"value Blend" Ground Beef By Swift & Co.

[Azzie]

Does anyone know if Value Blend ground beef made by Swift & Co. is gluten-free?

The label includes both natural flavor and modified food starch. However, at the bottom of the label, they've included in bold "contains soy." So it seems to follow (in my mind at least) that if it contained other allergens such as wheat, those would be listed too. Does anybody know for sure?

Thanks.

[Nancym]

Natural flavors can only be certain things... let me dig it out:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

What substances or ingredients can be listed as "natural flavor," "flavor," or "flavorings" rather than by a specific common or usual name?

Ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery powder, and garlic oil may be listed as one of the three categories mentioned above. They may be designated as "natural flavors" because they are substances used chiefly for flavor. They do not make a nutritional contribution, are not derived from an animal species, and there are no health concerns linked to them.

If wheat were in there it would have to be listed.

[lovegrov]

According to USDA regulations (this is different from the FDA allergen law), any grain added to raw meat would have to be clearly listed.

richard

[Aizlynn]

I understand that items "added" to meats have to be listed, but what about feed that the animals actually eat on the farms. Animals graze outside on the land or chickens, cows and turkeys are fed corn, etc. If the animal eats corn, oats etc, does that impact us too? WHen I go to the grocery store deli to get the best turkey meat I can find, I read the labels for food added, but it does not say what the turkey ate for dinner. help!

[Nancym]

I don't think you're going to get that info unless you actually go to the farm. There's no research that I've heard of that says what your dinner's dinner would have any bearing on your own allergies, unless you eat their undigested stomach contents.

[lovegrov]

The meat of animals that eat wheat or barley does not contain gluten. I've been told this by an animal scientist and a large animal veterinarian. And I know many, many people with celiac who eat meat with no consequences. None of them call the farms.

I never seen any evidence this is something you need to worry about.

richard

[Azzie]

I agree. This is what I've heard also.......

Thanks for the replies on the ground beef.

The meat of animals that eat wheat or barley does not contain gluten. I've been told this by an animal scientist and a large animal veterinarian. And I know many, many people with celiac who eat meat with no consequences. None of them call the farms.

I never seen any evidence this is something you need to worry about.

richard