First App Helping Food Allergic Americans Find Safe Bakeries
Food Allergy App and Platform Spokin recently launched Verified Bakeries, an innovative program that makes finding allergy-friendly bakeries fast, fun and easy. For the 32 million Americans managing a food allergy, bakeries have long been too risky to visit. According to the press release, this is the first program solely focused on helping the food allergy community find safe and delicious bakeries near home or while traveling.
From Dailey Pastry, a boutique Brooklyn bakery making nut- and egg-free macaroons, to Erin McKenna’s Bakery, a legendary vegan and gluten-free NYC bakery with several locations, Spokin Verified Bakeries is launching with a crave-worthy group of nut-, soy-, gluten-free and plant-based bakeries.
“Finally a one-stop app where those with food allergies can connect and share their favorite finds. Trust in the community is everything, therefore I’m proud to be a Verified Bakery on Spokin!” said Erin McKenna of Erin McKenna’s Bakery.
CEO and Founder Susie Hultquist is a food allergy mom who understands the importance of safe baked goods, “I started Spokin when I couldn’t determine if a cookie was safe for my daughter. I cannot overstate the importance of having a safe cupcake for a class party, bagels or donuts a family can share, or a safe gingerbread house to decorate at Christmas. It’s emotional for families like mine. There’s an incredible need for this.”
To be verified, bakeries have answered 28 frequently asked allergy questions. From what allergens they are dedicated free from to what kind of chocolate they use—all the answers are now just a tap away in the Spokin app.
The app allows users to easily filter by allergies, what kinds of baked goods they are looking for, bakery location and the availability of online shipping so users can find safe donuts, cookies, cakes and more travelling or near home.
“We want to drive business to these bakeries, which in many cases have been hurt by the pandemic,” said Hultquist. “An astounding number of bakeries closed over the past year and the mission of Spokin Verified Bakeries is to connect bakeries to the food allergy community that so desperately needs them to stay in business.”