Conflicting Explanations From Kraft Regarding Ingredients Labeling

[Sarah8793]

I spoke with 2 different people at Kraft and now I have no idea what to think.

I called to ask about Lactic Acid Starter culture in their Oscar Mayer Natural hotdogs. I wanted to know if this was a milk ingredient. The I spoke with gave me the usual, "At Kraft, if any of our products contain blah, blah, blah, then we clearly label it on the package, blah, blah, blah. So I explained that I had read that Lactic acid starter culture was usually milk derived but not always and wanted to know what the source of the lactic acid culture was. She put me on hold and then came back and said that it was from milk. So I asked why it doesn't say contains milk ingredients on the label. She said that the amount of milk in the lactic acid starter culture was insignificant enough that most people with a milk allergy would not have a reaction. Well I did not find this very consumer friendly. I decided not to eat the hotdogs because I can't have casein.

Then... about a week later, I called Kraft again about a processing question (not about hotdogs) and the subject of the hotdogs came up again. This person told me that if an ingredient is an obvious milk ingredient (and then he began rattling off all of these milk ingredients that most people wouldn't automatically concur as milk) that Kraft did not have to write the words, "contains milk ingredients," becuase the consumer can tell by reading these. So I told him that Lactic Acid Starter Culture is usually derived from milk but not always. I asked him what the source of the lactic acid is in the hotdogs. He said he didn't have that information, that only the people at the plant that manufactures it have that information and that if it was milk derived then it would say in parentheses milk after the lactic acid culture. So I said to him, If milk is not in parentheses after the lactic acid starter culture then I can assume it isn't milk based?? He said yes this is correct. He said that if an ingredient has more than one possible source, then the source would be listed if it is an allergen.

Other than a headache, I didn't get much info. from Kraft. Still don't know if these hotodogs are safe to eat. I figured someone here would know more about this ingredient.

Thanks!

[momandgirls]

I don't know what the answer is but, with the new federal regulations in place regarding allergen statements, it would seem to me that if the hotdogs contained a milk ingredient, it would have to be listed. I know people here at this site generally regard Kraft as a good company with respect to labeling.

[Sarah8793]

  momandgirls said:

I don't know what the answer is but, with the new federal regulations in place regarding allergen statements, it would seem to me that if the hotdogs contained a milk ingredient, it would have to be listed. I know people here at this site generally regard Kraft as a good company with respect to labeling.

Yes, that is what they say, however according to the man I spoke with, if it is a milk ingredient but not neccessarily called milk, then they don't have to label it as milk. So, in other words you are supposed to be educated about all of the terms for milk and look for them.

[tarnalberry]

  Sarah8793 said:

Yes, that is what they say, however according to the man I spoke with, if it is a milk ingredient but not neccessarily called milk, then they don't have to label it as milk. So, in other words you are supposed to be educated about all of the terms for milk and look for them.

That's exactly what the new labeling law says is NOT the case. That guy was very ill informed.

[Sarah8793]

  tarnalberry said:

That's exactly what the new labeling law says is NOT the case. That guy was very ill informed.

So should I assume that the lactic acid starter culture is milk free because the word milk is not on the package? Or is it like the other person I spoke with said? That there isn't a significant amount to cause a reaction? Still confused.

[tarnalberry]

  Sarah8793 said:

So should I assume that the lactic acid starter culture is milk free because the word milk is not on the package? Or is it like the other person I spoke with said? That there isn't a significant amount to cause a reaction? Still confused.

Based on what you write, I'm suspicious about their implementation of the labeling laws. After looking it up again, lactic acid starter culture is a bacterial culture, that is casein free on it's own, but it can be initially cultured on a milk substrate. So, in theory, it could contain casein if not thoroughly processed, but might not. I'd think the law would require that such items be labeled with at least a 'may contain dairy' warning, but Kraft's response makes me uncertain that they would do so... Sigh. I happen to avoid that ingredient (and hence, italian meats... sniff. )

[Sarah8793]

  tarnalberry said:

Based on what you write, I'm suspicious about their implementation of the labeling laws. After looking it up again, lactic acid starter culture is a bacterial culture, that is casein free on it's own, but it can be initially cultured on a milk substrate. So, in theory, it could contain casein if not thoroughly processed, but might not. I'd think the law would require that such items be labeled with at least a 'may contain dairy' warning, but Kraft's response makes me uncertain that they would do so... Sigh. I happen to avoid that ingredient (and hence, italian meats... sniff. )

Thanks. It sounds like it is probably safe but not 100%. I guess as long as my kids aren't reacting then I'll let them have them occasionally. Just out of curiosity, why do you avoid lactic acid starter culture. I'm just wondering because I haven't read much about it and I try to eat avoid unhealthy additives also.

[notme]

so I just found out that 'lactic acid starter culture' makes me sick. found in: TAYLOR HAM ! o woe is me curse me for being from new jersey! take my pizza! take my bagels! o not the taylor hammmm ((

seriously, that stuff is in a lot of things. since it made me sick, m gonna assume the lactic is milk... I pulled this thread up while googlying it - y'all know everything, I guess!

[psawyer]

Please note that this topic is from 2006, and the information may be out of date.

[notme]

  On 8/10/2010 at 6:57 PM, psawyer said:

Please note that this topic is from 2006, and the information may be out of date.

sorry - didn't mean to confuse anyone - kinda new here. I'm just amazed at this ingredient's (that I never even heard of) affect and that it has already been discussed on here. taylor ham is not a kraft product.