What, No More Cookies Following Blood Donations?

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (04/29/2008)(readMedia)-- The American Red Cross Blood Services will still offer cookies, but in response to popular demand for healthier snacks, the Red Cross is replacing several high trans fat and total fat post-donation snacks with zero trans fat and limited total fat items.

Frito Lay Rold Gold® Brand pretzels, Famous Amos® Chocolate Chip cookies, Keebler Sandies® Pecan Shortbread cookies, Nabisco Nutter Butter® Sandwich cookies and strawberry Kellogg’s Special K® Bars will be phased out over the next few weeks. In their place will be Nabisco Nutty Butter® Sandwich cookies-Bites and Promax® 70 calorie Double Fudge Brownie All Natural bars, POWERSweet and Tropical Trail Mix®, Oreo®, and fat free Frito Lay Rold Gold® Brand pretzels.

The Red Cross will continue to carry low fat snacks including Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars, apple, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain® Cereal bars, and Sunshine Cheez-It® Original snack crackers.

“We are striving to offer healthier snacks at a reasonable cost to satisfy the preferences of our blood donors,” said Teresa Solorio, public affairs manager, American Red Cross Southern California Blood Services Region. “We also need to stock snacks that can be transported to blood drives without being damaged and have a fairly long shelf life without refrigeration.”

Blood donors are asked to drink fluids and eat a snack immediately following their donation. The purpose is twofold; as a courtesy and to assist donors in restoring the fluids and nutrients that are temporarily lost through blood donation.

New and returning blood donors are needed. While 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, fewer than 8 percent do. Donors need to be at least 17 years old (16 with written parental consent), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in general good health.

Local Red Cross blood centers and blood drives are conveniently located throughout the Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or online at www.GiveLife.org.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.

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