Don't Use Lawry's Products!

[mart]

I basically just e-mailed them to ask if their Season Salt contained gluten. This was their response:

Thank you for writing!

>

>

>

> Our products are formulated for use by majority of consumers, and not

> specifically for those on restricted diets, it is possible our product

> formulations may change at any time. Since product formulations change

> from time to time, we do not have a printed list of products that

> identifies those products that contain specific allergens or gluten. The

> best advice we can give you is to check the ingredient list on the

> label. Ingredients that may contain any of the top eight allergens as

> defined by FDA (Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Fish, Seafood, Wheat, Eggs, and

> Milk or Dairy, as well as any ingredient that may contain Gluten are

> always listed on the label. Therefore, we suggest reading all ingredient

> labels carefully. If you cannot determine whether the product contains

> the ingredient in question, we suggest that you don't use it.

>

>

>

>I'm hurt by the first line. I'm not asking anyone to formulate a product just for my restricted diet. Just want to know if it contained gluten - that's all.

[penguin]

Good information, but how flippin' rude! HELLO, the only reason they are in business is because of customer loyalty. Bastards.

[jerseyangel]

I think they were just being honest. I am sorry that you were hurt, though , probably the words of their legal dept.! Actually, I appreciate this type of response because they are saying that any gluten ingredients will be listed on the label--along with any of the top allergens. From a mainstream company, where we know there could be CC, this is as good a response as any I've gotten.

[mart]

They could have been honest in a nice way, with responses similar to Nestle, Conagra, etc. They could have left out the first line, which basically said the same as "we don't create our products for people who have problems."

[KaitiUSA]

How rude! I'm insulted too..I mean they make us seem abnormal or something

[mart]

Yes, I agree. Even my lawyer husband thinks this response was offensive.

[psawyer]

While the wording of the first part is not the most sympathetic I have seen, the content of the message yields two key facts:

1. The products are subject to change at any time (no surprise there), and,

2. The label will disclose gluten if it is present.

In those terms, they are on the same page as Kraft, General Mills, Campbells, Nabisco and many others whom we have learned to rely on for truth in labelling. In fact, now that I think about it, Lawry's is a Unilever brand, and they are on the trusted list too.

I think the good content in the message far outweighs the wording.

[lindalee]

While the wording of the first part is not the most sympathetic I have seen, the content of the message yields two key facts:

1. The products are subject to change at any time (no surprise there), and,

2. The label will disclose gluten if it is present.

In those terms, they are on the same page as Kraft, General Mills, Campbells, Nabisco and many others whom we have learned to rely on for truth in labelling. In fact, now that I think about it, Lawry's is a Unilever brand, and they are on the trusted list too.

I think the good content in the message far outweighs the wording.

Mine is Red Pepper Seasoned Salt ingredients include Natural Flavor. What does that mean? Idon't think I'll use it. I read today Red Pepper is not good for immune problems. I have been putting red pepper flakes on everything - even my popcorn - which I'm not eating now because of corn. I thought red pepper flakes were good for allergies that is why I was using it. The book I'm reading is the Paleo Diet. I'm not overweight but reading it for nutrition and info. LindaLee

[eKatherine]

Mine is Red Pepper Seasoned Salt ingredients include Natural Flavor. What does that mean? Idon't think I'll use it. I read today Red Pepper is not good for immune problems. I have been putting red pepper flakes on everything - even my popcorn - which I'm not eating now because of corn. I thought red pepper flakes were good for allergies that is why I was using it. The book I'm reading is the Paleo Diet. I'm not overweight but reading it for nutrition and info. LindaLee

Try this:

1 ounce salt

1 teaspoon cayenne powder

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Mix together and put in an empty shaker. Put on everything.

[lindalee]

Try this:

1 ounce salt

1 teaspoon cayenne powder

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Mix together and put in an empty shaker. Put on everything.

Thanks, I appreciate that tip. Lindalee

[psawyer]

Mine is Red Pepper Seasoned Salt ingredients include Natural Flavor. What does that mean?

"Natural flavor" can hide gluten, although wheat must now be disclosed by law (at least in the US), and barley malt is expensive so the manufacturer usually calls it "malt flavor" instead.

However, there is a long list of companies which have a policy of not hiding gluten, that is, they will clearly disclose gluten in the ingredient list. With those manufacturers, you just read the list and if you don't see wheat, barley, rye or oats by name, no worries.

Versions of the list can be found in numerous places, but as of March 2005 it included:

Aunt Nelly's, Balance, Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry, Betty Crocker, Blue Bunny, Breyers, Campbells, Cascadian Farms, Celestial Seasonings, Country Crock, Edy's, General Mills, Good Humor, Green Giant, Haagen Daz, Hellman's, Hershey, Hormel, Hungry Jack, Jiffy, Knorr, Kozy Shack, Kraft, Libby's, Lipton, Martha White, McCormick, Nabisco, Nestle, Old El Paso, Ortega, Pillsbury, Popsicle, Post, Progresso, Russell Stover, Seneca Foods, Smucker, Stokely's, Sunny Delight, T Marzetti, Tyson, Unilever, Wishbone, Yoplait, Zatarain's.

Lawry's is a Unilever brand.

[Lane R]

"Natural flavor" can hide gluten, although wheat must now be disclosed by law (at least in the US), and barley malt is expensive so the manufacturer usually calls it "malt flavor" instead.

However, there is a long list of companies which have a policy of not hiding gluten, that is, they will clearly disclose gluten in the ingredient list. With those manufacturers, you just read the list and if you don't see wheat, barley, rye or oats by name, no worries.

Versions of the list can be found in numerous places, but as of March 2005 it included:

Aunt Nelly's, Balance, Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry, Betty Crocker, Blue Bunny, Breyers, Campbells, Cascadian Farms, Celestial Seasonings, Country Crock, Edy's, General Mills, Good Humor, Green Giant, Haagen Daz, Hellman's, Hershey, Hormel, Hungry Jack, Jiffy, Knorr, Kozy Shack, Kraft, Libby's, Lipton, Martha White, McCormick, Nabisco, Nestle, Old El Paso, Ortega, Pillsbury, Popsicle, Post, Progresso, Russell Stover, Seneca Foods, Smucker, Stokely's, Sunny Delight, T Marzetti, Tyson, Unilever, Wishbone, Yoplait, Zatarain's.

Lawry's is a Unilever brand.

Thank you for this list!!

[Bones327]

Over this past weekend, I called Lawry's about their seasoned salt and this gluten issue. I manuevered my call {through electronic, phone-mail h&ll} to the people who address "medical" issues. The man who came on the line could not tell me whether the product contained gluten or not. So much for their customer service for "medical" issues! https://www.celiac.com/uploads/emoticons/default_mad.gif' alt=':angry:'> He told me he'd have someone from customer service call me back on this matter. Yesterday (4 days later) I received a telephone call from the company. The person who called said that the product does not contain any gluten. In between my call to Lawry's and the phone call back advising that the product is gluten free, I received the same e-mail response from them that you got. So, when they're "off the record" and speaking to the public on the phone - the product is gluten free. But, when they're committed to their words in writing, well you see how they fudge for self protection. I would tell anyone who wants to use seasoning not to use this product, if you're celiac or gluten sensitive.

I basically just e-mailed them to ask if their Season Salt contained gluten. This was their response:

Thank you for writing!

>

>

>

> Our products are formulated for use by majority of consumers, and not

> specifically for those on restricted diets, it is possible our product

> formulations may change at any time. Since product formulations change

> from time to time, we do not have a printed list of products that

> identifies those products that contain specific allergens or gluten. The

> best advice we can give you is to check the ingredient list on the

> label. Ingredients that may contain any of the top eight allergens as

> defined by FDA (Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Fish, Seafood, Wheat, Eggs, and

> Milk or Dairy, as well as any ingredient that may contain Gluten are

> always listed on the label. Therefore, we suggest reading all ingredient

> labels carefully. If you cannot determine whether the product contains

> the ingredient in question, we suggest that you don't use it.

>

>

>

>I'm hurt by the first line. I'm not asking anyone to formulate a product just for my restricted diet. Just want to know if it contained gluten - that's all.

[queenofhearts]

Thanks, I appreciate that tip. Lindalee

Linda Lee, if you are sensitive to red pepper, I'm afraid you'll have the same problem with cayenne-- it is basically ground up red pepper flakes. I always thought hot peppers in general were "good for you" nutritionally too, though of course they cause stomach upset for some folks.

Bones, I had the same experience with Kroger as you did with Lawry. I e-mailed them asking for a list of gluten-free store-brand products & they wouldn't send me one, (even when I offered to send them a notarized letter saying I wouldn't sue them!) but someone called & over the phone listed a bunch of things which I had to rush to jot down on an envelope... very impractical, I can't be sure I got everything exactly right, & of course, if any of the info was incorrect, I'd have no proof they gave it to me. Hmmmmm. At least they did tell me the aspirin I'd been taking (which I suddenly realized contained "starch") was okay. I just hope that was accurate!

Mart, it's amazing how a company would choose to use such dismissive & callous wording in a message to a customer! I have taken to including the phrase "Studies show that 1 in 133 people are gluten-intolerant" in my queries, just in case these companies dismiss us as a few isolated flakes... But at least they DID include some actual info...

Worse to my mind are the companies that are all smarmy & sympathetic in the opening paragraph & then give you absolutely no information. See my thread on Cover-Your-Ass-Girl.

I'm not going to let these slippery rascals get away with such useless non-answers. The very least I can do is make their lives miserable-- I refuse to shut up!

Listen to me-- I'm only 2 weeks into this diet & I'm ready to start a revolution!

Rise Up, Ye Celiacs, against the forces of Corporate Gluteny!

Leah

[theemurman1]

FYI Due to trial and error being new to this. The steak salt with the orange top is good for me. Thank god i put it on everything. But had one of my worst reactions when using the Garlic Salt with the green lid. And that was a bad response on there part. Usually u get coupons not bad replyies back. Good luck.

[caek-is-a-lie]

Yeah it does kind of sound like they're saying "Sorry, Lawry's Salt is only for normal people." It is poorly worded and comes across as quite the verbal 'finger'. It is extremely odd to me that they just throw their hands in the air and say "we dunno!" Any company that doesn't know what's in their products makes me really suspicious. But again, as someone else pointed out, probably written by lawyers.

[larry mac]

...................

> Our products are formulated for use by majority of consumers, and not

> specifically for those on restricted diets, it is possible our product

> formulations may change at any time. Since product formulations change

> from time to time, we do not have a printed list of products that

> identifies those products that contain specific allergens or gluten. The

> best advice we can give you is to check the ingredient list on the

> label. Ingredients that may contain any of the top eight allergens as

> defined by FDA (Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Fish, Seafood, Wheat, Eggs, and

> Milk or Dairy, as well as any ingredient that may contain Gluten are

> always listed on the label. Therefore, we suggest reading all ingredient

> labels carefully. If you cannot determine whether the product contains

> the ingredient in question, we suggest that you don't use it.

.................

I really don't see anything wrong with they're response. It doesn't offend me, or hurt my feelings. But it does tell me what I need to know. It say's read the ingredients. If there are no wheat ingredients, then it will be OK. They clearly say they will list gluten containing ingredients (as defined by the FDA).

It's very straightforward. If you can't figure it out, then don't use it (they say - not me). They're putting the onus on us (as restricted diet persons) to learn to read labels. I can't really blame a company because of they're reluctance to label products "gluten-free". There are too many restricted diet persons that get sick and blame the product.

I hope I'm not offending anyone, that's certainly not my intention. That's just the way I feel.

best regards, lm

[jerseyangel]

I like this type of response, too. It tells me what I need to know to make my own decision whether or not to try the product.

This is an older thread, and I just realized that I responded to it much earlier. Same response, though

[626Belle]

The way I see it, they responded in such a way that lets a consumer know that if an ingredient list doesn't happen to mention any gluten ingredients, it's safe for us. I hate not knowing whether a company labels that stuff, so I know for sure what should be okay. As far as the dry, impersonal response, I pretty much expect that kind of carefully-worded jargon from large corporations. They have to be so careful not to say something that they can get sued over or get misquoted. If they say "Sure, that's safe" and then change the formulation at any time, it would be too easy for someone to try to get them in trouble for tell ing you previously that it was safe. I already feel like enough of an oddball or a freak of nature, so no corporation can really make that any worse.

[larry mac]

Hey Belle,

You know what they said on Seinfeld about an enigma? It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle!

best regards, lm

[626Belle]

Hey Belle,

You know what they said on Seinfeld about an enigma? It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle!

best regards, lm

Hehe. Well, that describes me pretty accurately, especially considering the fun I have with puns

[Hallie Davis]

I received this letter today from Lawry's:

Lawry's

September 2, 2009

Dear Ms. Davis:

Per your request we are sending a letter in addition to our email response, in reference to questions about your gluten inquiry. We are writing to clarify your concerns about our ingredient statements. In our initial response, our language about rye and barley is mentioned in addition to other grains related to various forms of wheat. We were not stating that barley and rye are "related grains."

And while all forms of wheat gluten are listed as "wheat" in our ingredient statements, other grains such as barley and rye, are always included in the ingredient statement if they are present in the product. Though the FDA does not require us to label barley or rye, we do so in an effort to be more helpful to our consumers. When present, these ingredients are not listed in bold type like the "Big 8" allergens, however.

Our Lawry's Seasoned Salt contains no gluten from wheat, barley or rye. As we mentioned before, we always encourage consumers to review the ingredient statement at the time of purchase.

If you have any additional questions, please let us know. We hope to have the continued pleasure of serving you.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Heinlein

Consumer Affairs Specialist

***

No gluten from wheat, rye, or barley!. It couldn't be any clearer than that! Thanks Lawry's!

[happygirl]

Thanks for sharing.

[tarnalberry]

As a business owner (yoga teacher ), I totally respect their language. If someone with a significant illness/injury comes to me for yoga, I'm going to tell them (something very much along these lines), "The classes I offer are for those who are already recovering from injury/illness or who don't have severe movement restrictions. I am not able to offer you the specialized instruction you need." (And then I'll recommend places that can.)

It's not about singling out the fringe, it's about knowing what customers you can serve, and what customers you can't.

[Aviatress]

Was so disappointed to look and see that Lawry's was not okay, but found this substitute that I actually think is much better . . . it's made by Alden's Mill House in Michigan (small company) and is called The Chef's Miracle Blend. You can find links to order online. Enjoy!