that could conceivably be transferred to the next product manufactured with this shared equipment is extraordinarily low. Therefore, we feel that “allergen clean-outs” are not necessary for shared equipment in situations where the first product contains soy lecithin as an ingredient and the second does not, if soy lecithin is the only ingredient in the formulation that is derived from a commonly allergenic source.” However, due to the use of common equipment, CQC may utilize precautionary labeling statements when shared equipment is utilized. Soybean oil may also be used as an ingredient in some products, but is refined, bleached, & deodorized and therefore considered non-allergenic. DAIRY: Majority of products contain one or more dairy containing ingredients and are listed on all applicable product ingredient statements, labels, and product specifications. Some of these ingredients are easily identifiable as a Dairy ingredient (Whole Milk Powder) and others are not (Calcium Caseinate). CQC may include (Milk) immediately following dairy ingredients not easily identifiable. The amount of dairy present varies by product. (continued on page 2) Corporate Office ● 5126 West Terrace Drive Madison, WI 53718 Tel 608.467-1130 ● Toll-Free 877.459.4500 ● Fax 608.249-4573 ● www.cqc.com DAIRY-FREE: For products formulated without Dairy ingredients, CQC utilizes a combination of dedicated equipment, equipment cleaning, product flushing, visual inspection, surface swabbing, and product testing to eliminate the presence of the dairy allergen. However, due to the use of common equipment, CQC may utilize precautionary labeling statements where applicable. Contact CQC’s Quality Department for more information. Clasen Quality Chocolate’s Watertown, WI Facility does not receive, utilize, or warehouse any ingredients that knowingly contain: Wheat Gluten Egg Peanuts Seafood Celery Shellfish Tree Nuts Mustard Sesame Each individual Tree Nut is considered an independent allergen. Tree Nut is defined by the FDA as: Almonds, Beech Nut, Brazil Nut, Butternut, Cashew, Chestnut, Chinquapin, Coconut, Filbert/Hazelnut, Ginko Nut, Hickory Nut, Lichee Nut, Macadamia Nut, Pecan, Pine Nut, Pili nut, Pistachio, Sheanut, &Walnut. Highly refined, bleached, & deodorized oils derived from peanuts and tree nuts are considered non-allergenic. Coconut Oil is currently utilized at this facility. Additionally, ingredient suppliers are evaluated for acceptable allergen practices prior to approval, incoming ingredients are verified to be received from approved vendor manufacturing locations, and annual allergen awareness training is completed for all employees. Clasen Quality Chocolate, Inc. is dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services offered by the confectionery industry. Please contact our Quality Department to answer any additional questions.

Confectionery Coating