Hi there,

I am seriously considering joining Jenny Craig as I think it would be a great move for me. However i contacted JC through the website enquiring about ingredients listed on food items, as I have a nut allergy.

I received a polite response from a program director today, stating that I was not allowed to join Jenny Craig because of my nut allergy???

I am completely shocked by this response, is this true and has anyone else had trouble joining due to having nut allergies?

I scoured the website before i sent the message to JC and could not find anything about, hence why I emailed customer service.

[quote name='susandlynn' date='Dec 17 2008, 07:50 PM' post='448781']
Hi there,

I am seriously considering joining Jenny Craig as I think it would be a great move for me. However i contacted JC through the website enquiring about ingredients listed on food items, as I have a nut allergy.

I received a polite response from a program director today, stating that I was not allowed to join Jenny Craig because of my nut allergy???

I am completely shocked by this response, is this true and has anyone else had trouble joining due to having nut allergies?

I scoured the website before i sent the message to JC and could not find anything about, hence why I emailed customer service.
[/quote]
Because the foods aren't prepared/packaged in a nut free facility, anyone with ANY nut allergies is not permitted to enroll. Did they give you the phone number for the American Dietetic Association? That can help you get in touch with a nutritionist to design something to work around your allergy. I know not being able to enroll can be discouraging, but it really is for your health and safety. Good luck with your weight loss!

Yeah, I like most everyone else has tried everything to lose weight my entire life and this was my last shot. I was just diagnosed with the allergy about a month ago, and my husband and I have been planning for JC for nearly a year. It's more than disappointing, its devastating.

[quote name='susandlynn' date='Dec 18 2008, 07:58 AM' post='448843']
Yeah, I like most everyone else has tried everything to lose weight my entire life and this was my last shot. I was just diagnosed with the allergy about a month ago, and my husband and I have been planning for JC for nearly a year. It's more than disappointing, its devastating.
[/quote]
I'm so sorry! Is there any way to contact a nutritionist in your area and maybe just have a couple sessions? You CAN do this!

Susandlynn all is not lost! JC is convenient but there are other ways to loose weight. Since you said you have been planning for a year to join JC I can only assume that means saving money. I can't think of anything else related to the program that would take time to plan for. Take that money and see a professional diet and fitness person and if you are committed you will do it! Try to think of this as a set back, formulate a plan B and go for it! Good luck!

[quote name='susandlynn' date='Dec 18 2008, 03:50 AM' post='448781']
Hi there,

I am seriously considering joining Jenny Craig as I think it would be a great move for me. However i contacted JC through the website enquiring about ingredients listed on food items, as I have a nut allergy.

I received a polite response from a program director today, stating that I was not allowed to join Jenny Craig because of my nut allergy???

I am completely shocked by this response, is this true and has anyone else had trouble joining due to having nut allergies?

I scoured the website before i sent the message to JC and could not find anything about, hence why I emailed customer service.
[/quote]

I have a tree nut allergy and I was able to join Jenny Craig. the program director sat down with me and Xed out all the food I could not eat on JC. It wasn't that much. I can't have the anytime bars and a few of the snacks and one entree. I have had a nut allergy since I a kid. I never heard of anything like that. The majority of fodd does not have nuts they are p[rocessed in a facilty that carries procuces nuts. There are actually something that I can eat (Jenny Curls) that are processed on a machine that uses nuts that I eat with no problem.

As I said at my center I am able to customize my program so I don't have those items that contain nuts, which are a lot. I think you need to try another JC center or call corporate.

I think it depends upon degree of allergy. There are some people allergic to nuts who cannot even be in the same room with them, let alone eat anything that has been processed through the same machinery. Check with your doctor if you have any questions about it. If the allergy is mild, and you only need to avoid directly eating certain kinds, you may be able to do the program.

But get a note from your doctor itemizing what you cannot have, and giving you permission to join the program provided that you are given no food that is specified. Keep in mind that if there is a long list of food that needs to be avoided, you may still not be able to join. If, for instance, you would only be able to eat about half the menu, it would be a good idea to look into a different program, since this one is food-based, and the JCCs are not trained to take the place of a nutritionist or a dietitian.

I get a reaction to certain types of walnuts. However, I can pick them off of things like muffins, where they aren't actually mixed into the food, so doing the program isn't a problem for me. There just isn't that strong an allergy.

Today, the same thing happened to me I walked into a Jenny Craig Center in Norwalk, CT and I was turned away because I said I had nut allergies. First they told me it is for my own safety then when I argued with them that I know to make food choices that would not include nuts and then they told me I could not join because they had to protect themselves ("liability" is the word they used). I was shocked. There should have been options offered instead of "Im sorry but..." Bottom-line is Jenny Craig is really concerned about being sued. It seems more like a case of food allergy discrimination. So, the moral of the story is: if anyone has food allergies -- DO NOT CALL JENNY CRAIG because they will waste your time first filling out long forms and you get stuck listening to a boiler-plate sales pitch only for the computer to flag the counselor to call "the nutritionist" who says "STOP, don't go any further, we can't help you and you cannot join Jenny Craig." BAD BUSINESS JENNY CRAIG!!!!

[quote name='ctsecret' date='Jul 15 2009, 04:19 PM' post='489361']
Today, the same thing happened to me I walked into a Jenny Craig Center in Norwalk, CT and I was turned away because I said I had nut allergies. First they told me it is for my own safety then when I argued with them that I know to make food choices that would not include nuts and then they told me I could not join because they had to protect themselves ("liability" is the word they used). I was shocked. There should have been options offered instead of "Im sorry but..." Bottom-line is Jenny Craig is really concerned about being sued. It seems more like a case of food allergy discrimination. So, the moral of the story is: if anyone has food allergies -- DO NOT CALL JENNY CRAIG because they will waste your time first filling out long forms and you get stuck listening to a boiler-plate sales pitch only for the computer to flag the counselor to call "the nutritionist" who says "STOP, don't go any further, we can't help you and you cannot join Jenny Craig." BAD BUSINESS JENNY CRAIG!!!!
[/quote]

Actually, I work at Jenny Craig in CA. and on a good portion of the box labels, it claims that food is processed in a plant that also processes nuts and may contain traces. This is most likely why you were unable to join the program. We do not turn away business unless it is deemed necessary. Sorry for your experience but it could have been a lot worse if it wasn't caught in time.
:-) Lisa

I don't understand why they would turn anyone away. It's not like you [i]have[/i] to buy their food...you can still join and reap the benefits of their nutrition education, seeing a counselor (or whatever they're called...still not sure on that) once a week.

Now, if all you wanted was their food, sure they can turn anyone away. But if you wanted to learn how to eat better and needed the accountability, I'm sure they'd be happy to take your money for a premium membership. They were certainly happy to take mine, even after I asked what would happen if I couldn't tolerate their food. Short answer: they'd teach me how to eat on my own, the eventual goal anyway.

[quote name='leandse21' date='Jul 15 2009, 04:35 PM' post='489370']
Actually, I work at Jenny Craig in CA. and on a good portion of the box labels, it claims that food is processed in a plant that also processes nuts and may contain traces. This is most likely why you were unable to join the program. We do not turn away business unless it is deemed necessary. Sorry for your experience but it could have been a lot worse if it wasn't caught in time.
:-) Lisa
[/quote]
--------------------------------------------> RESPONSE:

LISA--
If you go into a grocery store and pick up a box of candy (chocolate with no nuts in it) --- the label will have the same statement about foods in a plant that also processes nuts. The fact of the matter is that most labels have nutritional information and warnings on their boxes and there are plenty that have that same warning but there are none of the ingredients list any kind of nuts. So, in an essence, you are telling me that I need to stay clear of grocery stores that sell all these products or basically live in a bubble because I happen to have nut allergies? I dont think so.

Jenny Craig turned me away and I now see many other people were also turned away because we have nut allergies. Its another form of discrimination. Jenny Craig should have offered choices such as letting us choose food items without nuts and if that isnt good enough for Jenny Craig, then have us sign a waiver holding them harmless. Jenny Craig is just worried about being sued, thats the bottomline.

[quote name='ThumperWabbt' date='Jul 19 2009, 01:13 PM' post='490030']
I don't understand why they would turn anyone away. It's not like you [i]have[/i] to buy their food...you can still join and reap the benefits of their nutrition education, seeing a counselor (or whatever they're called...still not sure on that) once a week.

Now, if all you wanted was their food, sure they can turn anyone away. But if you wanted to learn how to eat better and needed the accountability, I'm sure they'd be happy to take your money for a premium membership. They were certainly happy to take mine, even after I asked what would happen if I couldn't tolerate their food. Short answer: they'd teach me how to eat on my own, the eventual goal anyway.
[/quote]


RESPONSE: YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD TURN ANYONE AWAY? Go there and let them know you have nut allergies... see for yourself. It happened to be--- you can choose to believe it or not. In order to join Jenny Craig, you have to buy their food. Anyway, good luck to you.

I think that the problem lies within the fact that with a tree nut allergy, the symptoms can worsen with exposure to the nut. Currently, you might be fine with consuming food (without tree nuts) that are processed on the same equipment as other foods containing nuts. However, at some point, you could potentially have a serious reaction potentially leading to death. Currently, your symptom may be mild and something minor like a rash. Eventually, with continued exposure, you could potentially develop serious symptoms such as your tongue swelling and throat closing and the inability to breath.

For example, my niece is in a classroom that another child has tree nut allergies. All the parents are asked not to feed their children any treenut products at breakfast or bring any into the classroom. These are small children and the concern is if they put toys into their mouths and the toy is shared, the child with the allergy could put it in her mouth and possibly die.

Yes, I am sure liability is a concern for JC. However, I do believe their biggest concern is the health and safety of their clients. This is why all foods (including grocery stores) that are processed on equipment that may be contaminated with nuts or any other allergen are labeled. People with serious allergies are grateful for this information because their life depends on it. I doubt Jenny Craig is discriminating. More than likely, they are trying to save lives. I'm sorry you are not able to join Jenny Craig, however, a registered dietician should be able to help you develop a weight loss plan.

Good luck!

I checked with my JCC about this over the weekend. She said it is a relatively new policy to not allow people with nut allergies to enroll. They don't allow people with known food allergies to several things to join. They don't allow people with wheat or soy allergies to join, either.

You can't expect the JCCs to take the place of a dietitian in helping you to devise a diet plan. First, they are not trained to do that. Second, they are trained to help you with the Jenny Craig program, and since the program is food-based, there is not a lot they can do to help you when you are eating on your own. Third, when you buy a membership, you are not promised anything but program materials, weekly consultations if you are buying the food, and the privilege of buying their food. Nowhere do they represent that you will get help planning around special dietary needs. If a salesperson is representing to you that you will get that help for which specialized training is required, it is an issue that should be brought up with the center director so they can be told to stop misrepresenting what the membership contract encompasses.

Really, get an appointment with a dietitian. That's what they do. There is no magic in a Jenny Craig membership. It's convenient to have the pre-portioned food, but you can supply pretty close to the same thing yourself by cooking one day per week and preportioning your meals, under the guidance of a dietitian.

I'm sorry if you were disappointed at not being able to join, but how would you feel if eating the food led to emergency hospitalization? A policy designed for the protection of your health is not discrimination.

[quote name='ctsecret' date='Jul 19 2009, 02:37 PM' post='490037']
--------------------------------------------> RESPONSE:

LISA--
If you go into a grocery store and pick up a box of candy (chocolate with no nuts in it) --- the label will have the same statement about foods in a plant that also processes nuts. The fact of the matter is that most labels have nutritional information and warnings on their boxes and there are plenty that have that same warning but there are none of the ingredients list any kind of nuts. So, in an essence, you are telling me that I need to stay clear of grocery stores that sell all these products or basically live in a bubble because I happen to have nut allergies? I dont think so.

Jenny Craig turned me away and I now see many other people were also turned away because we have nut allergies. Its another form of discrimination. Jenny Craig should have offered choices such as letting us choose food items without nuts and if that isnt good enough for Jenny Craig, then have us sign a waiver holding them harmless. Jenny Craig is just worried about being sued, thats the bottomline.
[/quote]

O.k. this is getting out of hand. I think a dietician would be more qualified to help you with your weight issues. It is a great suggestion. I, in no way, shape or form, am telling you to do or not to do anything. If JC is worried about being sued then so be it. Consultants are "NOT" qualified or registered dieticians, through JC anyway. We are here to guide you through the Jenny Craig program, food and all, and eventually show you how to maintain your weight loss with your own foods. We are not supposed to consult weight loss using your own foods. You will need a nutritionist for this. I am also a certified personal trainer and nutrition counseling is way beyond the scope of most certified personal trainers. Hope this helps and I wish you nothing but the best in your quest for a plan that works "for you." Lisa

I am going to go out here on a limb but I think if I had ANY kind of food allergies and a company prevented me from joining because of the way they processed their meals I would be grateful!

Food allergies are nothing to fool around with. People die from food allergies every year. I remember a year or so back reading an article about a teenage girl dying from a peanut allergy because her boyfriend kissed her and a few hours before he had eaten a Reese's peanut butter cup.

My hat is off to JC for protecting those that have food allergies and preventing them from joining if the way they process food could have any impact on that person's health.

This isn't about discrimination. This is about a life or death situation.

[quote name='ctsecret' date='Jul 15 2009, 04:19 PM' post='489361']
Today, the same thing happened to me I walked into a Jenny Craig Center in Norwalk, CT and I was turned away because I said I had nut allergies. First they told me it is for my own safety then when I argued with them that I know to make food choices that would not include nuts and then they told me I could not join because they had to protect themselves ("liability" is the word they used). I was shocked. There should have been options offered instead of "Im sorry but..." Bottom-line is Jenny Craig is really concerned about being sued. It seems more like a case of food allergy discrimination. So, the moral of the story is: if anyone has food allergies -- DO NOT CALL JENNY CRAIG because they will waste your time first filling out long forms and you get stuck listening to a boiler-plate sales pitch only for the computer to flag the counselor to call "the nutritionist" who says "STOP, don't go any further, we can't help you and you cannot join Jenny Craig." BAD BUSINESS JENNY CRAIG!!!!
[/quote]


So I've been reading this over the last couple of days and surprised no one has brought this up, so I will.

WHY IS IT BAD FOR A BUSINESS TO NOT WANT TO BE SUED?

Why is Jenny Craig bad for not wanting a lawsuit? ctsecret, do you want to be sued? ctsecret, will you provide me with something that I've admitted could injure me and take the risk of being sued? No? Discrimination!

Of course the policy is a combination of the two things: Jenny Craig's mission statement is to change lives and improve health; providing you with something that has a known risk of sending you into anaphylatic shock is a conflict of interest. Plus they don't want to be sued for millions. They're here to make money; it is a business, after all. This does not make them morally questionable or "a bad business."

And let's be realistic, any weight loss company that WOULD let you enroll are not doing it because they're nice, it's because their number crunchers upstairs have come up with an equation saying that the risk of you suing them is lower than the amount of profit that they can make from you. Jenny Craig's calculations have said the opposite. It's all numbers, it's ridiculous to take it personally and call it discrimination.

As far as the customer service skills at the center and them not offering you other options ... I believe that the official line would be to refer you to your physician for other options, what else is there to say? I mean, what are they gonna do, refer you to their competition?

Even in this great United States of America, there is nothing that says everyone is entitled to everyone. JC has the right to protect their FOOD-BASED program. What if they allowed you to join but you couldn't eat 1/2 the food or even worse, had an allergic reaction and died? Would that be okay since you feel you are entitled to do the program?

I don't get it. They are protecting your health and themselves from liability.

[quote name='susandlynn' date='Dec 18 2008, 07:58 AM' post='448843']
Yeah, I like most everyone else has tried everything to lose weight my entire life and this was my last shot.
[/quote]

Im sorry you feel let devistated they couldnt get you started. But something in this sentence sticks out to me- "this was my last shot". Do you truely believe that none of the programs work? Or that maybe, perhaps, the fact that you like most of us, stoped measuring, stoped exersizing, stoped whatever we were doing that was good for us and went back to moving less and eating more. There is no quick fix. The only way anything is going to work, is if you change your entire lifestyle. There are many programs out there that offer you the tools to show you how. Some of them are free. Google food pyriamid, they have a lot of information for you that will be able to help. If you want a food baised program there are others out there - The Zone, Nutrisystem, Medifast. there are free exersize routines avalible online. You can find anything on the internet. Seek out which will be best for you and do it! Your worth it!

If Nutrisystems knows you have a food allergy they will also turn you away. I know this as a fact because one of my co-workers has an allergy to tree nuts and couldn't join.

This isn't about a company turning people away because they want to. It is a company that does not want to jeopardize someone's health because of the way they process the food they offer.

Food allergies can be deadly. Don't fault a company because they will not sell to you because you are allergic to something they might have in their foods.

I haven't posted here, but simply, JC isn't a stupid corporation. They are a food based program and they DO NOT make their own food (they have suppliers), so they don't control the manufacturing process and therefore, they cannot assure 100% manufacturing in a safe environment for those with certain food allergies or intolerances.

Its not descrimitation in any way shape or form---trust me, my daughter has Celiac disease (an autoimmune disease that prohibits her from eating wheat, barley, rye or oats) and we deal with NOT being able to participate in many things (and no, she could not ever do the JC program defined under ADA and your "right" to voluntary join and pay for a program is not above a corporations right to act in a responsible manner to keep their clients safe. They cannot safely have you do the program, so you cannot. Do theme parks descriminate when they have a height and weight requirement for some of their rides? No, they do it for safety and so they don't get sued and people don't get hurt.

If you are interested in your rights, read up at http://www.aafa.org/ or http://www.foodallergy.org/. My daughter's condition is not an allergy (its an autoimmune disease) and I don't know too much about these organizations, but they are the big national ones...and i have read alot about rights for individuals with food intolerances --- (allergies or autoimmune issues) and yes, JC has a right to choose not enroll individuals with tree nut allergies.

I know, it sucks for you, but YOU DO have other options: have you checked out any of these

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2006/09/12/25_diet_food_delivery_services.php

This is a site that list 25 home food delivery programs. Find one that will work with a nut allergy. Or, you'll have to devise your own program: find a nutritionist or personal trainer who will design a plan for you, you buy the food (preportioned) and get going. If you use this an an "excuse" not to loose weight, YOU are the one who suffers in the end---this sounds harsh, but make a positive choice for yourself. You know, I know myself and I'd peronsally say (as you seem ticked off at JC)---you know, I'm going to show that bleepin' JC that I don't need them or their food to loose weight---I'd turn it positive and make it the best I can. THat is what I do with my daughter---while I try NOT to let the negative stuff come in, I say "I will MAKE it work and I will DO WHAT I HAVE TO" in order to make it work. You can make "it" (the weight loss) work for you --- just not on JC.

Ok --- there seems to be two different issues here. I want to make sure both sides understand what's being said, because people are getting angry over nothing honestly.

Here's the truth --- Zedworld's post is accurate, Jenny Craig cannot enroll people with nut allergies any longer. The statement above is from our paperwork, and is accurate. It is for safety reasons because the JC food is processed on machines that also process nuts, and it cannot be guarenteed that you are to be safe eating our food. The issue with you signing a waiver would be a moot point because people with nut allergies range from a simple rash to DEATH --- no, I don't like those odds either. Yes, you can buy foods that are processed in plants with nuts in the grocery store, they won't stop you, however, you must remember that everything we buy at the grocery store is at our own risk. Jenny Craig is a FOOD BASED health program, and it is up to their discretion on if they allow people with allergies to endanger themselves on their products. Why would they? Honestly? It's bad business for them to allow dangerous things like to take place. Plus, people come to Jenny Craig for health reasons... would you trust us if we allowed your health to be at risk? Honestly? Remember, Jenny Craig is not a grocery store....

The second issue here is the lifetime membership. I took the liberty of contacted corporate for you and asked them what our policy is on people with nut allergies. The policy states that you are entitled to a prorated refund... what that means, I'm unsure, however it goes through our Centre Director, and then the Market Director is the one that determines how much your refund of your membership would be. I assume its prorated because you did use the program at some point... and the amount is different for each person depending upon how long they've been on the program etc. So, for the purpose of the lifetime memberships who cannot rejoin, I suggest speaking with your Centre Directors and having them contact the Market Directors for a prorated refund of your lifetime memberships, because obviously you cannot use Jenny Craig any longer.

I hope this cleared up some confusion. It hurts me to see such anger on these boards over something that can be solved in a civil and mature manner. I don't represent this company, I just work for them, and felt the need to help.

~ Jason

Jason, thanks for taking the time to get an accurate answer to the issues mentioned here. I'm sure you're a great consultant!

[quote name='bosstbone' date='Jul 28 2009, 02:49 PM' post='492070']
I don't represent this company, I just work for them, and felt the need to help.

~ Jason
[/quote]


Jason thanks for taking the time to help. And for the record, I think you do an excellent job representing Jenny Craig. Your responses have always been in the best interest of the clients that use Jenny Craig, as well as being accurate and informative.

Thank you Ellen and Myriad --- those comments made my not-so-good day much nicer---

Have an awesome day!

Heh. It must be an--ahem--challenge to have a job where you have to listen to women whine all day! Just kidding, but I know what kind of shape I have gone into consultations in. There are times when I wouldn't have wanted to listen to me!