Sent two e-mails and never heard back. I am disappointed, as this is my favorite brand. Finally, I called a 1-800 number who said I had to call a 1-888 number. I asked if the eye shadows are gluten free.
"What is the name of the product?"
"Um...eye shadow."
"Bobbi Brown eye shadows contain soy."
"Fine, but I'm calling to find out about gluten. Do they contain gluten?"
"Our data base returns answers based on allergens. Soy is the only allergen in our eye shadows."
"Then it's confirmed: There is no gluten in your eye shadows."
"There is soy."
And on and on with each product at each company.
As you can tell, this is frustrating and overwhelming me this week.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A simple yes or no would do
Dear Ms. McNeal:
Thank you for contacting us about gluten in Nature Valley trail mix bars.
General Mills offers several products that are labeled gluten-free. Please check the package label for the gluten-free statement on the front/side/back of the package. Only products that can be verified to be gluten free will be declared as gluten free on the label. It is important to check the product label each time you purchase a product because it has the most accurate information about the product in the package.
Because we constantly strive to improve our products′ quality and nutritional value, the most up-to-date product information is on the package the product is purchased in. For that reason, we do not distribute product information lists as they could quickly become outdated. A current list of products on the market that are gluten free can be found by visiting www.glutenfreely.com. It is important to check the package label before purchasing for the gluten-free statement on the front/side/back of the package to verify that the package you choose is gluten free.
For products not labeled gluten free, we will always declare gluten containing ingredients if they are added to the product. If the ingredient declaration lists wheat, oats, barley, rye, or derivatives of these grains, then the product contains gluten. Examples of derivative ingredients include: malt, barley malt, organic malt, semolina, Durham, triticale, and spelt. We do not include gluten containing ingredients in the ′Natural Flavors′ or ′Spices′ on the product ingredient list. If there are gluten ingredients in our products, those ingredients are always clearly listed.
If there are no gluten- containing ingredients listed in the product ingredient label, but the product does not make a gluten free claim, it is because we cannot fully assure that this product is gluten free. While we have not added gluten-containing ingredients, factors such as sourcing, conditions of manufacture, etc. do not allow us to provide the full level of assurance that a gluten free claim requires.
Additional information regarding gluten may be obtained by contacting your health care professional or one of these organizations.
Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc.
PO Box 31700
Omaha, NE 68131-0700
402-558-0600
Or toll free: 877-CSA-4-CSA (877-272-4272)
www.csaceliacs.org
Celiac Disease Foundation
13251 Ventura Blvd. #1
Studio City, Ca. 91604
Phone: (818)990-2354
Fax: (818)990-2379
www.celiac.org
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Norma Stone
Consumer Services
Thank you for contacting us about gluten in Nature Valley trail mix bars.
General Mills offers several products that are labeled gluten-free. Please check the package label for the gluten-free statement on the front/side/back of the package. Only products that can be verified to be gluten free will be declared as gluten free on the label. It is important to check the product label each time you purchase a product because it has the most accurate information about the product in the package.
Because we constantly strive to improve our products′ quality and nutritional value, the most up-to-date product information is on the package the product is purchased in. For that reason, we do not distribute product information lists as they could quickly become outdated. A current list of products on the market that are gluten free can be found by visiting www.glutenfreely.com. It is important to check the package label before purchasing for the gluten-free statement on the front/side/back of the package to verify that the package you choose is gluten free.
For products not labeled gluten free, we will always declare gluten containing ingredients if they are added to the product. If the ingredient declaration lists wheat, oats, barley, rye, or derivatives of these grains, then the product contains gluten. Examples of derivative ingredients include: malt, barley malt, organic malt, semolina, Durham, triticale, and spelt. We do not include gluten containing ingredients in the ′Natural Flavors′ or ′Spices′ on the product ingredient list. If there are gluten ingredients in our products, those ingredients are always clearly listed.
If there are no gluten- containing ingredients listed in the product ingredient label, but the product does not make a gluten free claim, it is because we cannot fully assure that this product is gluten free. While we have not added gluten-containing ingredients, factors such as sourcing, conditions of manufacture, etc. do not allow us to provide the full level of assurance that a gluten free claim requires.
Additional information regarding gluten may be obtained by contacting your health care professional or one of these organizations.
Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc.
PO Box 31700
Omaha, NE 68131-0700
402-558-0600
Or toll free: 877-CSA-4-CSA (877-272-4272)
www.csaceliacs.org
Celiac Disease Foundation
13251 Ventura Blvd. #1
Studio City, Ca. 91604
Phone: (818)990-2354
Fax: (818)990-2379
www.celiac.org
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Norma Stone
Consumer Services
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Just when you think you've got it...
You find out that you don't. Found gluten in Aveda's Smooth Infusion as well as Activia yogurt. This is really getting overwhelming, to be honest. It's almost like there is no way to get it right.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Punch Pizza is trying
They got back to me quickly and a few weeks later, made this annoucement:
We have received many requests over the years for a gluten free pizza.
We have been experimenting with gluten free dough and have yet to come up with one that tastes good. We also have tried gluten free dough from other pizza restaurants and have not found any good examples.
So we went back to the drawing board and looked for ways to enable our gluten free customers to fully appreciate our ingredients and our wood fired flavors. We came up with a traditional Neapolitan recipe that we call the Pizzaiolo. Using roasted eggplant and fior di latte mozzarella as the “crust” you then add your favorite pizza ingredients on top. The ramekin is then roasted in our wood fired oven for a delicious alternative to our pizza.
Since we are unsure of the demand for it, we will initially offer it each Thursday night for dinner at our Highland Park Pizzeria for the next month. If it becomes popular, we will expand into the other stores and add additional times. The Pizzaiolo will be the same price as the equivalent pizza on our menu and we will be happy to recommend our favorite combinations.
Please come by starting this Thursday, May 5th to Highland Park to taste our gluten free “pizza”! If you plan to come, please comment on the Wall so we can prepare for demand. Feedback on the Pizzaiolo will also be appreciated.
**Please Note: Since we have flour in the air in our kitchens, the Pizzaiolo is not safe for those with severe flour allergies.
So tonight, it's Pizzaiolo night!
We have received many requests over the years for a gluten free pizza.
We have been experimenting with gluten free dough and have yet to come up with one that tastes good. We also have tried gluten free dough from other pizza restaurants and have not found any good examples.
So we went back to the drawing board and looked for ways to enable our gluten free customers to fully appreciate our ingredients and our wood fired flavors. We came up with a traditional Neapolitan recipe that we call the Pizzaiolo. Using roasted eggplant and fior di latte mozzarella as the “crust” you then add your favorite pizza ingredients on top. The ramekin is then roasted in our wood fired oven for a delicious alternative to our pizza.
Since we are unsure of the demand for it, we will initially offer it each Thursday night for dinner at our Highland Park Pizzeria for the next month. If it becomes popular, we will expand into the other stores and add additional times. The Pizzaiolo will be the same price as the equivalent pizza on our menu and we will be happy to recommend our favorite combinations.
Please come by starting this Thursday, May 5th to Highland Park to taste our gluten free “pizza”! If you plan to come, please comment on the Wall so we can prepare for demand. Feedback on the Pizzaiolo will also be appreciated.
**Please Note: Since we have flour in the air in our kitchens, the Pizzaiolo is not safe for those with severe flour allergies.
So tonight, it's Pizzaiolo night!
Another response
This one is formatted in a "well there's good news and bad news" format.
On Mon, 4/25/11, customerservice@alexiafoods.com wrote:
From: customerservice@alexiafoods.com
Subject: Consumer Affairs Email Response (Case#: 60093965)
To: sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 9:35 AM
Dear Ms. McNeal,
Thank you for your email concerning our Alexia products.
We are pleased to tell you that our potato products are gluten free. However, due to an expansion in our production, we now employ a facility where products containing wheat are also produced. While our products are produced on dedicated lines, our packaging will carry the following advisory:
Produced in a facility that may manufacture other items containing wheat or tree nuts (pine nuts)
Understanding the concerns that many gluten sensitive consumers have with cross-contamination, great precautions are taken to effectively clean the equipment in between production runs in accordance with organic and kosher guidelines. We can not, however, guarantee that there will not be trace cross-contamination.
As products are produced in the new facility the Gluten Free statement on the package will be removed. If you find any packages that have the Gluten Free statement, they were produced at the time the facility was indeed gluten free.
I hope that this information is helpful to you in determining whether or not our products are appropriate for your needs.
Sincerely,
Heather
Consumer Affairs Representative
Alexia Foods
Case: 60093965
1-866-484-8676
www.alexiafoods.com
On Mon, 4/25/11, customerservice@alexiafoods.com
From: customerservice@alexiafoods.com
Subject: Consumer Affairs Email Response (Case#: 60093965)
To: sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 9:35 AM
Dear Ms. McNeal,
Thank you for your email concerning our Alexia products.
We are pleased to tell you that our potato products are gluten free. However, due to an expansion in our production, we now employ a facility where products containing wheat are also produced. While our products are produced on dedicated lines, our packaging will carry the following advisory:
Produced in a facility that may manufacture other items containing wheat or tree nuts (pine nuts)
Understanding the concerns that many gluten sensitive consumers have with cross-contamination, great precautions are taken to effectively clean the equipment in between production runs in accordance with organic and kosher guidelines. We can not, however, guarantee that there will not be trace cross-contamination.
As products are produced in the new facility the Gluten Free statement on the package will be removed. If you find any packages that have the Gluten Free statement, they were produced at the time the facility was indeed gluten free.
I hope that this information is helpful to you in determining whether or not our products are appropriate for your needs.
Sincerely,
Heather
Consumer Affairs Representative
Alexia Foods
Case: 60093965
1-866-484-8676
www.alexiafoods.com
I'm burning out
Checking and rechecking each product is really exhausting. Plus, with customer service departments structured the way they are, you frequently get a non answer.
I now just bring my cell phone to the grocery store and shop when I know customer service will be open. I call the 1-800 number on the package. Inevitably, they ask me for the bar code. Then they ask if I'd like to be on their mailing list. Here is a typical response:
* * * * *
Yes, Emerald Dry Roasted Almonds are gluten free.
From: Sarah McNeal [mailto:sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 6:19 PM
To: Cathy Stagg
Subject: Re: Diamond Foods
Cathy - specifically, the Emerald Dry Roasted Almonds are gluten free? I do not know what 'culinary' nuts includes.
--- On Tue, 5/3/11, Cathy Stagg wrote:
From: Cathy Stagg
Subject: Diamond Foods
To: sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 5:35 PM
May 3, 2011
Ms. Sarah McNeal
Dear Ms. McNeal:
Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning gluten in Diamond Foods
products.
Diamond of California Culinary Nuts do not contain gluten.
The Emerald of California product line is produced and packaged at the
Diamond Foods processing facilities. Some of the Emerald snack nut
products contain gluten. They are as follows.
Emerald Honey Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Dry Roasted Walnuts
Emerald Wasabi Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald BBQ Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Chipotle Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Berry Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Breakfast Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Tropical Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Chocolate Cherry Trail Mix
Emerald S'mores Trail Mix
Emerald Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts - Original Blend
Emerald Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts - Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Blend
Diamond adheres to superior Good Food Manufacturing Practices, and all
processing lines are thoroughly cleaned between packaging runs of the
different Emerald products which greatly lessen the chance that any of
our non-gluten products come into contact with gluten products.
Second question - MSG is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. It is commonly
used as a flavor enhancer.
Natural flavoring is an essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive,
protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or
enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a
spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast,
herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood,
poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose
significant function in food is flavoring.
We appreciate your interest in our products.
Sincerely,
Cathy Stagg
Consumer Affairs Representative
I now just bring my cell phone to the grocery store and shop when I know customer service will be open. I call the 1-800 number on the package. Inevitably, they ask me for the bar code. Then they ask if I'd like to be on their mailing list. Here is a typical response:
* * * * *
Yes, Emerald Dry Roasted Almonds are gluten free.
From: Sarah McNeal [mailto:sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 6:19 PM
To: Cathy Stagg
Subject: Re: Diamond Foods
Cathy - specifically, the Emerald Dry Roasted Almonds are gluten free? I do not know what 'culinary' nuts includes.
--- On Tue, 5/3/11, Cathy Stagg
From: Cathy Stagg
Subject: Diamond Foods
To: sarahjimmarcy@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 5:35 PM
May 3, 2011
Ms. Sarah McNeal
Dear Ms. McNeal:
Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning gluten in Diamond Foods
products.
Diamond of California Culinary Nuts do not contain gluten.
The Emerald of California product line is produced and packaged at the
Diamond Foods processing facilities. Some of the Emerald snack nut
products contain gluten. They are as follows.
Emerald Honey Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Dry Roasted Walnuts
Emerald Wasabi Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald BBQ Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Chipotle Dry Roasted Peanuts
Emerald Berry Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Breakfast Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Tropical Blend Trail Mix
Emerald Chocolate Cherry Trail Mix
Emerald S'mores Trail Mix
Emerald Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts - Original Blend
Emerald Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts - Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Blend
Diamond adheres to superior Good Food Manufacturing Practices, and all
processing lines are thoroughly cleaned between packaging runs of the
different Emerald products which greatly lessen the chance that any of
our non-gluten products come into contact with gluten products.
Second question - MSG is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. It is commonly
used as a flavor enhancer.
Natural flavoring is an essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive,
protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or
enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a
spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast,
herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood,
poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose
significant function in food is flavoring.
We appreciate your interest in our products.
Sincerely,
Cathy Stagg
Consumer Affairs Representative
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