[Mango04]

If you're casein intolerant, this might be of interest:

"Conventionally grown cucumbers, like other fragile vegetables, may be waxed to protect them from bruising during shipping. Plant, insect, animal or petroleum-based waxes may be used. Carnauba palm is the most common plant-source wax. Other compounds, such as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, are added to the waxes for consistency, milk casein (a protein linked to milk allergy) for “film formers” and soaps for flowing agents. Since you may not be able to determine the source of these waxes, this is another good reason to choose organically grown cucumbers."

http://www.whfoods.c...odspice&dbid=42

[mmaccartney]

I don't find the source (the seller of organic products)to be that reliable edited-they don't sell organic products, that was incorrect! , BUT here is a supporting article from the US Food and Drug Administration

http://www.cfsan.fda...omm/ift3-6.html

So what does this mean?? Wouldn't the new food labeling laws require some disclosure...somewhere?? if the wax was a derivitive of milk????

[Mango04]

I don't think the World's Healthiest Foods website sells organic produce, if that's what you mean by the source.

About the food labeling laws...I believe they only apply to packaged food, not produce. I think there's a whole lot of stuff in conventional produce that's not disclosed.

Ya know, the word casein kind of jumped out at me there, but on second thought, and after looking briefly at
mmaccartney's link, I'm wondering if we would need to be concerned about gluten in the waxes as well?

[Carriefaith]

Wow, thanks for posting that information. What about apples? They can have wax on them as well.

[Mango04]

Carriefaith, on Apr 13 2006, 02:28 PM, said:

Wow, thanks for posting that information. What about apples? They can have wax on them as well.

I was wondering the same thing about apples. I would think anything with a waxy coating could pose a problem.

[Jnkmnky]

Gross. I'm so glad I have a farmer's market to go to every week. I'm so sick of all the additives in my food.

[mmaccartney]

mmaccartney, on Apr 13 2006, 04:43 PM, said:

I don't find the source (the seller of organic products) to be that reliable

Yep, that was an incorrect statement, sorry!! Somehow I got that impression looking at their site earlier today...

[jenvan]

That's just flippin' great! I do wonder what the "difference" is with organic apples, produce etc. b/c I buy all my produce organic, and the apples STILL have wax on them. Maybe there are different standards??

[VydorScope]

Umm this sucks, but why would organic be different, milk would be acceptable in a "oragnaic" product, right?

Jnkmnky, on Apr 13 2006, 06:30 PM, said:

Gross. I'm so glad I have a farmer's market to go to every week. I'm so sick of all the additives in my food.

Im glad spring ishere so I can start growing veggies agian. bah. Hate the heat/bugs/sun but its the only time ofhte year I can get decent veggies!

[plantime]

jenvan, on Apr 14 2006, 04:51 AM, said:

That's just flippin' great! I do wonder what the "difference" is with organic apples, produce etc. b/c I buy all my produce organic, and the apples STILL have wax on them. Maybe there are different standards??

Organically grown fruits and veggies are not treated with pesticides and herbicides while growing. Waxing after they are harvested does not fall into the "organic" category.

[mmaccartney]

Mango04, on Apr 13 2006, 04:58 PM, said:

Ya know, the word casein kind of jumped out at me there, but on second thought, and after looking briefly at
mmaccartney's link, I'm wondering if we would need to be concerned about gluten in the waxes as well?

It appears that way, the link describes that there are wheat based waxes too...

So this gets interesting! How do we find out more information? The FDA article only tells us what is allowed to be used, we need to find out what people are using...


On a side note, I had a thought last week, and when I did some research is startled me! I typically have my work shirts dry cleaned, light starch.... for some reason the word Starch didn't make me wonder. Well I did some research, and there are laundry starches made from wheat and the wheat starch is the cheaper alternative. Rice based starch seems to have a better finish, but more expensive.... Never thought I'd have to call my cleaner to check on what kind of starh they use...every time I drop my stuff off....


Sometimes I feel like we should all band together, and create our own community where *everything* is OK for all of us to have!!! A Utopian Celiac society..... imagine walking into a supermarket where you can have everything! Restaurants that only have gluten free foods... oh well I can dream can't I!

[ravenwoodglass]

mmaccartney, on Apr 14 2006, 06:39 AM, said:

A Utopian Celiac society..... imagine walking into a supermarket where you can have everything! Restaurants that only have gluten free foods... oh well I can dream can't I!

Wouldn't it be wonderful. Anybody got a lot of land?

[Jnkmnky]

ravenwoodglass, on Apr 14 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

Wouldn't it be wonderful. Anybody got a lot of land?

I don't think it would go over too well... remember last month when some folks were talking about starting a "catholic community"? It was like a second crucifixion! Good thing the Amish started their communities a long time ago.. No one would "put up" with that nonsense today!

[Mango04]

mmaccartney, on Apr 14 2006, 07:39 AM, said:

Sometimes I feel like we should all band together, and create our own community where *everything* is OK for all of us to have!!! A Utopian Celiac society..... imagine walking into a supermarket where you can have everything! Restaurants that only have gluten free foods... oh well I can dream can't I!

I'm totally in favor of this idea!

[jerseyangel]

Me too--it would make things so much easier