Labeling

[ccmom]

Just wanted to give some information about Kraft foods - in there food labeling policy they mention that they

disclose all ingredients that may have gluten in them.  But they just informed me that a lot of their ingredients are from 3rd parties and they do not disclose a lot of their ingredients because they don't know what is in those products.  So beware if you are buying a Kraft product because you may think there is no gluten ingredient in there but there may be and they won't list it because they don't know. So just because they don't list wheat, barley, rye, oats - doesn't mean its not in one of their 3rd party ingredients.  Especially flavoring - spices - coloring - I just called to ask about a product and they asked me to look if it says any of the gluten ingredients and I said it didn't and she said then that product is fine.  I asked about the flavoring (which had no listed ingredient behind it or under it) she had to talk to the manager - he came back and said he couldn't tell me if there was because it is a 3rd party ingredient and they never tell them what is in it.  So it could have gluten in it - so two different responses.  Beware - I can't believe we are eating food that we can't even find out what is in it -

[notme]

US labeling laws require manufacturers to disclose ingredients no matter where they purchase them from.  

[psawyer]

They buy ingredients from outside sources. I believe that the meaning is actually that these ingredients are not tested by Kraft for possible accidental cross-contamination before Kraft gets them, so there is a remote possibility that undetected gluten may be present. This circumstance is by no means unique to Kraft--it pretty much applies to every food maker out there.

[ccmom]

Yes I am sure it is not just Kraft - but it did take some coaxing to get this information from them.  The 3rd parties who sell their ingredient for their product do not have to disclose this information to them  - so you may get gluten and not know it - if you have silent celiac you won't know until you have your blood test and/or endoscopy - by then you may have been exposed to gluten many times and never know - the law has to be changed on 3rd party suppliers. How do we do this?

[ccmom]

Also Kraft said it is not cross contamination - these products may actually have a gluten source in them. They don't have the ingredient list - we have to be aware of these products.

[bartfull]

Wheat MUST be labeled in the US and Canada by law. What they meant is that some of the outsourced ingredients MAY have been made in a facility that processes wheat. So in other words, if a flavoring, which is a tiny percentage of the whole product has some cross-contamination from being made in a facility that processes wheat, the entire percentage of CC is almost certainly less than the 20 PPM that is considered gluten-free by most standards. Unless you are super SUPER sensitive, I wouldn't worry about it. I eat Kraft products all the time and have never had even the slightest problem.

[ccmom]

Wheat MUST be labeled in the US and Canada by law. What they meant is that some of the outsourced ingredients MAY have been made in a facility that processes wheat. So in other words, if a flavoring, which is a tiny percentage of the whole product has some cross-contamination from being made in a facility that processes wheat, the entire percentage of CC is almost certainly less than the 20 PPM that is considered gluten-free by most standards. Unless you are super SUPER sensitive, I wouldn't worry about it. I eat Kraft products all the time and have never had even the slightest problem.

If you call them they will tell you that their 3rd party suppliers do not have to disclose their ingredients.  It has nothing to do with the facility - it has to do with the ingredients.  I am glad you had no problems with their products - but call Kraft and ask if they can tell you what is in their products that list flavoring - example the smoked cheese - they won't tell you the ingredients in the smoke flavoring because

the 3rd party supplier does not have to give them that information - for example it may be a special recipe that they don't what anyone to know.  So they can not guarantee that the product is gluten free - not because it is and may be contaminated at their facility but because it may have gluten in the ingredient.  I am requesting a letter in writing about this - I will post it on here - as soon as I get it. 

Thank you.

[Celiac Mindwarp]

Many people on this board have used Kraft safely for years.

We try to ensure that there is evidence if a claim is made that something is not safe, which I think is what people are trying to tell you. The danger is extremely remote if it is there at all, and it is important that people do not feel the need to restrict their diets if food is safe, particularly with a brand like Kraft which have a record of very clear labeling, and are widely available at a reasonable cost.

People are free to make their own checks of course.

I wouldn't hesitate to use them myself.