Natural And Atrifical Flavors

[HeatherMelissa]

What does that mean on a label? I mean really, if that's the case, just use that for all the ingredients, right? I mean it will either be natural or artifical! UGH! So, we have to be careful with anything that has this in the label, right?

[celiac3270]

The companies just use natural or artificial flavorings at the end of their labels, usually, when they have a lot of ingredients that they use very little of.......and yes, you do need to check with the company to make sure they do not contain gluten. Perhaps the company uses that to keep a "secret recipe" a secret. Both are just broad terms that allow the companies to avoid mentioning ingredients. It's very frustrating to see that on a label, but it's on nearly everything.

The only company you don't have to call about natural/artificial flavorings is Kraft. If nat. or art. flavorings contain gluten, such as wheat, they'll write it in parentheses after the flavoring: natural flavorings (wheat). If you don't see that, the flavorings are fine. This rule only applies to Kraft.

-celiac3270

[Wish]

I had to laugh when I read your post b/c you're absolutely right...natural/artificial flavoring is such a vague term for an ingredient that its presence on the label tells you absolutely nothing. You're right when you say that it's pretty obvious that there is either going to be a natural or an artificial ingredient that flavors the product...it would be so nice to know the exact identity of the ingredient(s)! Another ingredient I love is modified food starch. Why even bother putting the "food" in there...if the company wants to be that vague, it might as well just list "modified starch." I think most people would infer that it comes from food. Oh well...at least the future looks brighter. Once the food labeling bill goes into effect in January 2006, all companies will be required to reveal any sources of wheat (or any of the 7 other major food allergens) that are present in its products...no more hiding wheat behind fuzzy wording. Of course, barley and rye will still be an issue then, but at least it's a step in the right direction. To answer your question, until the day when all sources of gluten have to be identified clearly on a label, we definitely do need to further investigate any product that has natural/artificial flavors listed as an ingredient.

~Wish

[Alexolua]

HeatherMelissa: Basically you just have to call the people who produce the food and find out. If they can't give you a straight answer, then don't eat their product.

But as celiac3270 said, it can be almost anything. So the flavors can be different things from product to product.

Just an example, I was buying ground up turkey at the groccery store, they had "natural flavors" on the list of things in it. I asked them, and it was just the natural turkey juices.. why they couldn't label it that, is beyond me.

[lovegrov]

Kraft isn't the only company that will clearly list gluten. Here's a list of some that will either list gluten or, in some cases, wheat. But it's my understanding that wheat is what we have to worry about in natural flavors. Some of these companies are actually Kraft subsidiaries.

Balance

Baskin Robbins

Ben & Jerry

Betty Crocker

Blue Bunny

Butterball *lists wheat only

Breyers

Campbells (wheat only, I think)

Cascadian Farms

Celestial Seasonings

ConAgra *lists wheat only

Country Crock

Edy's

General Mills

Good Humor

Green Giant

Hellman's

Hershey

Hormel

Hungry Jack

Kozy Shack

Kraft

Martha White

McCormick

Nabisco

Nestle

Old El Paso

Ortega

Pillsbury

Popsicle

Post

Progresso

Russell Stover (wheat only, I think)

Sunny Delight

T Marzetti

Tyson

Unilever

Wishbone

Yoplait

Zatarain's

richard

[HeatherMelissa]

I know for a fact that Campbells will not list wheat in it's MFS...thye use either corn, wheat or potatoe...whatever they have on hand

[kalo]

So has anyone checked on Better Than Bouillon Chickn Base? I just e-mailed them this afternoon but haven't heard back yet. The natural flavor is what I'm curious about. What do others use to season soup etc? Plain chicken stock was always to weak tasting for me.

[tarnalberry]

Homemade chicken stock can be as strong as you like. And the quality of store bought broth or stock varies greatly by brand. Imagine brand chicken broth has always had plenty of flavor, I think. (And it's sold in handy asceptic boxes!)

[kalo]

Well I called the company for Better than Bouillon. The person in the know had gone home but the gal kept assuring me that they get calls all the time about gluten and YES their products were gluten free. I'm going to wait for an answer to my e-mail as she didn't know what the natural flavoring actually was. I made chicken soup tonight and seasoned it with miso which is gluten-free (at least the brand I use). It was pretty good.

[flagbabyds]

It's always a good idea to call the company before you eat anythign processed.

[kalo]

Better than Bouillon is organic and isn't really processed like other things except for the natural flavorings. I just figured that it was so popular a product (at least in my area) that someone had already checked on it.

[Boojca]

You can add Planters to the list that will clearly mark as well. They, just like Nabisco, are subsidiaries of Kraft.

Bridget

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

Today I made phone calls to food companies again. I wanted to know what the NATURAL FLAVORS are in CELESTIAL SEASONING TEAS. I was shocked at the answer... the womans said I can't and won't tell you. It's proprietary and they don't have to tell us. She said it doesn't have Gluten but beyond that she wouldn't tell me anything.

pro·pri·e·tar·y

adj.

Of, relating to, or suggestive of a proprietor or to proprietors as a group: had proprietary rights; behaved with a proprietary air in his friend's house.

Exclusively owned; private: a proprietary hospital.

Owned by a private individual or corporation under a trademark or patent: a proprietary drug.

SO IF YOU HAVE A SECONDARY FOOD ALLERGY or intolerance to something like SOY (I call it poison) or anything other them gluten stay clear of these teas! If you are AREN'T getting better this might be the reason.

[debmidge]

As to specialty teas, I have to say (my husband is celiac, I am not) for me these teas give me a severe stomach ache when I drink them (Celestial Seasonings brand too) as I have allergies to herbs and grasses. Since these teas are natural - from things that grow - when I drink these teas I am getting an internal allergy reaction. So while the teas could be gluten-free perhaps you have allergies to "plants/herbs" like me and can't tolerate the tea on an "allergy" level. Just something to consider.

[jerseyangel]

I have the same issues with herbal teas as Debmidge. I know it's not a gluten reaction, but I get stomach distress from most of them, too. I also have allergies (no foods) so I'm sure it's some sort of an allergic response.

[Moongirl]

I have the same issues with herbal teas as Debmidge. I know it's not a gluten reaction, but I get stomach distress from most of them, too. I also have allergies (no foods) so I'm sure it's some sort of an allergic response.

I drink tea without any problems, but i also stick with the basic green or black, with NO caffine, sometimes caffine can bother peoples gut...just a thought.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

jerseyangel --

debmidge --

You are both very right -- I really have issues with the companies labeling "Natural And Atrifical Flavors" It might have some little thing that someones system can't tolerate and poses a problem for us. I just wish they would me honest and come clean and label every little thing so we can make clear choices.

Like for St Patties Day daddyO was making corn beef and cabbage the ingredient listed "Natural Flavor" He kept saying "...it ok, it natural favoring!" I called the company J. FREIRICH FOOD PRODUCTS LIC NY 11101 - 718-361-9111 The first lady said I don't have to tell you it's our trade secret. I said you can tell me now or you can tell my lawyer and a judge in court when my family sues your company because I experience seizure. She put me on hold. A nice man came on the phone. I told him my daddyO loves their products but I have serious food issues. He told me no gluten but that it had things in the pepper family such as chilie pepper, cayanne pepper and many other things including mustard.

Mustard would pose a big problem for me. I thanked the man for his honestly and said my daddyO would buy their products for himself and I would feel better eating something else.

[VydorScope]

SO IF YOU HAVE A SECONDARY FOOD ALLERGY or intolerance to something like SOY (I call it poison) or anything other them gluten stay clear of these teas! If you are AREN'T getting better this might be the reason.

Well to be fair, it can not have soy in it or they would have to disclose it under the new labling laws.

[Guest Robbin]

Maybe this is a little off thread, but what about teas with caramel color? What the heck is that putting caramel color in iced tea mix? Isn't tea already caramel colored?! I have a reaction to all of the instant iced teas, and that is the only thing I can think is the cause. Anyone else have this happen? I guess I have to be not - so - lazy and brew tea bags.

[paulasimone]

Maybe this is a little off thread, but what about teas with caramel color? What the heck is that putting caramel color in iced tea mix? Isn't tea already caramel colored?! I have a reaction to all of the instant iced teas, and that is the only thing I can think is the cause. Anyone else have this happen? I guess I have to be not - so - lazy and brew tea bags.

if you're somewhere warm, you can be lazy AND brew tea bags - in the sun! (garnish with hammock)

I brew herbal teas (all the zinger flavors, or orange mandarin, or other fruit teas) using my signature Lazy, Cold Steep method:

Three bags (four if you like strong) per pitcher.

Put bags in pitcher.

Fill pitcher with water.

Leave on counter (or put in fridge, either works.)

Take nap.

Wake up, retrieve pitcher, throw out bags, enjoy tea!

lazy!