A "gluten-free" Product Which May No Longer Be Gluten-free

[Number Cruncher]

For some years now, I have been using Imagine Soups as a gluten-free source. (I have Crohn's and celiac sprue.)

On our grocery shopping trip in mid-November, my wife & I noticed that Imagine is now manufacturing and marketing at least two new soups that contain wheat. These soups are are manufactured in the same Melville, NY facility used for their other soups.

Those Imagine soups that do not list wheat as an ingredient provide no notice that wheat flour is used at that facility. Since there are probably many other individuals with celiac disease who use Imagine as as source, I am posting this warning for the guidance of others in the celiac community. This notice is important, since few stores that sell Imagine Soups stock the whole line, and so, this change in Imagine's policies may not be noticed by lots of soup purchasers who are celiacs and are sensitive to small amounts of wheat.

Frankly, I find Imagine's new peractice inane. I would guess that the use of wheat in their new soups is simply wheat flour used as a thickener. Corn starch would work as well, and (as I recall from my pre-celiac days) wheat starch imparts a slightly bitter taste, and corn starch does not.

Number Cruncher

[Guest Viola]

I was looking at the Imagine soups just yesterday and noticed that they no longer carry a 'gluten free' label, also I can no longer find a gluten free label on Pacific soups. I didn't buy either. How frustrating!!!

[Judyin Philly]

i NOTICED THE SAME THING THE OTHER DAY.

ASKED THE HEALTH STORE OWNER (WHO HAS RED DOTS ON PRICE & NAME LABELS ON THE SHELF).

sHE SAID SHE CALLED THE COMPANIES AND THEY NO LONGER GUARENTTE OUR OLD SOUPS ARE gluten-free

Judy

[Helena]

I might be wrong on this, but I *believe* imagine soups is made by the same company that makes rice dream and is in the Hain Celestial group? If so, people on one of my allergy messageboards *hate* Hain Celestial----they feel that they are not careful with cross contamination issues and do not give clear allergy info.

[AndreaB]

I had called a few months ago to check on their cooking stocks and they are a big company with many food divisions. They had told me that the Imagine cooking stocks were gluten free. I thought their site had said all the soups were but a couple.

That's really disappointing that cc issues with these could be a real problem.

[jerseyangel]

I don't like what I'm hearing

I use (and love) the Pacific Free Range Organic Chicken Broth. The cartons I have now still say gluten-free. So, this is not to continue?

Why would they decide to *add it back in*???? Isn't that going backwards

[Guest Viola]

I don't like what I'm hearing

I use (and love) the Pacific Free Range Organic Chicken Broth. The cartons I have now still say gluten-free. So, this is not to continue?

Why would they decide to *add it back in*???? Isn't that going backwards

I didn't check the Chicken Broth, but did check the vegetable broth, which used to say gluten free. And I can't find gluten free anywhere on the carton. It's quite up setting. Perhaps I should check the web site and see if they changed that.

[jerseyangel]

Shirley and everyone,

I just checked Pacific's website. All of the broths are still listed as gluten-free.

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Let's hope they stay that way

[4getgluten]

Thanks for posting this. I wondered about cc issues w/ Imagine broth. I used a box that is labeled gluten-free for my soup at Thanksgiving, but I felt glutened the next day. Perhaps it was the broth. Next time I'll try another brand or make my own stock.

[lonewolf]

Yikes! I have several cartons of Imagine Tomato Soup (it's the only tomato soup I've found that doesn't have milk) and they all say "Gluten Free" on the container. I haven't had any reactions. I think I will stock up now before the gluten-free cartons are replaced.

[Guest Viola]

Shirley and everyone,

I just checked Pacific's website. All of the broths are still listed as gluten-free.

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Let's hope they stay that way

Thank You! I will pick up a couple of cartons to make soups and stews in the crock pot. It really is a good base, although one can do without if necessary.