Cereals And Labeling, Kind Of Confused

[kenyonsmommy]

I was looking at the ingredients on some mainstream cereals today and a few, such as captain crunch superman edt. did not list wheat or gluten as an allergy. If it lists malt, would not this be considered a hidden gluten? Are the manufacturers supposed to take into account those hidden sources such as malt, natural/artifical flavorings? I also looked at the rice krispie treats cereal, which does not list wheat, but has malt in it.

[AndreaB]

I believe they need to list wheat as an allergen if it has it, but malt comes from barley. I don't believe they have to list whether it is gluten free or not. I think they have to list wheat if it is "hidden" in an ingredient but am not 100% sure. Someone else will probably jump on this and clarify.

[psawyer]

Under FALCPA, in the USA, wheat must be disclosed on the label as such, but the same is not true of the other gluten sources. Barley can still be listed as other names, such as the ubiquitous "malt flavor," or other forms with the word malt. I've never known rye or oats to be hidden, but in theory they could be.

If you see malt listed, assume it is barley, and therefore gluten.

[kenyonsmommy]

That really stinks... I got so excited over a cereal. Who knew this would be my source of excitement these days. I guess the moral of the day for me would be if it looks to good to be true, it really is. Thanks for the clarification.

[mart]

Kenyonsmommy, have you looked at the new Trix and Cocoa Puffs? They've been talking a lot about this on a recent thread in this forum. Also, a new cereal called Dora the Explorer, which I've not yet been able to find but others say is quite good. Just be sure to read the labels to ensure you are getting the ones without gluten. My son is quite happy to eat these mainstream cereals again. He's extremely sensitive, but we've had no problems whatsoever with them.

[kenyonsmommy]

Kenyonsmommy, have you looked at the new Trix and Cocoa Puffs? They've been talking a lot about this on a recent thread in this forum. Also, a new cereal called Dora the Explorer, which I've not yet been able to find but others say is quite good. Just be sure to read the labels to ensure you are getting the ones without gluten. My son is quite happy to eat these mainstream cereals again. He's extremely sensitive, but we've had no problems whatsoever with them.

I have, I actually bought the trix cereal, but I can not seem to find the dora cereal. he tried the Trix, he is extremely picky, and he has eaten a few bites. getting him to try something new is very hard, myself, husband and daughter all sat down one evening and had a bowl of trix with my son. he ate it, but I just wish I could give him a better variety. he hates the gorilla crunch, and he also won't eat chocolate. We'll keep trying, Thanks for your help.

[Guest imsohungry]

I'm a cereal eater myself.... cocoa pebbles are my favorite for breakfast. (It's something I can eat quickly before the baby wakes up and needs to be fed).

I was once again looking at the labels tonight and remain SO FRUSTERATED that the only thing keeping me from eating many "mainstream" cereals is that malt is used. It can't be that necessary an ingredient because they do make some cereals without it.

I'm glad to hear about Trix. I haven't tried that before; It will be nice to have something different. I do sometimes buy the "Enviro" cereals, but they are a little expensive for my limited budget.

Good luck finding the Dora cereal...let me know where you find it and if it's any good!

-Julie

[2Boys4Me]

I was once again looking at the labels tonight and remain SO FRUSTERATED that the only thing keeping me from eating many "mainstream" cereals is that malt is used. It can't be that necessary an ingredient because they do make some cereals without it. -Julie

Which makes me wonder why Wendy's can find a fake malt for their frosties, but Kellogg's and everyone else can't find fake malt for cereal.

Everyone with or related to someone with Celiac should be bombarding the R&D departments to research fake malt. We don't have any gluten cereal in the house anymore, and it's all because of one little boy. When one person has Celiac, the whole family changes and won't buy the product anymore. (IMO)

[eKatherine]

I cook everything, and I never once needed to use malt for anything during my wheat-eating days.

Except maybe beer-making...

[I'dratherbecycling]

They do not have to list gluten on labels. A new law went into effect January 1 that requires manufacturers to identify the presence of ingredients that contain protein derived from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or soybeans in the list of ingredients or to say "contains" followed by name of the source of the food allergen after or adjacent to the list of ingredients.

However, barley, rye, and products derived from them do not have to be noted on the labels. Thus, us celiacs still get to memorize long lists of ingredients and additives that might contain gluten but do not come from wheat - malt included. For those who are very sensitive, there's also the risk that something does not contain a gluten-containing ingredient and does not contain wheat protein, but could be contaminated with barley or rye or other non-wheat source of gluten within the facility.

[Idahogirl]

Did I hear correctly? Are there gluten free Trix and Cocoa Puffs? If that is true, I think I will buy 20 boxes of each before they change their mind and start adding wheat or malt again. Someone please clarify-is it only certain varieties or old boxes or something????? I'm getting excited here.....

[kenyonsmommy]

I was told that the new boxes of Trix are gluten free, what ever that means. I saw some different looking boxes big lots one day, these boxes did not look like the one I bought, they were not as coloful I guess. We dont eat cocoa puffs, but I did find the Dora the explorer cinnamon stars today that are gluten-free as well. they were pretty good. I'd get it while you can, you never know when they will change it.

[Dangerkitten]

For about 2 months I started eating Capt Crunch Peanut butter flavor, thinking it was gluten free. The label lists nothing at all suspicious. My health deteriorated to the point that I was ready to call my rheumatologist for an emergency appt. My RLS was at its worst, migraines lasting days, arthritis had me pretty much chair bound again, nausea was constant. Flashback to 2 years ago when I started to think wheat might be a problem.

I went through my diet and pantry, looking for any changes. I remembered that I had started eating that cereal at the same time I started going downhill. I contacted Quaker Oats and sure enough. The cereal is not gluten-free. It is contaminated through processing, from the farm onward. I complained to them that a "not a gluten free cereal" label should be included, just as the peanut warning is.

So.....the new labeling laws only go so far. You need to make sure the company is willing to commit to the product being gluten free. I dont ever want to go through that again. It's only a couple weeks since I went off the cereal and I'm slowly returning to my pre-cereal health.