If someone at your table avoids wheat or soy, you probably read the end of the ingredient list before anything else. On every Teddy Grahams box and pouch we list, that line says the same thing: Contains wheat, soy. Here is where those two come from, what the law requires the label to show, and what it does not.
On allergens, the figures follow the full Teddy Grahams catalog we keep on the front page.
What the law makes the label say
The FDA names nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth under the FASTER Act, and the labeling rules for it apply from January 1, 2023.
A major allergen has to be named in one of two ways. Either the ingredient list names its source in brackets, as in "flour (wheat)" or "lecithin (soy)", or a Contains statement right after the ingredients lists it. Teddy Grahams labels use the Contains statement, so that short line is the fastest thing to check.
Where the wheat is
Wheat is the base of the snack. Graham flour, listed as whole grain wheat flour, and enriched wheat flour make up the dough of every flavor we list. Food Allergy Research & Education names graham flour among the wheat ingredients to avoid, together with crackers and baked goods in general. None of the Teddy Grahams packs we list is wheat-free.
FARE also points out that wheat allergy and celiac disease are different conditions with different causes. Both mean avoiding these grahams, but they are diagnosed and managed differently, which is a conversation for a doctor rather than a snack label.
Where the soy is
Soy enters as soy lecithin on every label we list, and on many as soybean oil: the Honey box names "soybean and/or canola oil". FARE notes that most people with a soy allergy can eat highly refined soy oil and soy lecithin, and in the same breath advises asking your doctor whether you need to avoid them. The label lists soy either way, and so do we.
"May contain" is not on the list for a reason
You may see lines like "may contain" or "produced in a facility that also uses" on other foods. The FDA notes that such advisory statements are not required by law. Their absence on a Teddy Grahams box does not tell you a product was made away from other allergens, and their presence would not be a standard measure of risk either. If cross-contact matters for someone in your house, the maker can answer that question, and the phone number is on the package.
Mixed boxes need a pouch-by-pouch read
The Nabisco variety boxes carry Teddy Grahams together with OREO Minis, CHIPS AHOY! Minis or Barnum's Animal Crackers. The Teddy Grahams and OREO pouches say Contains wheat, soy, while the CHIPS AHOY! Minis are declared as containing milk. Each pouch inside is its own product with its own label. Read the pouch before you hand it over, not only the outer box.
What to keep in mind
- Every Teddy Grahams box and pouch we list says Contains wheat, soy, and mixed Nabisco boxes add milk.
- Wheat comes from graham flour and enriched flour, soy from soy lecithin and often soybean oil.
- Advisory "may contain" lines are voluntary, so ask the maker about cross-contact.
- In variety boxes, read each pouch.
- Recipes and labels change: the package in your hand is the final word.
Allergic reactions range from hives and lip swelling to anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Decisions about a diagnosed allergy belong with your doctor or allergist, and the label on the package you are holding.