Holiday Time Of Year Again

[debmidge]

Hi everyone:

Since labeling/ingredients/receipes of manufacturers change from year to year, I think it's best that we pool our knowledge and make a list of gluten-free turkeys and hams in order to make it easier for our holiday shopping.

I know of two turkey brands:

1) Riverside (found at A & P)

2) Honeysuckle White (found at A & P)

Can anyone add to the list for either turkey or ham as many others do not have these two brands in their areas where they live.

[Racheleona]

I know of organic turkey brands that are gluten free:

Diestel and Sheltons

[lovegrov]

With turkeys you don't have to do anything other than read the ingredients. USDA rules REQUIRE you list anything that adds nutrition to raw meat, and that includes wheat, rye and barley. I've never found a raw turkey with gluten.

Ham's a little tougher but I've never found one that isn't gluten-free, as long as it's not commercially glazed or a honey ham. gluten-free brands (without glaze) include Smithfield, Thornapple Valley, Hormel, and Kroger. There are many others.

richard

[debmidge]

Richard, I am concerned not for myself, but because I need to give my mother in law brand names to purchase. I don't want her to get a Butterball injected turkey or any other brand similiar to that. In my case, I do not control the cooking on holidays, so I need to provide suggestions to my hosts (at their request). I guess there's a chance that others need gluten-free Turkey/ham have the same quest this time of the year.

Thanks,

Debbie

[debmidge]

Oh,, I failed to mention that this is because my M in law DOESN'T read labels (she's partially blind) and will buy the cheapest bird in the supermarket. To avoid gluten exposure, I kind of guide her as to what to look for. I am not able to go to the store with her due to distance and her at-home-helper doesn't read labels either. I'm stuck between rock and hard place on this issue. My husband insists on eating Thanksgiving with her and eating her cooking on that day.

[lovegrov]

DebMidge,

As I've said before, Butterball turkeys are NOT "injected" with gluten. Butterball turkeys are gluten-free, as confirmed by the company just a few days ago. Note the words in parens. If you still doubt it go read the label yourself.

"The breast meat of Butterball Frozen Turkeys, including Butterball Frozen Stuffed Turkey, is moistness enhanced with a patented recipe of ingredients to yield a more uniformly juicy and tender turkey after cooking. Individual ingredients are specified on the labels of all Butterball Frozen Turkeys and Butterball frozen line extension products. (Although wheat and rye gluten-free, the recipe does include 0.5 ppm corn protein.)

Because Butterball Frozen Stuffed Turkey (and Butterball Stuffed Frozen Breast of Turkey) is stuffed with a traditional bread stuffing, it does contain gluten. The gravy packets that come with some Butterball Turkey products also contain gluten."

These turkeys were gluten-free as of last year.

Jennie-O

Zacky FArms - 100% natural and gluten-free

Perdue

Shady Brook

Empire Kosher

Honeysuckle

Giant Eagle brand - Says "No Glutens" right on their package.=20

Marval

Rosebud

With the information I gave you about ingredients, YOU can go read the labels yourself and then call her.

But as I said, I have yet to find a raw turkey that has gluten. And every time I've asked people in forums to pass along the name of a turkey with gluten, nobody has been able to do it.

richard

[Guest Lindam]

I have had very good luck with Jennie O over the past year, so that's who is getting my business.

[annie1028]

Hello everyone,

I didn't realize that even Turkey for the Holiday i had to watch for?

Thanks

[debmidge]

Richard

thank you for your information...I suppose I've been relying on inaccurate information and you certainly cleared that up for me....but what my info was is that the Self Basting Butterball Turkey, not the regular frozen Butterball turkey, was not gluten free. The self basting mixuture itself isn't gluten free.

Perhaps you know something about this? If not, then I'll call the manufacturer and report on it once and for all.

D

[lovegrov]

DebMidge,

Unless you get one of the fresh turkeys, ALL of Butterball's turkeys are "self basting." in fact, unless you get the fresh turkey from any brand the turkey you get will be self basting. The self basting part is simply the broth or flavorings that have been added to make the meat more moist.

Once again, because of USDA rules you don't have to call anybody. If wheat, rye or barley has been added to this broth or flavoring in raw turkey (or any other raw meat), it must be clearly listed. It cannot be hidden. You can go to the store and read the label yourself.

According to the reply I printed above, it appears to me that the only two Butterball turkeys that aren't gluten-free are the two that they've put stuffing in. The "self basting" ones without stuffing added are indeed gluten-free.

Every single brand of turkey I've ever seen without stuffing has been gluten-free.

richard

[debmidge]

There are times like this that I wish I could grow my own food and raise my own poultry/meats.

[Guest momof3]

Richard,

It seems to me that debmidge is just trying to be careful. She has family members that may not or cannot (blindness) be as careful. Try not to strike at the postings.

momof3

[debmidge]

My point is that my m in law is 85 years old and only partially blind and if I can give her a brand name of a turkey product we are not playing "Gluten - Russian roulette" on Thanksgiving.

I realize that the pre-stuffed birds are a no-no; but my m in law at one point told me in all seriousness that if she cooks something long and on a high temperature the gluten will get baked out of the food......this is what I am up against....So momof 3, thanks for understanding the "whys" of why I am asking for specific information.

If I tell my m in law that we won't eat with her, the rest of the family will think we are the bad-guys; so isn't it better to set her up with the correct info from the "get-go?"

Sometimes when someone asks a question or needs more info, it may not mean that they themselves need this specific info, especially with this topic you can't be too careful, but perhaps me and others in my situation need to know this in this format.

On Thanksgiving morning she'll put the bird in the oven with the help of her "helper", we'll drive there to finish up the remainder of the work (make potatoes) and control the kitchen, as she has a tendency to cross contaminate (put a wheat-based gravy spoon in a gluten free pot! ).

Oh, and I did go to the Butterball website and it states that if there's wheat (what about barley, oats & rye?) in the bird, it'll say so on the label. Again, the old woman and her helper do not read labels.

So if I can't ask on this forum, to whom can I turn for help?

[darlindeb25]

the stress of the holidays has already began deb, the bottom line here is--she is going to do what she wants to do--are you gluten-free too or just your hubby--its his mom and if he insists on eating the food, then i guess you cant do much about it--you love him and are trying to make everything ok---can you make something to take along that is gluten-free, just in case-- maybe you can make the gravy when you get there and make sure it is gluten-free--using cornstarch instead of flour works just as well and the gravy is gluten-free then--is she stuffing the turkey, cause if she does, you cant have it anyways, unless she uses gluten-free bread and if money is an issue, then you know she wont buy gluten-free bread--it's so hard when people refuse to understand the importance of gluten-free --i think you will just have to do whatever you can and hope it all turns out ok and remember--no one is yelling at you, no one is thinking you are thick in here--we are all trying to help and we have all been there too deb

[Racheleona]

I know that for meat/poultry if there is wheat, barley, oats, they have to list it. And I know Jennie-O states they do that. But, I was at the store and they have the new oven ready easy whole turkeys for thanksgiving and one is a garlic herb flavor, and I was reading its ingredients and it has maltodextrin, but nothing in parathensis...so I was wondering if anybody knows if these turkeys are gluten free?

Rachel

[debmidge]

Never mind...

[lovegrov]

momof3,

I apologize if I came across wrong.

I am not trying to "strike" at the postings. You'll notice that I also listed 10 specific brands that were gluten-free at least as of last year. That's what debmidge asked for orginally, isn't it? I don't know about this year because all I do is read the ingredients when I'm at the store. I haven't bought a turkey yet this year but when I do I'll read the ingredients and choose.

I also realize that her MIL is not going to read labels so I was suggesting that debmidge could read the ingredients herself and then call the MIL with brand names. What could be simpler?

I was trying to provide some useful advice -- for her and for everybody else who reads it. This diet is hard enough without making it harder than it needs to be. And calling manufacturers of turkey -- or any raw meat -- is making it harder than it needs to be.

When I was first diagnosed I wasted tons of time calling companies it turns out I didn't need to call and avoiding lots of ingredients and foods I didn't need to avoid (annatto, maltodextrin, distilled vinegar). If any of us can help others avoid the same pitfalls we should.

richard

[lovegrov]

Rachealeona,

If this is still a raw uncooked tukey and it doesn't say wheat, rye or barley, it should be. Maltodextrin in the U.S. is gluten-free.

HOWEVER, I also believe that simplest is best and leaves less chance of cross contamination. I'd buy a plain turkey and spice it up myself.

richard

[Donna F]

I'm just as perplexed as you, Deb. The CSA gluten-free listing only lists some kosher turkey breast as gluten-free. No WHOLE turkeys at all. I just assumed that NONE of them were gluten-free.

I had heard that the Butterball turkeys DID have gluten (not the stuffed ones either).

Why do you think they have to list wheat, barley, rye or oats on the label for turkeys? They don't do it in any other packaging? (rarely, if ever) It could be in the "flavoring" or "spices". When did it become a MUST by the USDA?

I was taught that you can't trust the labels. I've also been told that chicken (Purdue perhaps?) is often soaked in a solution before packaging, and THAT may have gluten in it, but it is not listed on the label).

What gives? I'd sure like to have turkey this Thanksgiving, but was convinced I'd be bringing my own leftovers!

thanks,

-donna

[Donna F]

Also, the Butterball comment only specifies FROZEN turkeys. What about fresh? My mom ordered a fresh one.

-donna

[Rikki Tikki]

Now I am really confused. I hope we can continue to support each other as this is a very difficult disease to cope with on our own. I also believe that this forum works well as we can relate and understand each other. I would also hope that we can ask anything.

So, not to rub any sore spots but I do have a question. I had read that any turkey that is self-basting has gluten.

True or not?

Thanks

[Donna F]

I'm pretty new to the turkey thing. this is my first thanksgiving on the diet, so I don't know if all self-basting turkeys are glutened or not.

For the record, my mom cancelled her order for the fresh Butterball (since it's Saturday, and we can't even call them to find out about the fresh Butterballs), and found a Shadybrook Farms turkey that said GLUTEN FREE right on the label. YIPEE!

-donna

[tarnalberry]

I called Butterball a while ago while out of town, and the noted that the will ALWAYS label any allergen in their products.

Additionally, the reason Richard says it will be labeled is because the USDA requires meat producers to use those labels. This link provides some details: Open Original Shared Link, but again means nothing more than the fact you need to check the labels. (It notes that the source of starch in modified food starch (for now, not the case starting in '06) does NOT need to be labeled. So, same rules as always.)

Another place to look around: Open Original Shared Link

[lovegrov]

If you've heard that all self-basting turkeys have gluten the you've heard wrong. I heard the same thing when I started on the diet but it's a celiac urban myth. It's not true. It's false. Period. To say that only kosher turkeys are gluten-free is simply a crime. It's a lie. The CSA is the same group that told us to stay away from stuff like annatto, which is perfectly gluten-free. I once read info from them that suggested canola oil could have gluten. So I needlessly avooided canola for months. This is also the same organization that tried to torpedo the food labeling act in Congress. I quit giving any money to CSA two years ago.

Does the Shadybrook Farms turkey that says it's gluten-free have any sort of "flavoring" or broth or moisturizing solution? If it does, it's self basting. That's what self basting means. And yet it's gluten-free.

Another poster just gave you a web site to read the USDA rule about this and, as I said earlier, I called them myself and questioned somebody. I've seen messages from at least five other people who also called them. Please try calling them yourself. I found them very helpful. They get this question a lot.

More than one poster has now said they HEARD that Butterball turkeys have gluten, and yet I printed the response directly from the company that denies that. The response VERY clearly says ALL of their turkeys are gluten-free except the ones that have stuffing in them. Yes, this includes the fresh ones. That's what makes them "fresh," there's nothing added to them. They also tell you to read the label because any gluten will be listed. So who do we believe, the company itself or something that somebody "heard."

Somebody else has "heard" that Perdue chicken might have gluten that they haven't declared. If it does, then they're violating the law and should be prosecuted (You know they aren't doing this. Can you imagine the lawsuits?). The fact is that if you call or e-mail Perdue they'll give you a LOOOONG list of their gluten-free items. In fact, here's what they say at their web site:

"Perdue chickens, chicken parts, and turkeys are all gluten-free. These are sold fresh as well as frozen and some are flavored with seasonings. Feel free to check the ingredient listing on individual packages or ask for a list of our Gluten-free Products by phoning us at 1-800-4PERDUE

[gf4life]

I agree with Richard. I have not found any chicken or turkey that has "hidden" gluten. On all the ones I have found gluten, they tend to be the seasoned ones (not just broth added) and clearly list gluten. I DO tend to buy from companies that clearly label their meats gluten free. I appreciate their effort in making our shopping easier, so I buy from them.

I have another problem regarding a turkey this season. My son's 3rd grade class will be having a Thanksgiving Feast in class this coming Wednesday. When I got the call to bring a dish I asked about the turkey. Apparently one of the parents is buying the turkey pre-cooked from a caterer out of town. I am concerned about the risk of contamination, and the fact that the caterer might add their own basting broth that may contain gluten. I don't know the name of the caterer and I asked that the mom call me, but have not gotten a call yet. I am frustrated, because I already have to bring gluten-free substitutes for him to have a safe gluten and dairy free meal and I was hoping to not have to worry about the turkey. I might just pull my son out early and go have a fun alternative activity that day...he isn't thrilled with the whole meal idea anyhow, since we will be having the same feast the next day! Should I really be concerned about this? I don't want to feel like a paranoid mother, but this will be the first time I would allow my son to eat food prepared by other moms at school...