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 Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Complaints to FDA Led to Cheerios Gluten-free Lawsuit

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.
    Complaints to FDA Led to Cheerios Gluten-free Lawsuit - Photo: CC--Mike Mozart
    Caption: Photo: CC--Mike Mozart

    Celiac.com 02/26/2016 - Consumer complaints to the FDA fueled a class action lawsuit claiming that cereal maker General Mills mislabeled gluten contaminated Cheerios as "gluten-free."

    The recent suit was brought by a Kentucky woman, who alleges that she purchased two boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios labeled as gluten-free, but which actually contained gluten levels more than two times higher than allowed under FDA standards.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    The consumer complaints led to FDA testing on gluten-free Cheerios. The FDA tested 36 samples of gluten-free Cheerios taken from different manufacturing facilities and lots. The tests found that some "Gluten Free" Cheerios samples contained as much as 43 ppm gluten. Current FDA rules forbid the use of the statement "gluten-free" on any food product with gluten levels above 20 parts per million.

    General Mills issued a recall on Oct. 5., and the suit was filed in late 2015 in a California federal court, and charges violations of California and Kentucky consumer protection laws.

    The suit alleges that supposedly gluten-free oats were cross contaminated with ordinary wheat at one of General Mills' processing facilities.

    Stay tuned for more news on this and other developments on gluten-free labeling and celiac disability claims.

    Read more at Open Original Shared Link



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Susanne

    Posted

    What does that mean: "gluten-free wheat was cross contaminated with ordinary wheat"?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Cindy

    THAT was the reason I've gotten so very sick after eating them! You can't trust them!!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Bob Zander

    Posted

    Hasn't this since been rectified? If so, mention of the fact that Cheerios are okay now would be a wise addition to this article.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Carol
    Hasn't this since been rectified? If so, mention of the fact that Cheerios are okay now would be a wise addition to this article.

    I received a recall notice before I could even eat them from Sam's Club. I remember that General Mills had quite a bit of information on their web site at the time. I agree, it should be noted that this has been rectified and it was an error that they quickly corrected.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Marc

    @Bob Some of us don't believe that General Mills method of sorting grains is actually reliable and capable of producing a consistently gluten-free product.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Sandy

    I agree more follow up should be done regarding the recall and subsequent activities undertaken by General Mills. Working in the regulated industry, I know that whenever a recall is initiated, substantial "root cause" analysis is done to apply corrective actions to assure this doesn't happen again.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Tom

    It stated that gluten free oats were contaminated with wheat.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Yvonne

    Posted

    What does that mean: "gluten-free wheat was cross contaminated with ordinary wheat"?

    The article says 'gluten free oats were cross-contaminated with ordinary wheat'.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest JM Paris

    Posted

    What does that mean: "gluten-free wheat was cross contaminated with ordinary wheat"?

    It means that the gluten-free oats were processed in a facility where wheat is processed.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest CEEG
    Hasn't this since been rectified? If so, mention of the fact that Cheerios are okay now would be a wise addition to this article.

    I had the same question as Bob Zander: are the boxes of "gluten-free Cheerios" now on the shelves gluten-free? Those distributed last fall by General Mills were recalled...so does that mean that the product on grocery shelves today ARE safe to eat?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Cindy Maxwell

    Posted

    Stating that the oats were contaminated with real wheat is misleading because their process to render a gluten free product is by removing the gluten, NOT by preventing contamination. The fact of the matter is that their process of removing gluten is either not effective or that they did not do consistent testing to ensure the gluten free status. I personally will not consume their product until the celiac community has tried and tested it.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest greg
    Stating that the oats were contaminated with real wheat is misleading because their process to render a gluten free product is by removing the gluten, NOT by preventing contamination. The fact of the matter is that their process of removing gluten is either not effective or that they did not do consistent testing to ensure the gluten free status. I personally will not consume their product until the celiac community has tried and tested it.

    As of now 3-14-2016 there must still be gluten in them. I have had celiac from birth and been getting real sick when I eat them.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 12/09/2015 - Less than a month after General Mills announced a recall of nearly two million boxes of gluten-free Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios, the company is facing a class action lawsuit alleging it violated several consumer protection laws, and put consumers at risk.
    The complaint, filed in the eastern district of California on October 30 by plaintiffs Keri van Lengen and Deborah Nava against General Mills and Roxanne Ornelas (manufacturing manager at Gen Mill's Lodi plant), accuses General Mills of selling misbranded products; in this case, cereals advertised as gluten-free which actually contained gluten.
    It adds: "Plaintiffs and Class Members have all suffered and will continue to suffer harm and damages as a result of Defendants' unlawful and wrongful conduct...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 12/16/2015 - Just a month after General Mills recalled nearly two million boxes of gluten-free Cheerios from store shelves and warehouses due to "inadvertent" gluten contamination, the company and its flagship brand Cheerios are facing yet another public relations challenge.
    General Mills is being sued for false advertising by a major consumer watchdog over its Cheerios Protein cereal, introduced in March, 2014, as a "healthy alternative" to both classic Cheerios and other breakfast cereals. According to an official complaint filed with the Northern California District Court by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), "General Mills falsely and misleadingly markets Cheerios Protein to children and adults as a high protein, healthful alternative to Cheerios."

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 01/21/2016 - With sales of non-gluten-free cereals enduring a slow, consistent downward slide in just about every category, gluten-free cereals have been one of the few bright spots for cereal manufacturers.
    In an effort to combat those falling cereal sales across its existing product line, manufacturer General Mills released five gluten-free Cheerios products.
    Initial results suggest that their plan is working, at least somewhat. According to General Mills, sales of non-discounted, full-price gluten-free varieties of Cheerios grew 3% to 4% last quarter, offering the fist improvement after multiple quarters of declining sales.
    This is particularly good news for General Mills, as it follows on the heels of an embarrassing recall of 1.8 million boxes of Cheerios and Honey...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 02/02/2016 - General Mills seems to be having a hard time catching a break lately, especially when it comes to their new gluten-free options.
    After some minor good news that their new gluten-free versions of Cheerios breakfast cereal was driving a small increase in an otherwise falling cereal market, the company has found itself on the receiving end of several lawsuits.
    In the latest lawsuit, a Kentucky woman is suing the cereal producer over what she claims are misleading labels on their gluten-free products, including gluten-free Cheerios.
    In her class-action lawsuit filed Dec. 18 in the Eastern District of California, Jacklyn Haddix, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, alleges that General Mills, General Mills Sales, General Mills Operations,...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - Aussienae replied to Aussienae's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      63

      Constant low back, abdominal and pelvic pain!

    2. - ButWhatCanIEat replied to Aussienae's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      63

      Constant low back, abdominal and pelvic pain!

    3. - trents replied to Kmd2024's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Isolated DPG-Iga

    4. - knitty kitty replied to Richard1973's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      3

      Dehydration, dry skin and full body tingling when overheating

    5. - Soleihey posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Lymph nodes


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      121,206
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Laurie Brizuela
    Newest Member
    Laurie Brizuela
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Kmd2024
      5
    • Nicola flaherty
      4
    • ItchyHell
      4
    • MMH13
      20
    • SuzanneL
      13
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...