Regarding Amy's GF Mac & Cheese

We have learned that going with whole foods is just easier and healthier. But once in a while, you want to heat something up. So the Amy's Gluten Free Mac & Cheese seemed like a good option. I mean, the first words on the package are 'gluten free'. Flip the package over and you'll see your standard cross contamination statement. So, I e-mailed them and here is their response:

Hello Sarah,

Thanks for your email. We can certainly understand your concern. Amy's
Kitchen produces more than fifty gluten-free products. We realize that
many people who consume these products have Celiac Sprue and cannot
safely consume gluten. We understand the severity of this disease and
do not take lightly our responsibility to produce foods that are safe
for our consumers. Amy's gluten-free products do not contain any wheat,
rye, barley or oats.

We assure this gluten-free standard by internal or independent testing
of every product and by manufacturing processes that ensure absence of
cross contamination. Amy's staff includes a number of professionals
having expertise in food allergens and their testing.

We take extraordinary measures to ensure our gluten-free products are
indeed gluten-free. A wide range of activities and cross-checks are
completed to ensure that cross-contamination and/or inadvertent use of
the wrong ingredient does not occur in our facilities. Examples
include:

v Analysis for gluten in our in-house allergen lab; each
manufacturing run of a Gluten- Free product is tested to ensure it
complies with the Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act
(FALCPA) definition of Gluten-Free (<20 ppm). We use the best
available technology in our allergen testing laboratory. FALCPA does
not require that gluten-free products be manufactured in a
facility that does not also process gluten products.

v Spot screening of ingredients and finished products at
University of Nebraska (FARRP - Food Allergy Research and
Resource Program) to confirm there are no unlabeled allergens
(utilize tests for gluten, soy, milk, certain tree nuts, etc.).

v Manufacturing is scheduled so that there are never two items
(with differing formulations) manufactured on the same line in
one shift. All changeovers involving an allergen in the product run
first which does occur in the following product requires a full
clean up. Additionally, all equipment is inspected prior to use. This
assures there is no allergenic material left on the equipment
which may contaminate the next batch.

v Separate item numbers for all ingredients; these are checked by
two individuals on receipt of the ingredient and three people on
use of the ingredient to confirm the correct item is used.

v Use of colored tags, papers and containers in production as an
addition visual check to ensure intermediate components are not
interchanged.

v Designated areas for soy flour and nonfat dry milk use to
control airborne allergens.

v Bar code readers at packaging lines to ensure correct package is
used with each product.

In response to requests from consumers, we decided to add the following
statement to our packages several years ago:

Individuals with Food Allergies: This product is manufactured in a
facility that processes foods containing wheat, milk, soy, tree nuts and
seeds. Amy's Kitchen does not use any peanuts, fish, shellfish or eggs.

We believed that customers have the right to know this information, but
we make the statement still knowing that the products we label as
gluten-free are indeed gluten-free. While we do have gluten in our
production facility, every precaution is taken to ensure
cross-contamination does not occur, and we test to prove it. This
statement does not in any way relieve us of our responsibility to ensure
the product is gluten-free.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Carol Tamagni
Consumer Relations
Amy's Kitchen, Inc.