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

Gluten Free Label Accuracy.


alucard4545

Recommended Posts

alucard4545 Explorer

So this is something that bothers me because it seems like a contradiction. It's when a product says "gluten free" on it, but on the back it also says that their plant processes several things including WHEAT GERM. AHHHHH red flag! (it doesn't have to be wheat germ specifically, it can be any gluten allergen, my product just happens to say so) So is it actually gluten free or not? What if it got contaminated.

I have two products that say this sort of message. One of them is Sunland natural peanut butter ---> Open Original Shared Link

So I'm just not sure whether it's safe to assume that if they're labeling they're product GLUTEN FREE, even though the plant also processes WHEAT GERM, that they must be practicing safe methods in the plant. Should I call the number on the website and ask? Does this type of thing bug anyone else?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



psawyer Proficient

Here in Canada, manufacturers are required to follow "Good Manufacturing Processes" which includes cleaning of equipment between batches. A warning such as you describe can not be a substitute for that. A product can be labeled gluten-free here if it contains no ingredients derived from a gluten grain, and reasonable precautions are taken to avoid contamination. A "may contain" statement is allowed when, despite reasonable precautions, cc may be unavoidable.

In the USA, the term "gluten-free" is not legally defined. CYA statements abound. Baseball is no longer the national pastime in the USA--it has been replaced by litigation.

Keep in mind that if you allow any gluten in your home, your home is a shared facility. In that case, your dishes and cutlery are likely shared equipment. You do wash them between uses, don't you? So do food manufacturers.

The risk of unintended contamination is real, but don't let it overwhelm you. It can happen at any point on the supply chain, not just at the final production facility.

AVR1962 Collaborator

So this is something that bothers me because it seems like a contradiction. It's when a product says "gluten free" on it, but on the back it also says that their plant processes several things including WHEAT GERM. AHHHHH red flag! (it doesn't have to be wheat germ specifically, it can be any gluten allergen, my product just happens to say so) So is it actually gluten free or not? What if it got contaminated.

I have two products that say this sort of message. One of them is Sunland natural peanut butter ---> Open Original Shared Link

So I'm just not sure whether it's safe to assume that if they're labeling they're product GLUTEN FREE, even though the plant also processes WHEAT GERM, that they must be practicing safe methods in the plant. Should I call the number on the website and ask? Does this type of thing bug anyone else?

I have also wondered how safe they are. At first I was trying all kinds of different products, making my own biscuits, etc. But I noticed that much of it was making my stomach feel odd- full, almost too full like it wasn't wanting to digest right especially the breads. So I have limited even the products labled gluten free.

Takala Enthusiast
Baseball is no longer the national pastime in the USA--it his been replaced by litigation.

Yup.

And it's one, two, three glutenings and you're out....

I have reacted to "gluten free" peanut butter, and replaced it with a brand that just says "contains: peanuts, salt. may contain traces of tree nuts or soy." and do much better on that brand. I am leery of anything "natural..." for a reason.

We're America, the land of watching other countries do something for a decade, before deciding to creep forward up the next rung to American except- us- alism.

alucard4545 Explorer

Here in Canada, manufacturers are required to follow "Good Manufacturing Processes" which includes cleaning of equipment between batches. A warning such as you describe can not be a substitute for that. A product can be labeled gluten-free here if it contains no ingredients derived from a gluten grain, and reasonable precautions are taken to avoid contamination. A "may contain" statement is allowed when, despite reasonable precautions, cc may be unavoidable.

In the USA, the term "gluten-free" is not legally defined. CYA statements abound. Baseball is no longer the national pastime in the USA--it has been replaced by litigation.

Keep in mind that if you allow any gluten in your home, your home is a shared facility. In that case, your dishes and cutlery are likely shared equipment. You do wash them between uses, don't you? So do food manufacturers.

The risk of unintended contamination is real, but don't let it overwhelm you. It can happen at any point on the supply chain, not just at the final production facility.

Thank you. This is good information to know. I wonder why here in America we don't have a legal definition of gluten free. I've read about that in other places as well. It seems so absurd. Hopefully this can change soon, I'm not sure what steps will be necessary to make that change. Time to research I guess.

shadowicewolf Proficient

nope. Take for example Benifiber, says gluten free but is made completely out of wheat.

also skippy natural peanutbutter is really good and i've had good luck with it.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star

Thank you. This is good information to know. I wonder why here in America we don't have a legal definition of gluten free. I've read about that in other places as well. It seems so absurd. Hopefully this can change soon, I'm not sure what steps will be necessary to make that change. Time to research I guess.

They have been trying to pass legislation for years. The FDA recently asked for comments on the bill if you want to read it and give them your imput.

Here's a thread:


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,355
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Dawn wechter
    Newest Member
    Dawn wechter
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      70.8k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Itsabit
      Hi. Yes. I’m awaiting my Biopsy results. I had B12 and other labs drawn on Mon, including Thyroid levels, as I am on Levothyroxine for radiation-induced hypothyroidism. Those levels should indicate any iodine issues. We had discussed the urine iodine, but he went with the thyroid instead. We’ll see.  I never had any of those Pellagra skin changes, or Casal’s necklace. Just itchiness in the supraclavicular hollows on both sides of my neck, and the anterior aspect as my neck radiation site.  The hollows had no changes until I scratched them, then I got the rash on those areas like the ones I have now scattered in different areas, usually on both sides with the exception of my anterior thighs. My right is affected, my left isn’t. I am 70 and have all my teeth as well - amazingly after having had max dose radiation in 2002. 😂 Unfortunately, because of long term changes in my oral mucosa because of it I can’t use mouthwashes - even non-alcohol ones, as they all burn my mouth like fire. Toothpastes burn as well, but not nearly as bad. I have an electric toothbrush but it is getting more difficult to use due to increasing trismus. Some days I cannot open my mouth wide enough to get the electric brush between my back teeth, so on those days I use a regular one. Gotta do what you gotta do.  Thank you for your input. Any insight I can get into this is appreciated. So, for now it’s the waiting game for test results, then we can form a treatment plan going forward. 
    • James47
      Hiya..I was 48 when diagnosed two years ago and I was in right bad way but strict gluten-free diet you will recover I promise x
    • James47
      Hi everyone I'm James, I hope you are all feeling well??. Accidentally had gluten at weekend and I've had severe diarrhea since sat night. My question is ,the longer someone like myself has been following a strict gluten-free diet will the exposure to gluten be lot more extreme as body now has been free of it well over a year ? Any information be much appreciated and any tips on how to stop the constant diarrhoea I have currently also be appreciated guys x
    • Cathijean90
    • Wheatwacked
      I use Listerine.  Rinse first to soften the tarter, then brush with Oral B electric toothbrush super sonic.  The $15 ones at the supermarket.  At 73 I still have all my teeth.  While a blood test can measure iodine levels, it's not the most accurate method for assessing iodine status, and urinary iodine excretion is considered a better indicator.  Have any of your dermatologists ever done a biopsy for dermatitis herpetiformis?  I may have missed it.  Note the similarity of Casal's necklace to one of your symptoms. Pellagra rash is a characteristic skin manifestation of niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency. It typically presents as:  Erythema: Red, sunburned-like areas of skin, often on the face, neck, arms, and legs.  Scaliness: Dry, flaky skin that may become thickened and crusty.  Hyperpigmentation: Darkened patches of skin, particularly in sun-exposed areas.  Casal's necklace: A dark, pigmented band around the neck.  I am currently taking these} Vitamin D 10,000 IU (250 mcg) DHEA 100 mg 500 mcg Iodine  10 drops of Liquid Iodine B1 Thiamin 250 mg  B2 Riboflavin 100 mg B3 Nicotinic Acid 500 mg 4 times a day for hyperlipidemia. B5 Pantothenice Acid 500 mg Vitamin C 500 mg     Selenium 200 mcg  Several times a week
×
×
  • Create New...