[LDJofDenver]

Just FYI, to all my fellow Celiacs.......I just saw a notice on the Cecilia's Marketplace website, under Product Alerts stating that Campbells has recenty changed ingredients and products that were OK now contain gluten. I didn't trust any of their soups anyway, but I do use some of the Swanson's broths in cooking and soup making. If anyone is using products in either of those categories, you should probably verify that yours is not on the forbidden list now.

[ptkds]

Here is the actual letter. I got it from my Celiac support group. Note that Pace and Prego are no longer gluten-free. And my family loves Prego speghetti sauce!


Dear Gluten-Free Friends & Family,

Today we received many emails regarding the recent Product Alerts concerning
Campbell's brands; Pace, Prego and Swanson. We would like to confirm that
Campbell's states that due to recent ingredient changes no Pace and Prego
products are gluten-free.

In regards to Swanson, we would like to clarify which broths should be REMOVED
from your guide and which broths are gluten-free.

Contains Gluten! (REMOVE From Guide):
Swanson:
REMOVE: Lower Sodium Beef Broth (14 oz can ONLY)
REMOVE: Organic Broths (All)
REMOVE: Ready To Serve Beef Broth (14 oz can ONLY)


Gluten-Free (SAFE):
Swanson:
Natural Goodness Chicken Broth (All)
Chicken Broth (All)
Vegetable Broth (14 oz can)
Chicken Broth Roasted Garlic (new product)

We have updated our website and 'Product Alerts' to reflect the correct
information. Please check our 'Product Alerts' to make sure the correct products
have been removed from your guide.

Please remember to always double check labels as product ingredients change. If
you have specific ingredients questions about these products please contact
Campbell's 1-800-257-8443

We wish you the best.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Cecelia's Marketplace

[flourgirl]

So I found out......we used the chicken broth. It was ok, so I stopped checking the label. After getting ill I started checking labels on everything again....as I should have been doing all along. No more swansons chicken broth for us! Now we use the vegetable broth only. I find I like it as well if not better than the chicken. You can bet I won't relax about labels again!

[Juliebove]

This is odd. I haven't bought any Swanson's broth in years. I think it contained soy and we avoid that. But I recently bought a case of the chicken at Costco. I think it was organic. It appeared to be safe. They also had beef and it was not safe, but once again, I think it was soy.

I normally buy Pacific or Imagine. I only bought the Swanson because I didn't see any of the Pacific. I found it after I put that case in my cart and didn't feel like taking it back to the other aisle.

[Lisa]

Just a note here - Campbell's US and Campbell's Canada have TOTALLY different gluten free listings.

I believe this change is for Campbell's US gluten free products.

[larry mac]

Anyone know what gluten ingredients we're talking about here? I'm surprised there's wheat in salsa. I don't use Pace often (I make my own), but I eat it frequently at get togethers. It's very popular and they have many varieties. Is there gluten in all the different kinds?

Same goes for Prego. I don't ever recall wheat being in spaghetti sauces.

Or is this just a CYA type of thing?

best regards, lm

[LDJofDenver]

larry mac, on Dec 11 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

Anyone know what gluten ingredients we're talking about here? I'm surprised there's wheat in salsa. I don't use Pace often (I make my own), but I eat it frequently at get togethers. It's very popular and they have many varieties. Is there gluten in all the different kinds?

Same goes for Prego. I don't ever recall wheat being in spaghetti sauces.

Or is this just a CYA type of thing?

best regards, lm

I don't know what specifically is now an ingredient in each of the product lines, but I'd sent Campbell's an email asking about one of their ready-to-serve soups in the boxes - the V8 Butternut Squash one - and they replied that their modified food starch could be derived from wheat. All other ingredients listed looked safe, but that one (modified food starch) didn't name the source so I questioned it. So that ended that.

Here's the quote from Cecilia's
....We would like to confirm that Campbell's states that due to recent ingredient changes NO Pace and Prego products are gluten-free....

I've been at restaurants whose chefs told me they use flour in their marinara sauces, so I guess it's not that uncommon. But it isn't always wheat (or flour) that's the culprit. In my former favorite salsa (before diagnosis) they add barley malt for flavor and/or color, so in that case it's not wheat but something else just as harmful to us.

[Lisa]

LDJofDenver, on Dec 11 2008, 02:47 PM, said:

they replied that their modified food starch could be derived from wheat. All other ingredients listed looked safe, but that one (modified food starch) didn't name the source so I questioned it. So that ended that.

If their modified food starch IS derived from wheat and it is not listed, they are in violation of the law. I think that their customer service rep is not informed.

[cruelshoes]

larry mac, on Dec 11 2008, 09:29 AM, said:

Anyone know what gluten ingredients we're talking about here? I'm surprised there's wheat in salsa. I don't use Pace often (I make my own), but I eat it frequently at get togethers. It's very popular and they have many varieties. Is there gluten in all the different kinds?

Same goes for Prego. I don't ever recall wheat being in spaghetti sauces.

Or is this just a CYA type of thing?

best regards, lm

None of the Pace products are gluten free anymore. All have been removed from the gluten-free list that Campbells will provide.

Prego contains undisclosed barley in the natural flavors. http://forums.delphi...ges?msg=69373.1

[Juliebove]

I have checked my broth again and can't see anything that looks like it would be gluten. Could it be cc?

[LDJofDenver]

Momma Goose, on Dec 11 2008, 01:10 PM, said:

If their modified food starch IS derived from wheat and it is not listed, they are in violation of the law. I think that their customer service rep is not informed.

Who enforces this? Next time you're at the grocer, read the ingredients on their V8 ready to serve Butternut Squash Soup -- it looks safe, but like I said it didn't name the source of the Modified Food Starch. And when I questioned them, they sent this rambling reply and never directly answered my question:

...we received your message and appreciate your taking the
time to contact Campbell Soup Companyregarding the use of modified food
starch in our products.
Modified food starch helps give our products a smooth texture without
adding a starchy taste. The starch can be derived from corn, potato,
wheat or tapioca and is modifed in order to retain its quality from the
time it is added until the product is enjoyed.

The Campbell Soup Company follows all government regulations regarding the
labeling of our products. In the case of the top 8 allergens (peanuts,
tree nuts, dairy, eggs, fish, wheat, soy and shellfish) we list those
ingredients in the product ingredient statement, no matter how small the
amount might be. We do not include any of those items under the broader
listings of "spices" or "natural flavors". We recommend that consumers
always check the ingredient statement and evaluate the product based on
the statement.

We appreciate your interest in our company. Please contact our Consumer
Response Center or visit Campbell's website if we can be of further
assistance.

Thank you for visiting the Campbell Soup website.
- - - - - -
WHile they say they are complying in listing allergens, the paragraph regarding Modified Food Starch never tells me what the source is in the soup I inquired about. And they direct me back to reading the label -- which didn't tell me! SHeez. I'll be steering clear of their product lines.

[Lisa]

I would assume, if the Butternut Squash Soup does not list wheat, then the modified food starch in NOT derived from wheat. Remember, barley, malt and rye CAN hide in "natural flavors". That's when you call.

Campbell's has such limited option for those gluten free (except V-8 and Splash), that I just don't go there. They could do better, but don't. Their answer to you was a bit of mombo jumbo, but they did state their allergen statement.

[ksymonds84]

larry mac, on Dec 11 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

Anyone know what gluten ingredients we're talking about here? I'm surprised there's wheat in salsa. I don't use Pace often (I make my own), but I eat it frequently at get togethers. It's very popular and they have many varieties. Is there gluten in all the different kinds?

Same goes for Prego. I don't ever recall wheat being in spaghetti sauces.

Or is this just a CYA type of thing?

best regards, lm

I called Cambells and they told me that because of an ingredient change ALL pace and prego are no longer gluten free. I agree with you about the wheat but perhaps its barley in the natural flavorings? Prego is a sweeter sauce, just guessing here. Or maybe they just decided not to deal with saying they are gluten free (not smart on their part). They said for my inconvenience they would send me some coupons, I don't feel I can trust them anymore to use them.

[larry mac]

Sounds like a CYA thing. They probably don't have a clue what's in their modified food starch. They just buy it from a supplier. So it's safer from a liability standpoint to state that it's not considered to be gluten-free.

Big deal. I don't worry about modified food starch.

Now as far as their product lines go. I think it goes without saying that we don't even go there as far as Cambells soups are concerned. Almost all of their soups contain actual wheat flour. And most Celiacs would get the mental heebie jeevies just thinking about one of their soups that didn't have wheat listed on the label.

Salsa and spaghetti sauce. I personally wouldn't worry about it if it didn't list wheat, barely malt, or some other gluten ingredient. That's just me. Of course if I got sick, I'd reconsider.

best regards, lm

[mommida]

I've gotten sick from three bites of salsa on gluten free chips before. It is a concern. Your body does not really care if it was wheat, rye, or barley, it was just enough for your immune system to recognize and start the attack.
Take Prego and the others off the safe list and move on.
It appears the Swanson regular Chicken broth is still safe? Just not the natural organic any variety and all the beef broths are not safe anymore!!? Right?