[mcphena]

I'm annoyed. I could have SWORN I heard/read/was told that they had a gluten free facility for the gluten free chex!! I just called them after reading the other thread on here about cinnamon chex. I get so tired of reading the same thing over and over, I decided to just find out for myself what the heck is going on, I really dont see how someone could get wheat chex in their cinnamon chex, etc! Well, the person I just spoke to told me they do NOT have a gluten free facility! In fact they are just like any other company that "cleans their lines well" before they run the gluten free chex, and they test them for gluten. But how often do they test them?? Do they test every batch?? Do they allow a certain amount of gluten and still call it "gluten free"??? Well, I asked that last question, and the girl said she had never heard of that, but she would research it and call me back. I swear if they call and tell me they allow a certain amount of gluten in those darn chex, I'm never buying a damn box again!!! And I have 4 boxes here right now! I was about to make chex mix! I think we should all start writing letters telling them we want a gluten free facility for chex!

[Becci]

I JUST CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS A GLUTEN FREE FACILITY?

I am calling again now... I want to tell them what you just told me.

I will tell you what they say in a minute...

--> She (Peggy) is checking on the person who I first spoke with...
--> I am now on hold... She is pulling up my file...
--> She is now telling me how sorry she feels for me, about my symptoms I got from the cereal...
--> Wow, she is actually telling me the truth. That they do not know if anyone has called in... and the previous woman had told me that no one had called.
--> She said she doesn't know anything about the facilities, and is forwarding the report again...

Not any help. But, she is alot nicer. She said they will call back with more information.

[mcphena]

"Ashley" just called me back, TWICE, she told me they do test the product after EACH batch, and that the product is 100% gluten free, they don't allow any ppm under that label. But, she did tell me it is not a gluten free facility, so, if someone told you it IS, something is going on!! I was almost sure I had called chex once before and was told it was a gluten free facility, but I could be wrong about that.

[Becci]

Well, I know that I am having my worst symptoms in a while after eating the 'gluten-free' Chex...

So, they can stick it up they're gluten free factories, customer service know-nothing, should be fired for lying to a moooooody Celiac and have they're tounge tied for a month's, nostril!

Yes, I am a little moody and P.O'd right now!



Hmm, is it okay to rant and rave like a lunatic on here? Oh, this is a Celiac forum. It wouldn't be normal without ranting and raving sometimes... lol

[mcphena]

Becci, on Nov 20 2009, 11:52 AM, said:

Hmm, is it okay to rant and rave like a leuniatic on here?

Yes, it's okay, but only if you spell it right! LUNATIC. just kidding-

so, did they tell YOU it was a gluten free facility??? I am annoyed with you.

[Becci]

mcphena, on Nov 20 2009, 01:55 PM, said:

Yes, it's okay, but only if you spell it right! LUNATIC. just kidding-

so, did they tell YOU it was a gluten free facility??? I am annoyed with you.

HAHA! Yes, I noticed that and fixed my rant-spelling...

And the woman I spoke to the first time told ME it was a gluten-free facility... Then Peggy, the next woman, told me she has nooooo idea!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I am annoyed with you. You showed me what I misspelt... You should be thrown into a pan of gluten-free lasagna.. A large pan. Yes, I said gluten-free... Cause I don't want your Celiac ghost to come back in a gluten rage and kick my... tushy. HAHA, No, I am not really annoyed with you!

[mcphena]

Becci, on Nov 20 2009, 11:59 AM, said:

HAHA! Yes, I noticed that and fixed my rant-spelling...

And the woman I spoke to the first time told ME it was a gluten-free facility... Then Peggy, the next woman, told me she has nooooo idea!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I am annoyed with you. You showed me what I misspelt... You should be thrown into a pan of gluten-free lasagna.. A large pan. Yes, I said gluten-free... Cause I don't want your Celiac ghost to come back in a gluten rage and kick my... tushy. HAHA, No, I am not really annoyed with you!

Yep, the Ashley I spoke with had no idea about my questions either. Makes me wonder if the answers I got today are even the truth! She said she spoke with her supervisor about the how ofthen they check the batches question and she had to call me back with that answer, and call me back again with the answer to the ppm question, so I'm hoping I got the truth today. But I still think a lot more of us need to call and bug them and report what they are told too. mmmmm, now I want lasagna!!!

[Dada2hapas]

I'd never seen "mfr'd in a gluten free facility" on a box of gluten-free chex, but I think it's a good idea to get more info before coming to a quick conclusion.

I was under the impression the FDA standard for gluten free labeling is 20 ppm (20 mg/Kg)--perhaps moderators here are more familiar with the current status of FDA's "gluten free" labeling requirements. IMHO 20 or even 10 ppm is too high for very sensitive celiacs. I had read the FDA is working on determining a more reasonable gluten-free ceiling.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/...n/ucm077926.htm
http://www.csaceliacs.org/FDADefinitionofG...reeLabeling.php

I'm not sure which gluten assay General Mills uses, but ELISA assays should be good down to lower than 1ppm. If they are properly batch testing for an acceptable threshold, the CHEX product shouldn't necessarily have to be mfr'd in a gluten-free facility. http://www.tepnel.co...n-assay-kit.asp

Perhaps it would be better to speak with a process engineer or chemist @ g mills. Customer service reps often just read from a script. Creating a panic where folks are "inaccurately" afraid to buy certain gluten-free products could hurt us if mfr's think we're just a bunch of hotheads.

[Becci]

mcphena, on Nov 20 2009, 02:13 PM, said:

mmmmm, now I want lasagna!!!

MMmmm, lasagna! Dang, now I need to go to the store! I'll email you some

[taweavmo3]

Rant away....I'm still royally pissed off at Chex, lol. For months, I could not figure out what the heck was wrong with me or my dd. It got to where I couldn't tolerate any food without feeling queasy or having terrible heartburn, along with fun GI issues. My daughter was throwing tantrums, having headaches, sleeping right after school for the whole night, etc.

I want those 6 months back! Just kidding...I know there are worse things and we are fine now. I just feel like I was scammed. I think self regulating for gluten content is a bunch of crap, they are out there to make $$$, I don't think for one second they really care about the Celiac community.

Yep, still pissed. Feel free to ignore my rant too, lol.

[Dada2hapas]

taweavmo3, on Nov 20 2009, 04:06 PM, said:

I think self regulating for gluten content is a bunch of crap

I agree that a better gluten-free labeling standard needs to be implemented by the FDA. This is where changes need to be made.

I'm currently dealing with cc issues, perhaps from Quaker Rice cakes myself, but not completely sure yet. I have been fine with Chex, but noticed my local grocer has Chocolate Chex, some boxes are labeled gluten-free, while other boxes are not, according to the ingredient list. Perhaps old stock mixed in?

[Ahorsesoul]

Make sure you email them about your problems with Chex. If they do not hear from us they won't know there is a problem.

[cbear6301]

I have been so sick for the last couple of weeks.. the chex have been the one thing that I thought was safe.. I have eliminated everything else. We , as a group, need to figure this out.

[Ahorsesoul]

I do believe there is a group here that reacts to Chex. Make sure you write to Chex to tell them about the problem you are having with Chex. The company, if they receive enough reports will look into the problem.

[tarnalberry]

The idea that "they don't allow any ppm under that label" may simply refer to the likely guidelines on what gluten free means - which is tests gluten free to 20ppm.

Get angry at "could possibly have 1ppm" gluten all you like, but it is NOT economically feasible to test for less than that. If you want to pay $30/box for cereal, and have a couple thousand other folks who will do the same, maybe. But it's an impossible business case. Heck, even if you have a completely gluten free kitchen (you NEVER let anyone bring ANY gluten into your house, and they wash and change clothes when they enter), you couldn't actually prove 0ppm either - because a true 0 can't be tested for.

ANY new food you try should be suspect until you know that you are good with that food - regardless of any labeling. It's never sufficient to say "well, it says 'gluten free' on the label, so that can't be what's making me sick".

I agree that it would be nice if we could get a straight story from GM on the facility issue, but I wonder if they only have one facility? Could they not have multiple ones, and some are dedicated, others are not, and hence your answer depends on where you live?