Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Record is Archived

    This article is now archived and is closed to further replies.

    Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    General Mills Looks to Patent Gluten-free Oats

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Celiac.com 08/17/2016 - Cereal-maker General Mills is looking to patent method and system for manufacturing gluten-free oats.

    The application for patent protection covers numerous mechanical separation processes on a variety of grains, including oat grains and gluten-containing grains, using, among other things, width grading steps, multiple length grading steps, aspirating steps and a potential de-bearding step.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    Federal labeling regulations require products labeled 'gluten-free' to have gluten levels below 20 ppm. The process allow the production of oat grains with gluten levels below 20 parts per million, and optimally at 10 ppm.

    The resulting oats are gluten-free oats and suitable for use in a variety of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products, according to the patent US 2016/0207048 A1, filed on July 21st 2016.

    Mechanical separation techniques, such as these covered by the patent application, have the potential to be highly efficient and economical. The patent does not mention more expensive optical systems.

    Oats are naturally gluten-free, but, according to the patent, "oats cultivated in North America, Europe and other parts of the world commonly are contaminated by gluten-containing grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale."

    Contamination can result from rotating grains on the same crop land, and from harvesting, transporting, storing and merchandising.

    General Mills experienced problems with wheat contamination of gluten-free products last year, when they were forced to recall an estimated 1.8 million boxes of gluten-free Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios at its Lodi, Calif., plant. The product was contaminated with gluten. However, the company has maintained that the gluten contamination was due to an employee processing error, not any defect in their grain sorting equipment covered under the patent protection.

    Stay tuned to find out if General Mills receives their patent, and if their process has a significant impact on the quality, availability and cost of gluten-free oats.



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Kay2

    They can patent whatever they want, I will not trust them again.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Valerie Thomas

    Posted

    Just because your label says "Simply Gluten free" does not mean that your cereal IS "GLUTEN FREE" ! IT IS NOT GLUTEN FREE!!!!

    I have called General Mills and had long discussion about this issue. It has to say "CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE" !

     

    This whole fiasco is creating problems for everyone who is gluten-free. I would advise to taken it off shelves in supermarkets and other stores. And it should not be on the market, period! If they cannot find reliable, efficient and effective methods to produce this cereal as Gluten free, then TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET. Let the manufacturers who produce gluten free foods, then we would not have contamination, thus, susceptibility leading to death! General Mills should really think about what they are doing! Then do not produce Cheerios "gluten-free!" Let the gluten free manufacturers make gluten free foods; they know what they are doing!!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Stephanie

    Posted

    They should not be able to patent something like this. It would give them the power to prevent smaller companies with potentially better products from selling them. If they ended up with a monopoly, then consumers would have very limited choices among products and be at the mercy of whatever excuse they came up with for each incidence of contamination.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest admin
    Just because your label says "Simply Gluten free" does not mean that your cereal IS "GLUTEN FREE" ! IT IS NOT GLUTEN FREE!!!!

    I have called General Mills and had long discussion about this issue. It has to say "CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE" !

     

    This whole fiasco is creating problems for everyone who is gluten-free. I would advise to taken it off shelves in supermarkets and other stores. And it should not be on the market, period! If they cannot find reliable, efficient and effective methods to produce this cereal as Gluten free, then TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET. Let the manufacturers who produce gluten free foods, then we would not have contamination, thus, susceptibility leading to death! General Mills should really think about what they are doing! Then do not produce Cheerios "gluten-free!" Let the gluten free manufacturers make gluten free foods; they know what they are doing!!

    Actually there have been instances of products that are "certified gluten-free" but have tested positive for gluten, so even certification is NOT a guarantee.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest MsKat

    I don´t think they should even consider patenting anything until they are really at a point where no celiac sufferers can react to their product. I find it disheartening that after so many reacted to their supposed gluten free products, they were allowed to keep them on the market, and seem not to have changed how they process the items to become gluten free. Perhaps they should have a designation that excludes actual celiac sufferers, such as "designed for gluten free diets, not gluten free allergies" or something like that. Something that lets those who choose a gluten-free diet buy it, but helps those who do NOT choose a gluten free lifestyle avoid it.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Harold

    Posted

    I´ve just about had it with mass production of food. I occasionally eat out and only order gluten free menu items (i´m gluten sensitive, not celiac) but I always feel much better when making my own food at home. Don´t ever expect a massive corporation to be concerned for your health, ever.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Cheryl

    Posted

    We tried one box, one mouthful before my daughter yelled, "don´t eat that!" to her sister. Anything that says processed in a plant...is off limits for my daughter, a lesson we learned the hard way. When will the industry get that this is life and death for many people?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Erogo

    Fact of the matter is they touched, they are likely contaminated. For those of us hyper sensitive to gluten their method is complete and utter joke. I have only every trusted one company with oats and will still only trust them. I think letting them get away with patenting this new method will only open the doors for other companies to use cheaper so called "Accepted" methods for getting something labeled gluten-free when it is not truly gluten-free. We need stricter standards for gluten labeling and certifications on being called gluten-free.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest pa5yuh

    Posted

    You can´t trust them or any company that part of the Dark Act, they pay Billions of dollars to not have to label their product ingredients, thanks to Obama!! Only buy certified Organic, Non GMO. Cheerios is Cancer in a box!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Mark

    Stick with certified and companies that specialize in organic gluten-free. Cheerios is still using awful chemicals in their formulas - so bad for our kids.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest dappy

    GM has been in the forefront of giving buyers gluten free cereal that tastes good. They have invested where other BIG cereal companies have not. I applaud them and hope they keep up the good work. I eat various Cheerios products all the time now. They are delicious and they cause no celiac effects. Thanks, General Mills!!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest pweidema

    Posted

    Title is misleading. In actuality it sounds like they want to patent a PROCESS, not a plant.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Guest
    This is now closed for further comments

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Cheerios Sales Rise After Switch To Gluten-Free
    Celiac.com 01/21/2016 - With sales of non-gluten-free cereals enduring a slow, consistent downward slide in just about every category, gluten-free cereals have been one of the few bright spots for cereal manufacturers.
    In an effort to combat those falling cereal sales across its existing product line, manufacturer General Mills released five gluten-free Cheerios products.
    Initial results suggest that their plan is working, at least somewhat. According to General Mills, sales of non-discounted, full-price gluten-free varieties of Cheerios grew 3% to 4% last quarter, offering the fist improvement after multiple quarters of declining sales.
    This is particularly good news for General Mills, as it follows on the heels of an embarrassing recall of 1.8 million boxes of Cheerios and Honey...


    Jefferson Adams
    Complaints to FDA Led to Cheerios Gluten-free Lawsuit
    Celiac.com 02/26/2016 - Consumer complaints to the FDA fueled a class action lawsuit claiming that cereal maker General Mills mislabeled gluten contaminated Cheerios as "gluten-free."
    The recent suit was brought by a Kentucky woman, who alleges that she purchased two boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios labeled as gluten-free, but which actually contained gluten levels more than two times higher than allowed under FDA standards.
    The consumer complaints led to FDA testing on gluten-free Cheerios. The FDA tested 36 samples of gluten-free Cheerios taken from different manufacturing facilities and lots. The tests found that some "Gluten Free" Cheerios samples contained as much as 43 ppm gluten. Current FDA rules forbid the use of the statement "gluten-free" on any food product with gluten...


    Jefferson Adams
    General Mills Sued Again Over Recalled 'Gluten-Free' Cheerios
    Celiac.com 03/28/2016 - An Oregon man who claims to have celiac disease filed another proposed class action suit against General Mills in federal court recently.
    The company recalled nearly 2 million boxes of the cereal last year after what they claimed was a mistake at a local packaging plant. That recall incident has spurred several lawsuits already, which were covered in two previous articles, General Mills Sued Over Recalled Gluten-free Cheerios, and General Mills Sued Again, This Time for Misleading Labels on Gluten-free Cheerios.
    In the latest suit, named plaintiff, Christopher Hamilton, of Marion County, Oregon, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit Feb. 29 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Eugene Division against...


    Jefferson Adams
    Gluten-free Cheerios to Hit Canada this Summer
    Celiac.com 08/12/2016 - Cereal-maker General Mills has announced the debut of five varieties of gluten-free cereals in Canada by the end of summer.
    The five varieties include Original Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and Chocolate Cheerios.
    General Mills is excited to offer gluten-free Canadians more gluten-free cereal options, says Emma Eriksson, director of marketing for General Mills Canada, said in a release.
    She adds that "gluten-free Cheerios products will maintain the same great taste that consumers love at the same price they're used to."
    All gluten-free Cheerios products will be clearly labelled "gluten free" on the front of the box.
    Gluten-free Cheerios was first introduced in the U.S. last summer. Gluten-free Cheerios...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - Scott Adams replied to More2Learn's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

    2. - More2Learn posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

    3. - Wheatwacked replied to GardeningForHealth's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      6

      Ground meat absolutely full of gluten?

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Vozzyv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Weird Symptoms

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Voltage's topic in Super Sensitive People
      4

      Everyday life


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,096
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    John.B
    Newest Member
    John.B
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Kathleen JJ
    • Captain173
      10
    • jjiillee
      7
    • Kristina12
      7
    • StaciField
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...