Food Allergy Policy

We are a gluten-free and vegan kitchen.

Every product page lists its full ingredients and names its allergens. Packaged items carry the same list on the bag, and at the café a card sits in front of each product with the ingredients used.

Questions about a specific item? Text (718) 786-6691, call (718) 786-1614, or email info@sensiblebakery.com.

How we keep it that way

Colour coding, separate utensils, equipment, tables and storage, and careful packaging. Tables are scrubbed after every use, every member of staff is trained on these procedures, and our bakers pass a food safety course.

We take extreme care, but we cannot guarantee the elimination of trace amounts of the allergens we bake with.

Labelling

The FDA requires a label to name the source of every major allergen in a product, and the type of tree nut used. Ours sit immediately after the ingredients. Our bags also carry icons — Soy-Free, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free — but please read the ingredients before you buy.

Why we have this policy

Every year, 3.4 million people in the United States go to the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction. Reactions are unpredictable, and what looks mild can turn life-threatening quickly.

We cannot promise a completely allergen-free environment. What we can do is train every member of staff on allergens and food hygiene, tell you plainly what is in our food, and be ready to respond if something goes wrong.

What is a food allergy?

Food allergies are an immune system response to a food. The body mistakenly reacts to an ingredient which it thinks is harmful and releases antibodies to fight the threat. This creates symptoms like:

• Itching
• Hives
• Swelling
• Abdominal cramps
• Difficulty swallowing or speaking
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anaphylactic shock — a dangerous drop in blood pressure accompanied by swelling which makes it difficult to breathe. This can be life-threatening.

Anybody can develop a food allergy or intolerance at any time in their life, regardless of whether they consumed the food before. A person with an allergy is at risk even if they consume a small amount of the food allergen.

What is food intolerance?

This does not involve the immune system in the same way and is not usually as severe as a food allergy. Symptoms usually take longer to appear and may include headaches, fatigue and digestive problems. With an intolerance, you may be able to consume a small amount of the problem food without a reaction.

Common food allergens

There are currently nine major allergens which must be clearly stated if they are present in the product:

• Wheat
• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Crustacean shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Soybeans
• Sesame

Celiac disease

Celiac disease affects 1 out of every 133 Americans. It is a chronic digestive and immune disorder triggered by gluten, which is naturally found in wheat, barley, and rye. These ingredients are typically used in bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, and many processed foods.

Symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Gas
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Anemia

There is no cure for celiac disease. Affected individuals must follow a gluten-free diet for life. We get it, so we’ve got you: nothing that comes out of our kitchen contains gluten, which means the whole shelf is yours.