Have Contacted Lots Of Companies For Lists

[tiredofdoctors]

And from Dove . . . . .

From: "doveusa, comments" <Comments.Doveusa@unilever.com>

To: <bodyworxinc@hotmail.com>

Subject: FW: Dove Information

Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 15:55:36 -0500

> Hi,

>

>Thanks for writing!

>

>We do not specifically test our products for the presence of gluten, a

>sticky protein found in some grains such as wheat. Gluten may be present

>in products that contain derivatives of wheat, oat, rye, and barley.

>

>In labeling our products, our company follows the guidelines established

>by the International Nomenclature for Cosmetics; Ingredients (INCI)

>process. Therefore, if we use an ingredient derived from a grain such as

>wheat, oat, rye, and/or barley, those names will appear on the label.

>One common example is "Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein". If you see this on the

>label, the material was derived from wheat, so the product may contain

>gluten.

>

>Thank you for your interest!

>Your friends at Dove

>

>-----Original Message-----

>From: Comments.Doveusa@unilever.com

>[mailto:Comments.Doveusa@unilever.com]

>Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 12:53 AM

>To: doveusa, comments

>Subject: Dove Information

>

>E-mail Address: bodyworxinc@hotmail.com

>First Name: Lynne

>Last Name: Wagner

>Address1: 9210 Old Six Mile Lane

>Address2:

>City: Louisville

>State: KY

>ZIP: 40299

>Daytime Phone Number: Ext:

>Evening Phone Number: Ext:

>UPC Code:

>Manufacturing Code:

>

>Comments: Can you please send me ((via e-mail) a current list of Dove

>products which are gluten-free? Thank you for your help, Lynne Wagner

My response:

Kind of a perky message for a very serious inquiry. What I would like to know is this . . . if you know that labeling state "hydrolyzed wheat protein", I think it would be appropriate for your company to keep a list (Excel spreadsheet, even a Microsoft Word document) of products which contain gluten.

Celiac disease is one manifestation of gluten intolerance, an autoimmune disease. It wreaks hell on the small intestine and bowel. I have Glluten Ataxia -- the antigliadin antibodies which react to gluten cross react with another type of antibody which I produce. The result is that the perkinje cells in my body -- which lie predominantly in the cerebellum of the brain, the retinas and the peripheral nerves -- are destroyed. These cells do not regenerate. I am already in a wheelchair due to late diagnosis, so you see, I can't afford to play Russian Roulette with products, hoping that they will be gluten-free.

With your company producing more and more products -- and I am on your e-mail list to introduce new ones -- I would hope that your company would be more responsible with regard to protecting the health of consumers by providing the information which they need. I can assure you that, until you can tell me that your products are gluten-free, I will discontinue using them -- my neices are going to be thrilled, because I have them all. In addition, I will recommend, on the Celiac forum, that others wait to use your products until they can be assured that they're safe. I will also advise my friends and family of the same. Thank you for your response.

Lynne Ellingsworth-Wagner, PT

[Guest BERNESES]

lynne- A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! and hugs, hugs, hugs, Beverly

PS i'm currently buried, but as soon as I dig out, i will start a letter writing campaign. Your responses are phenomenal and one thing they need to know is that people WILL NOT buy their products. I know there are no 100% guarantees in this world, but some of those responses are PATHETIC at best! Hugs, Beverly

[tiredofdoctors]

Beverly, thanks for the compliments! I'm on a mission . . . My husband just made a very good point: he said that someone stated that companies like Proctor & Gamble are so big that they can find out if what their suppliers are providing are gluten-free. His take on it is this (and I think it's a good one, not just because he's my husband : Companies like Proctor & Gamble are so big that they can tell their providers that they ARE going to provide products that are gluten-free.

I thought that was pretty good. And, I'm going to use that on all of my next replies to companies. "Surely, with a company as large as yours, you can demand that your suppliers provide you with nothing but gluten-free materials."

Another dart in my artillary!!!! Onward . . . . . Lynne

[Guest BERNESES]

And he's right. If Wal-Mart can dictate prices to their suppliers, certainly a company that size can dictate who their suppliers are and what they supply. That is BS. You and your hubby is smart! ((((More hugs)))), Beverly

[TCA]

I called Garnier today and they list Wheat, Rye, Barley, or Oats on the label (as does Suave). They even offered to send me a list of chemicals that contains any gluten. I was very impressed!