Ingredients - New And Old Lists

[trober]

My 4 year old daughter was diagnosed 3 months ago and so far has gained 7 pounds and grown 2 1/2 inches eating gluten free. We know we are doing something right with the diet BUT I have all these ingredient lists that are contradicting each other? The Living Gluten Free for Dummies by Danna Korn, published in 2006, has a list that says vanilla, maltodextrin, caramel color and others are OK. The list from the Texas Children's Hospital says those are questionable. We haven't allowed her to have anything with those ingredients BUT it would be easier and cheaper if we did! Mrs. butterworths versus real maple syrup, cheetos versus tortilla chips etc...

Any idea if there is a list that is a true compilation of ingredients that are safe????

Thanks- I find great info from you guys!

Theresa in Texas

[AndreaB]

I'm not sure so I'll just throw some things out there.

Vanilla in alcohol. Don't know what kind of alcohol. Non-alcohol vanilla, you would need to check on the source of natural flavors if they are in there. I buy non-alcohol vanilla. I'll have to check the brand.....I buy it at Wild Oats.

Maltodextrin. I think that is ok.

Caramel color. Also need to check the source.

Basically, just call the company of the product you want to buy and check see what they say.

[TCA]

Andrea's right about calling companies. I try to stick with brands that will always list gluten. There is a link to another thread in my signature line and in that is a list of companies that will list wheat, rye barley or oats if they are used. Cheetos are fine, btw. Most maltodextrin is from corn, but I check it out first. I think you probably have a lot of options out there that would be more cost effective. Hope the company list helps!

[Guest nini]

are you in the US? If so Maltodextrin is almost always corn, if it's not, it HAS TO BE LABELED that it's from a wheat source. Also, McCormicks Vanilla is fine, I use Flavorganics Vanilla extract because they clearly label the bottle gluten-free. Frito Lay's puts out a huge list of their products that are gluten-free. I believe I have a copy of it in my newbie survival kit. If you haven't already checked out my newbie survival kit, all you have to do is click on the link below in my signature for my web page and at the bottom of my web page there is a link for the direct download of the newbie survival kit in zip format or you can download the individual files by clicking on the link for newbie survival kit files. (fyi the updated Delphi forums gluten-free list is only in the individual files, the older Delphi list is in the zip file)

[lovegrov]

The newer lists are more accurate. I would trust Danna. Maltodextrin almost never has wheat and when it does it must say so (in the U.S.). I don't know of anybody who has ever found caramel color with gluten, and more if not all experts consider it universally gluten-free. I've never found a vanilla with gluten. The alcohol used to extract it is distilled and the alcohol content, if any, is miniscule. Artificial colors are gluten-free and I don't think I've ever found an artificial flavor with gluten. Gluten in natural flavor is extremely, extremely rare and if it's wheat it has to be listed now. Annatto is unquestionably gluten-free. White or distilled vinegar is gluten-free (malt vinegar is not). MSG is gluten-free. Some bleu cheese are not started on bread and even the ones that are are probably gluten-free.

However, since you mention pancake syrup, there ARE some syrups that have hidden barley, which doesn't fall under the allergen law. Call the company.

richard