Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop No Longer Selling Products with Peanut Butter

The next time you're craving a peanut butter and chocolate sundae at the Walt Disney World Resort you'll find one less place to indulge. The Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop at Downtown Disney has stopped using peanut butter as an ingredient in sundaes, chocolates, or as a topping.

Gold Rush Sundae is gone from Ghirardelli's menuGold Rush Sundae is gone from Ghirardelli's menu

The Ghirardelli company started down the peanut-free path back in 2013 as a way to become more allergy-friendly for customers with peanut allergies.

The in-house products (like the Gold Rush Sundae) weren't initially affected by this change, but now all products containing peanut butter have been removed from the menus at Walt Disney World Resort's location and in Disneyland.

And while peanut butter has been removed from the menu, items containing tree nuts, including almonds, remain on the menu. If you or a member of your family has a food allergy it is still recommend that you speak with a cast member about any concerns or questions you might have about the menu.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about this menu change. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

Source

Lisa Barker wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 12:35:

Lisa Barker's picture

I am bummed out about this latest menu announcement. While I sympathize with guests with food allergies, I don't think I should have to suffer because they can't eat it. You are keeping nuts on the menu. Why can't you keep the peanut sauce separate? I will miss you "Gold Rush" sundae. It won't be the same without you this Fall!

Miranda Ducharme wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 13:53:

Miranda Ducharme's picture

That is not cool it was my husband and sons favorite. I understand people have peanut allergies but not everyone should have to suffer for it. I took a look at comments just to the post this is upsetting quite a few people and they said they will not come back. So good luck, I still feel it is wrong.

Tammy wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 14:18:

Tammy 's picture

As the mother of a peanut allergic child, this announcement makes me happy! Just a splash of the peanut butter on another surface or accidentally in other products could cause an anaphylactic reaction in some people with peanut allergies. Also as a lover of peanut butter, I can empathize with those of you longing for the Good Rush. However, this might be one ice cream parlor you won't visit because of the lack of peanuts/butter; but it is most likely the one place those with peanut allergies CAN visit.

David Menard wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 15:19:

David Menard's picture

Asinine. If you're allergic just don't order the damn peanuts SO sick of this crap

Dennis Lane wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 15:58:

Dennis Lane's picture

Well I am totally for being allergy friendly. I'm not happy hiw some places handle it. Instead if trying to keep options open for everyone they always seem to go with the easier option of just eliminating items. I get it, they don want to deal with being the cause of someone's reaction to an item they are alegi to but don't give up so easy.
Just my 2 cents.

Teresa Johnson wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 16:13:

Teresa Johnson's picture

Seriously - I get that peanut allergies can be serious but for the rest of the world that is not allergic to them this is simply not right. This is a fail.

KtBeals wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 17:48:

KtBeals's picture

I think this is awesome! So many kids have nut allergies these days, and it is fabulous that they can be included. Before, kids with allergies couldn't eat any of the ice cream because of fear of cross contamination. This is a great move! Can't wait to go!

Jeannine wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 18:01:

Jeannine's picture

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My family can finally enjoy a sweet treat without worry! We have not been able to eat ice cream other than at home. This will definitely be the highlight of our visit!

Gary Tomlinson wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 18:11:

Gary Tomlinson's picture

I don't want to sound insensitive, but...First of all, I agree with Lisa's statement. Really...why do the rest of us have to suffer not having peanut butter at least available as an option? If you are allergic then you should have enough sense not to buy or use peanut butter. What if diabetics start complaining about the sugar in ALL the products? Would you remove them? Of course not!! My vote is to leave the peanut butter as an option!! It's all about making the right choices.

MaryAnne wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 19:40:

MaryAnne's picture

Thank you for taking this important step. Those who are not impacted by these life threating allergies do not understand that cross contamination is a real threat. Someone not wiping a table or their hands could cause a serious reaction.

Teresa Reilly wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 20:44:

Teresa Reilly's picture

Thank you. Most people are ignorant when it comes to allergies. They do not understand cross contamination. They feel that what they want to eat is so much more important than the safety of others. I am sure if one of their family members had food allergies their thought process would be different, or at least I would hope so.

Bob wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 20:50:

Bob's picture

Why does it have to be one or the other? Can they not offer both?

chris04463 wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 21:03:

chris04463's picture

This was our favorite at Ghiradelli. Guess we won't be saving room for the Gold Rush Sundae anymore.

Christy wrote on Fri, 05/08/2015 - 23:14:

Christy's picture

I really don't ever understand when companies do this. I grew up with a sibling with a very severe peanut allergy, but somehow we never told a plane full of people not to eat their snack bars or told a restaurant what they should sell! To put it in perspective, yes, even getting close to peanuts was a problem for my sibling, but I was taught as young as 5 years old not to eat peanut butter around them and how to keep the knives separate when making a sandwich. If 5 year old me could keep from contaminating a kitchen, I think it should be possible to order a sundae with peanut products! I loved the PB and hot fudge!

Philip Bell wrote on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 02:10:

Philip Bell's picture

This sucks. I love peanut butter and Disney has (I guess now "had") lots of great peanut butter treats. The only times I did not order a dessert that did not have peanut butter in it was when they didn't have any with pb.

Pat wrote on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 03:29:

Pat's picture

I think this is nonsense. It was my favorite thing to get on a sundae. I can honestly say I will not be going there anymore. I sympathize with people with nut allergies but I shouldn't be punished for their allergy.

Brian wrote on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 04:24:

Brian's picture

Wow, I guess next WDW will stop serving shrimp, milk, eggs and soy ... because a lot of people are allergic to those as well. This makes no sense. If you have a peanut allergy, it is your responsibility to not eat peanuts or peanut products. Restaurants, etc, should not be in charge of policing themselves for the 10% of people who have an allergy.

Louise wrote on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 05:21:

Louise's picture

Why should the majority go without? So sick and tired of the politically correct police screwing things up! You just lost our business

Leigh p wrote on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 18:40:

Leigh p's picture

I think any time a company becomes more allergy aware or allergy friendly - especially where kids are involved is a wonderful thing. Food allergies are on the ride and peanuts are one that are ultra sensitive - air born, minisule traces of cross contamination... These things can trigger a reaction that is life or death and offering a family a save haven to have ice cream together at a place like Disney world is a wonderful gesture! I'm an allergy mom and we have many more food allergies than just peanut but I applaud this change and appreciate the awareness and publicity food allergies get from a move like this.... Food allergies are deadly- imagine... Food... Something supposed to nourish our bodies can cause someone to die... For those nay sayers... Go somewhere else if you like but realize that now not children can enjoy a good old American sundae safely in the "happiest place on earth" as they should!

Kaci wrote on Sun, 05/10/2015 - 00:50:

Kaci's picture

They are getting wayy to politically correct. Ugh.

Mom of peanut-allergic kid wrote on Sun, 05/10/2015 - 06:08:

Mom of peanut-allergic kid's picture

I LOVE that they are becoming more allergy friendly! I have 1 child with severe, anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, and 1 child with no food allergies. Now we can all eat at the same place! Disney has been so wonderful about finding ways to include everyone, especially kids with life-altering disabilities, INCLUDING severe food allergies. I don't see anyone complaining when they accommodate a wheelchair or a service dog.

Sandy wrote on Tue, 08/04/2015 - 17:16:

Sandy's picture

My husband and I are so bummed you are not serving the peanut butter Gold rush sundae! My husband proposed to me on the park benches below Ghiradelii square and it became tradition to have a gold rush sundae to celebrate that wonderful day!

Please bring it back!

paul wrote on Mon, 10/19/2015 - 17:38:

paul's picture

In response to "mom of a peanut allergic kid"...accommodating doesn't mean taking away from everybody else! It means making exceptions, which nobody has a problem with. But the taking away from everybody because of a few makes no sense.

JH wrote on Sun, 05/01/2016 - 23:31:

JH's picture

Well all the complainers have won.

They no longer have an allergy free area. So my daughter who has been in the ER twice due to cross contamination can't feel comfortable getting ice cream.

We aren't asking for anything special. Just don't use the same spoon. Nothing more. But they won't do that anymore.

She doesn't have an allergy where it's affected by being around nuts. Just can't share the same spoon. Very simple. But no. They can't do that.

The people who must have peanut butter win

Mary wrote on Thu, 04/05/2018 - 20:29:

Mary's picture

While visiting WDW and last year WDL my son and I always visit Ghirardelli ice cream shop. The gold rush was our favorite. Very disappointed but just read other ice cream places available and desert treats with peanut butter so we will try other options.

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