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Kraft "policy" To Not Tell gluten-free Or Not

discountshopper

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discountshopper Rookie
discountshopper
Posted

I'm really ticked off at the moment. I phoned Kraft to ask if Miracle Whip Free is gluten-free and casein-free. They told me that if I didn't "see any of the 'big 8 allergens' on the label then it doesn't contain them." I proceeded to explain that I do not yet understand all the forms of gluten or casein or the names of things I can't identify as food and could she please just tell me if the jar with the barcode I gave her was gluten and casein free.

SHE TOLD ME THAT IT IS KRAFT POLICY TO NOT SAY "YES" OR "NO." :blink:

I asked if Kraft cared if customers became ill by consuming their foods and the response was:

YOU MUST CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

I CHOOSE NOT TO BUY ANY KRAFT PRODUCTS EVER AGAIN!!

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Noelle126 Apprentice
Noelle126
Posted

I was told that it would say if there were allergens in them. Any I wrong??

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

Whoa, wait a minute....... us celiacs LOVE Kraft!!!!

They will clearly state any Wheat, Rye, Barley or Oats on their labels..... If you are looking at one of Kraft's products, and it just says natural flavouring or something along those lines, you can be rest assured that it is safe as if it contained any form of gluten, they would list it. Kraft is one of the leading companies leading the way in the safe labelling problem.......

I am totally 100% loyal to Kraft and most of the products I buy, if Kraft is a brand that makes some (example, BBQ sauce, salad dressings, etc.) I will ALWAYS go with the Kraft brand.......

Karen

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted

You might have just gotten a bad rep, prbly should call back and see waht a dif rep says...

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

Kraft rocks.

Every other country gets a gluten free list except the US, because we sue over coffee being hot.

They have a really good labeling system. If there is wheat in there it will say WHEAT. If it has barley in it it will say BARLEY. It will not hide behind anything else. I trust them more that alot of other manufacturors.

If you go here:

Open Original Shared Link

There is a pdf that explains how easy thier labels are to read. Considering how litigious we are in this country, I'm glad they are as open as they are about it.

Yeah its scary at first, but Kraft is actually one of the cool ones.

Elonwy

discountshopper Rookie
discountshopper
Posted
  • Author

Wow! I'm glad I posted because otherwise I would have just written them off completely. I still don't understand why they would tell me that it is their policy NOT to tell customers if their products are gluten-free or casein-free. If they're so up on allergens, etc, then why won't they stand behind their labeling?

taweavmo3 Enthusiast
taweavmo3
Posted

No, no.....don't boycott Kraft! I know it's hard in the beginning, but you will soon love Kraft!

They really make shopping easier, I promise. You don't have to figure out any complicated ingredients with them, you just have to read their label. If you don't see any of the forbidden ingredients (which they will list in easy to read bold letters), then it is safe.

I actually feel uneasy if the person I'm talking to just says "yes, it's gluten free" without any explanation or going into further detail. Makes me wonder if they even know what the heck I'm talking about. I've had some operators tell me extremely quickly that something is gluten free....like they are just saying yes to get me off the phone. If they answer that fast, it seems a little iffy to me. So, for that reason, I really like the labeling system.

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terri Contributor
terri
Posted

This is how to read a Kraft label. Once you check it out you will realize that Kraft is our best friend. ;)

Open Original Shared Link

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

Just a bad rep --- its ok...don't blame the whole company over 1 misinformed rep.

Although, I wonder how many times I have done that (gotten ticked off at a rep and blew off a company -- probably 20 times LOL!)

Idahogirl Apprentice
Idahogirl
Posted

What is casein? Does it have anything to do with gluten? I've seen it on a lot of labels, but don't have the slightest what it is. It isn't listed on the forbidden list.

Lisa

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

Casien is a different issue, for people with milk/dairy allergies. No worrys for regular gluten-free folk.

Elonwy

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

Yeah, you probably just got someone who was having a bad day or someone who doesn't know much about their labeling policies. Kraft is a great company for people with celiac disease becasue they will clearly indicate gluten in the ingredients. I love Kraft :)

discountshopper Rookie
discountshopper
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your replies and reassurances that I can trust labeling. It's hard enough to learn to read these complicated labels and completely overwhelming when a company rep won't tell you "yes" or "no" and makes a vague statement about it being up to you to choose! <_< I appreciate all your experience and sharing of information! Anyone have any snappy comebacks for reps who give you the run around? :lol:

Guest CD_Surviver
Guest CD_Surviver
Posted

Hey don't boycott until after january first of 2006 b/c os of 1/1/06 every one has to label gluten free or not in the United States and if they don't you can sue them for not labeling b/c it is in the legislature right now.

Lauren

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

i also think Kraft, although aloof on gluten-free or not, is a life-saver of a brand at times b/c you know if gluten isn't on the label...it shouldn't be in the product.... if i am out somewhere and need a certain type of product and don't have a gluten-free list or time to ck, i can turn to a kraft product and feel pretty confident after cking the label.

Guest CD_Surviver
Guest CD_Surviver
Posted

i would say that miracle whip is not gluten-free b/c it has modified food starch in it and mfs has no discrption of what kind of starch it is ever though it is usually corn we don't know unless it says modified corn starch.

Lauren

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

But with Kraft's policy, if it was Modified Wheat Starch, it would specifically say "Modified Wheat Starch". They will clearly state if it is wheat starch or not.....

Karen

discountshopper Rookie
discountshopper
Posted
  • Author
i would say that miracle whip is not gluten-free b/c it has modified food starch in it and mfs has no discrption of what kind of starch it is ever though it is usually corn we don't know unless it says modified corn starch.

Lauren

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's exactly why I phoned them to ask. I was told to read the label and that if the "modified food starch" was from "one of the big 8 allergens" then it would be identified. So, they still did NOT tell me what kind of food starch it was. So, refresh me, is GLUTEN one of the "big 8" or is it just "wheat?"

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
That's exactly why I phoned them to ask.  I was told to read the label and that if the "modified food starch" was from "one of the big 8 allergens" then it would be identified.  So, they still did NOT tell me what kind of food starch it was.  So, refresh me, is GLUTEN one of the "big 8" or is it just "wheat?"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Read the PDF that some one linked earlier in this thread, it explained Krats lableing policy completely.

edit: heres the link Open Original Shared Link

Guest CD_Surviver
Guest CD_Surviver
Posted
But with Kraft's policy, if it was Modified Wheat Starch, it would specifically say "Modified Wheat Starch".  They will clearly state if it is wheat starch or not.....

Karen

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

nobody puts wheat starch they just put food starch. i never seen any product that says wheat starch

Lauren

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Kraft is one of quite a few mainstream companies that are very friendly to us celiacs. We love Kraft. They will clearly list gluten and if their Miracle Whip does not say wheat, rye, barley, oats right on it then it is safe. You probably just got a bad rep but this policy they have been well known for :)

If Kraft had wheat in their modified food starch it would say right on the label.

MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

I don't like Kraft either, but that's just my own personal reasons.

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

To bring this full circle,

Kraft's policy is to label the ingredients if they are derived from one of the 8 allergens and barley and oats.

Corn, to my knowledge is not one of the 8 allergens. Wheat, however, is.

Hence, if it says modified food starch (WITH ONLY KRAFT), then it is corn based -- if it were wheat it would say "Wheat-Starch" or "Modified food Starch (Wheat)"

Hope this helps clear up the confusion -- you guys were saying the same principles, but arriving at diverging conclusions :)

p.s. I see wheat starch all the time on ingredients...or it says "Modified Food Starch (Wheat)"...

Here is Miracle Whip's ingredients..

Ingredients: WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, EGGS YOLKS, SALT, MUSTARD FLOUR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, POTASSIUM SORBATE AS A PRESERVATIVE, SPICE, PAPRIKA, NATURAL FLAVOR, DRIED GARLIC.

NOW HERE IS AN ITEM THAT HAS WHEAT IN IT...

Compare that to Krafts' Tortillas Ingredients:

Ingredients: WHEAT TORTILLAS - WATER, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, CELLULOSE POWDER, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, PALM OIL, CELLULOSE POWDER, WHEAT PROTEIN ISOLATE

Notice how all of the starches, flours, etc have a "wheat" moniker -- this is why Kraft rocks!!!

I hope this helps, it is a bit long-winded, but I just wanted to show some examples of how their policy works...:)

Jen H Contributor
Jen H
Posted

Hey all,

I noticed that someone posted about product labeling. Is it true that as of January 2006 all products without gluten will be labeled "gluten free"? I"m still kinda new to this so that's why I haven't heard of it. That would totally rock if it's true. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Guest CD_Surviver
Guest CD_Surviver
Posted
Hey all,

I noticed that someone posted about product labeling. Is it true that as of January 2006 products all products containing gluten will be labeled "gluten free"?  I"m still kinda new to this so that's why I haven't heard of it.  That would totally rock if it's true.  I will keep my fingers crossed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes it is true my brother has been doing alot of research on this topic and it is very true . i just hope they enforce it.

Lauren

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