Yes, we’re talking about the Dark Chocolate Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups on a dairy-free website, but read the following BEFORE you comment!!
A misleading practice has begun that only serves to confuse those who read allergen statements. Companies like Green & Black’s and now Justin’s, have shifted from putting a “may contain milk” warning due to potential cross-contamination, to a “contains: milk” warning even though the product is still made without dairy ingredients. From the FAQ’s on Justin’s website:
Even though there are no milk ingredients added to our delicious Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and the recipe has not changed, we recently changed our label to indicate “contains milk”. Because they are produced on machinery that also processes our Milk and White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, which do contain milk. While there is an extensive sanitation process between each batch, the reason we made this change is two-fold, both deriving from our company’s primary fundamental – safety.
So why would I post about a product that is making decisions for consumers rather than disclosing truthful information? Because I can’t count the number of times I’ve come across people who have been safely consuming the Dark Chocolate Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups for some time. Even many people with milk allergies. But felt betrayed and stopped purchasing them when they thought the formula had changed to actually contain dairy. I wanted to ensure that you know that at this point, it’s still exactly the SAME product!
Tasting Notes for Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups
As for a mini-review of the dark chocolate Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups (the other varieties DO contain dairy)…
They are pretty tasty with a pleasant semi-sweet coating and a rich, slightly powdery peanut butter filling. The filling isn’t quite as creamy as competitor brands. Unfortunately, they are frequently dried out. About half of the time that I’ve tried them, the center is very dry and crumbly.
Nonetheless dark chocolate Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups are readily available at many grocers. Perfect for when you want an indulgent sweet or if you are looking for a last minute treat to gift. So long as they are “safe” for your needs.
The Facts on Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups
Certifications: Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups are Certified Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Certified Kosher Dairy (due to shared equipment), and Certified Gluten Free.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups are dairy-free / non-dairy (YES, see above!), egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Justin’s website at justins.com.
6 Comments
I just got my first taste of these (milk chocolate ones) and although I’m not allergic to peanuts or milk I reacted to /something!/ in it. A read through of the ingredients didn’t appear to include any of my known triggers.
I was wondering if you knew of any ingredients that would be considered unusual for peanut butter cups to contain.
Hi Elisabeth, the milk chocolate ones contain dairy, so they aren’t ones we cover here. You may want to consult a physician on this issue.
The may contain milk label was sufficient, I agree. However, I am very allergic to milk and have eaten these a few times and started to have an allergic reaction. I know the warning signs for an allergic reaction for my body so I can stop the reaction by taking Benadryl; however, certain people may not have any warning signs or may not know them… I personally stopped buying these because of the reactions.
Thank you for sharing this DeAnna!
You DEFINITELY got a bad batch of the peanut butter cups – they’re supposed to be super creamy in the middle, not dried out and almost white-looking. I’ve written to Justin’s about this (I experienced that same horrible luck a few times, when purchasing Justin’s PB cups); and they sent free coupons and said to check how stores are storing the PB cups. So far, I’ve been lucky recently by purchasing GOOD Justin’s pb cups. The peanut butter is so creamy, it’s exceptional. I really wish though there was more quality control, for sure.
Thanks for sharing this Liz. Yes, for some reason I keep getting these batches! I received a sample at a conference once and have tried buying them two separate times. One time they were extremely dry and crumbly. The other two more like pictured above, slightly creamy, but slightly dry. Still a good taste though. They really do need to get that consistency down! I appreciate your feedback that “good” creamy ones exist 🙂