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Reliability Of Manufacturer Lists?

fumbling mom

By fumbling mom
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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fumbling mom Rookie
fumbling mom
Posted

Just curious what others do when they've checked a manufacturer's list, found a "gluten free" product, gone to purchase it only to find it has wheat in several identifiable components. Obviously, eating it is out of the question.

Does it do any good to call the manufacturer about the list? Does it usually mean other things on the list aren't reliable? It's a very big manufacturer and, since I am new to this, I am perhaps a little too optimistic about finding reliable tools, help and advice from suppliers. It's just so frustrating and disappointing. Is nothing reliable? And I had already contacted this manufacturer about other products. Their response was that they clearly label all their products. That's true....just not their gluten free lists??

Any help or advice is most appreciated.

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Most makers will tell you to check the ingredients of their products when you purchase. Calling the maker is a good idea but lists are basically out of date the day after they are posted as ingredients can change. Double checking is always required. It's a pain but it is something we have to do. What annoys me even more is companies that make copious lists of their products and don't note the risk of CC, or it is on the bottom of the webpage but not on the product.

captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

Just curious what others do when they've checked a manufacturer's list, found a "gluten free" product, gone to purchase it only to find it has wheat in several identifiable components. Obviously, eating it is out of the question.

Any help or advice is most appreciated.

Please share the name of the product with us....

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

As the legal standard is not established in the US for products labeled "gluten free", it is totally voluntary at this time.

Listing wheat as an ingredient is required. Label reading will become second nature soon. And trusting companies such as Kraft and Con Agra is a good place to start, as they label all sources of gluten.

fumbling mom Rookie
fumbling mom
Posted
  • Author

Please share the name of the product with us....

I didn't know if I should identify the company and product.

Hormel Company, Stagg Chili - Steak House chili

They have at least one type of chili (Classic)that is actually labeled gluten free.

Here's the Hormel Gluten Free list URL:

Open Original Shared Link

So, just keep checking? And don't rely on the lists? I am having trouble with the "Natural Flavorings" thing and hoped these lists meant that the hidden unknowns were okay.

 

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

What ingredients are you concerned with:

Open Original Shared Link

Steak House Chili:

ngredients: Ingredients: Beef, Water, Tomatoes (Water, Tomato Paste), Green Chile Puree (Contains Citric Acid), Masa Flour (Ground Yellow Corn, Trace of Lime), Modified Cornstarch, Salt, Chili Seasoning (Spices, Paprika, Sugar, Salt, Flavoring), Flavoring, Sugar, Dehydrated Tomatoes, Dehydrated Bell Peppers, Spices, Jalapeno Peppers (Contains Vinegar), Oleoresin of Paprika, Annatto Color.

Hormel is one of the good companies who will clearly label all forms of gluten.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

As Lisa said Hormel is quite a reliable company. Do keep in mind that reactions can be delayed so what he just ate may not be what he is reacting to. Also if still healing things that are really spicy may be an issue. You mention being new to this. Have you done what you need to do to prevent cross contamination in your home. A new toaster for gluten-free breads and such, changing out scratched pans, colanders, cutting boards. Have you checked to make sure all meds, script and OTC as well as supplements are safe? Did you eat the chili with non gluten free crackers and then share a kiss before you brushed your teeth? It can be really hard to figure out what has gotten us at first. There can also be ups and downs in the healing process. To help him heal fastest it is best to stick with whole unprocessed foods as much as possible. I hope he feels better soon.

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fumbling mom Rookie
fumbling mom
Posted
  • Author

As Lisa said Hormel is quite a reliable company. Do keep in mind that reactions can be delayed so what he just ate may not be what he is reacting to. Also if still healing things that are really spicy may be an issue. You mention being new to this. Have you done what you need to do to prevent cross contamination in your home. A new toaster for gluten-free breads and such, changing out scratched pans, colanders, cutting boards. Have you checked to make sure all meds, script and OTC as well as supplements are safe? Did you eat the chili with non gluten free crackers and then share a kiss before you brushed your teeth? It can be really hard to figure out what has gotten us at first. There can also be ups and downs in the healing process. To help him heal fastest it is best to stick with whole unprocessed foods as much as possible. I hope he feels better soon.

Thanks all for the assistance. The problem I am concerned with isn't my son's reaction (there wasn't one because I didn't serv it to him!), it's that the manufacturer's website has a gluten free list that includes non-gluten free material. We bought the correctly gluten-free labeled and identified product, but only after purchasing the WRONG product at Costco (admittedly without doing our due diligence by confirming that the label was the same as the website list) because it was on the manufacturer's gluten free list. My question is:

What to do with this info? Do I contact Hormel about the discrepancy? Do I now become suspicious of the other items on the list? My problem is the "below the radar" artificial and natural flavorings ingredients listing on several of their other products. If the list isn't reliable for one product, do I trust the science and disclosure on other products about these "artificial and natural flavors?" It's the barley flavoring of concern since it doesn't cycle up to the major allergen list.

I just wondered about the collective thougts. After I contacted Hormel a while back, I felt reassured about some of their sausage products. Should I re-think this?

Many thanks!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Thanks all for the assistance. The problem I am concerned with isn't my son's reaction (there wasn't one because I didn't serv it to him!), it's that the manufacturer's website has a gluten free list that includes non-gluten free material. We bought the correctly gluten-free labeled and identified product, but only after purchasing the WRONG product at Costco (admittedly without doing our due diligence by confirming that the label was the same as the website list) because it was on the manufacturer's gluten free list. My question is:

What to do with this info? Do I contact Hormel about the discrepancy? Do I now become suspicious of the other items on the list? My problem is the "below the radar" artificial and natural flavorings ingredients listing on several of their other products. If the list isn't reliable for one product, do I trust the science and disclosure on other products about these "artificial and natural flavors?" It's the barley flavoring of concern since it doesn't cycle up to the major allergen list.

I just wondered about the collective thougts. After I contacted Hormel a while back, I felt reassured about some of their sausage products. Should I re-think this?

Many thanks!

Artificial flavors are not a problem. With some companies natural flavors can be an issue. Hormel will label any gluten containing ingredients, including barley as far as I know, as will Kraft and Unilever products. If you want to be absolutely safe the best thing to do is to make stuff from scratch.

Hormel does have this at the top of their gluten free listing

"We are providing the following list of products as a general guideline for those presently produced and distributed in the United States with formulas that do not contain gluten in the form of wheat, rye, oats, and barley. Although our products are labeled in compliance with government regulations, it is always necessary to read the labels on the products to determine if the food product meets your required needs. Parents and individuals with food allergies and/or food intolerances are responsible for reading the label of all products they intend to use regardless of how the product is represented on this site."

fumbling mom Rookie
fumbling mom
Posted
  • Author

What ingredients are you concerned with:

Open Original Shared Link

Steak House Chili:

ngredients: Ingredients: Beef, Water, Tomatoes (Water, Tomato Paste), Green Chile Puree (Contains Citric Acid), Masa Flour (Ground Yellow Corn, Trace of Lime), Modified Cornstarch, Salt, Chili Seasoning (Spices, Paprika, Sugar, Salt, Flavoring), Flavoring, Sugar, Dehydrated Tomatoes, Dehydrated Bell Peppers, Spices, Jalapeno Peppers (Contains Vinegar), Oleoresin of Paprika, Annatto Color.

Hormel is one of the good companies who will clearly label all forms of gluten.

I realized after reviewing this post today that I missed answering about the above ingredients. They are fine. The one on the costco box (Stagg Chili, Steak House Reserve, Chili with Beans) has Wheat flour and wheat protein as ingredients. This is how I made the mistake - I think! - that the website says the product was okay and the actual packaging doesn't. I just didn't know what to think. And since everyone agrees that Hormel is good about this stuff, I am confused. Thanks again.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I realized after reviewing this post today that I missed answering about the above ingredients. They are fine. The one on the costco box (Stagg Chili, Steak House Reserve, Chili with Beans) has Wheat flour and wheat protein as ingredients. This is how I made the mistake - I think! - that the website says the product was okay and the actual packaging doesn't. I just didn't know what to think. And since everyone agrees that Hormel is good about this stuff, I am confused. Thanks again.

Was it definately a Hormel product or was it a Costco version of it?

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

My rule is: when the web site ingredients differ from the ones on the product you actually have, believe the product label. Ingredients change, and sometimes the web site is slow to be updated. Also, the web site may describe today's plant output while the product you have was made weeks or months ago.

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