Cranston Herald Article Wed, Mar 05 08          A bakery you can't go nuts over   Contributed by KENNEDY, MERI R.

It is very common for customers to “go nuts” in a bakery.

After all, it is hard to resist the rows and rows of tasty treats and

decorative desserts. From cupcakes and cookies to biscotti and brownies, buying

bakery items is simply a part of life.

Yet, for some, these culinary confections can kill.

For millions of Americans, food allergies have

drastically changed the way they purchase and consume food items.

Approximately 12 million people suffer from

food allergies, with approximately 3 million allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.

Now, in Cranston,

those plagued by nut allergies have options and no longer have to deny

themselves freshly baked desserts and treats. A&J Bakery, a new

family-owned and -operated nut-free bakery, opened several months ago on Park

Avenue and although their business is local, they are shipping to places as far

away as California and Florida.

A&J Bakery, the only nut-free bakery in Rhode Island

and one of only a few in the United States, is owned and operated by Amy and

Joe Hitzemann of Cranston.

Both have more than 25 years' combined experience in the

food industry and are graduates of Johnson

& Wales University.

When not at their bakery, Joe is a full-time employee at Stop & Shop and

Amy is a Woonsocket high school teacher.

Neither Joe nor Amy have a nut allergy, so, why go

nut-free?

“Our 20-month-old son, Kamden, has both eczema and

asthma,” said Hitzemann. “These two conditions place him in the high risk

category of having a nut allergy. We feel great that we can not only offer

bakery items to children and adults with food allergies, but also that we can

calm parents’ fears while they are protecting their children from consuming

products that use nuts or nut oils.”

Nut allergy is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances

derived from nuts and/or tree nuts, which causes an overreaction of the immune

system that can lead to severe physical symptoms and, at times, even death.

In some cases, a child or adult with a nut allergy does

not only have to avoid nuts, but also must avoid foods that are made in a

factory that uses or produces nut products. Some children may have to sit at a

special table in the school cafeteria because just smelling or touching someone

else's peanut butter sandwich could cause an allergic reaction.

“Some people are allergic only after eating nuts, while

others can’t even be around them. That’s why many schools have instituted

peanut-free policies,” said Hitzemann. “That is why at A&J Bakery we are in

a new facility and have bought all brand-new equipment so that those with a

severe case can still eat something from our bakery and not get sick due to

allergies.”

For many people, Hitzemann explained, a “nut-free” label

alone is not enough. Cross-contamination can occur on counter surfaces and

mixing equipment and just a smear of peanut oil left on a baking sheet can have

dire consequences for those with life-threatening nut allergies.

In addition, if a bakery is not careful about where it

buys its dry ingredients, it may end up inadvertently using materials

contaminated with nut materials at the factory or packing plant.

“Parents can feel safe bringing their child with any nut

allergy here to the bakery,” said Hitzemann. “We have verification from our

vendors that supply us that the raw ingredients that we obtain from them are

made in manufacturing plants where there are no nuts of any kind. So, here at

A&J Bakery you can get a safe cake, brownie or cookie for your child who is

allergic.”

In addition, all items at A&J Bakery are baked on the

premises to ensure their no-nut policy is upheld. Nuts are banned at A&J

Bakery and 100-percent dairy-free and egg-free cakes are also available upon

request.

“Some places say they are nut free because they make

items without nuts, but remember there are still nuts in that establishment, so

really they are not nut-free,” Hitzemann said. “There are absolutely no nuts in

our bakery…the only nut in here is me.”

Certainly he and his wife have endured some fun ribbing

from family, friends and customers about being “nut-free” since they

opened. Their logo, designed by Amy

Hitzemann, features two nuts witch are circled and crossed out. Joe’s license

plate is “AJ Bake” and his wife’s is “Nut Free,” which Joe gave her as a gift.

“I don’t mind about the teasing,” said Hitzemann. “It is

good advertising!”

The bakery’s Internet business has been successful thus

far; a number of nut-free bakery items are shipped daily. From biscotti to

cookie trays and custom birthday cakes, their nut-free items have been in

demand.

Hitzemann recalled one customer who called to order

something special for her 25-year-old daughter who was gravely ill who simply

wanted something she could eat from a bakery. With the girl’s allergies, her

mother was having a hard time finding a treat for her daughter.

She found A&J Bakery on the Internet and ordered a

dozen nut-free cupcakes for her daughter. The order was placed and the freshly

baked cupcakes were shipped from Cranston all

the way to Florida.

“I don’t know if her daughter has gotten better,” said

Hitzemann, “but I am glad we were able to provide her with both an enjoyable

and safe treat.”

One specialty at A&J Bakery is biscotti, whose name

refers to their original method of baking. The root words "bis" and

"cotto" literally mean "twice" and "baked."

“Biscotti is said to have originated during Columbus' time and is

credited to an Italian baker who originally served them with Tuscan wines,”

said Hitzemann.

Traditionally biscotti were almond-flavored as almonds

were readily available in Italy

and nearby countries. Of course there are no almonds or nuts in those offered

at A&J Bakery, but patrons don’t seem to mind the selection, which includes

classics like anise and chocolate chunk, plus unusual flavors like strawberry

shortcake, pineapple orange, key lime and chocolate apple cinnamon.

“Our biscotti are handmade and we are constantly

developing new flavors,” said Hitzemann. “Our bakery items are made fresh the

day of delivery. We believe that the biscotti should be seen and be able to

sell themselves.”

Selling nut-free awareness is also part of the bakery’s

philosophy. Hitzemann’s car carries the shop’s nut-free logo and employees

there wear nut-free gear. For those interested in taking their own no-nuts

stance, decals and apparel with the nut-free logo will soon be available at the

bakery and via the company Web site: www.aandjbakery.net.

A&J Bakery is located at 1458 Park Ave. and is open from 11 a.m.

through 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.