About Those Rice Chex...

[wolfie]

I eat Rice Chex daily for a snack. I top with blueberries, strawberries & raspberries. I was topping with yogurt, but I think the yogurt is bothering my tummy. I stopped eating the yogurt on top 3 days ago, but still had the berries & Rice Chex with no issues.

I really, really need to make some Chex Mix or Puppy Chow with this cereal!

PS...I did send General Mills a Thank You note for making them gluten-free and suggested they do it with Corn Chex too!

[tiffanyo]

My daughter loves rice chex. I went on there site and found recipes that have the gluten free rice chex listed

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I also wrote them to see if the had any plans for other to become gluten free this is what I got back from them.

Dear Valued Consumer:

Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding Rice Chex cereal.

Rice Chex has been reformulated to insure that it does not include gluten-containing ingredients or have the possibility of cross contact with gluten containing ingredients or products. As with all reformulated products, both products may be on store shelves at the same time so consumers are encouraged to read labels/packaging carefully.

Currently there are no immediate plans to introduced other gluten free cereals. There is a great deal of time and effort involved in developing our various products, promotions and cookbooks. We will be sure to share your thoughts with the appropriate individuals.

We appreciate your loyalty and hope you will continue to choose our products.

Sincerely,

Allison Owen

[TedL]

I've been enjoying Rice Chex without any issues and I'm sorry to hear that some people have been reacting badly to them. One possibility that I haven't seen mentioned is that people are having a reaction to the preservative BHT. Most gluten free and "healthy" products don't contain chemical perservatives so most celiacs wouldn't consume them too often. I personally react badly to sulfites and suspect that a lot fellow celiacs may also have issues with other preservatives.

Rice Crunch-Ems from Health Valley are a good alternative, and only contain vitamin E as a preservative. I'm trying to avoid corn though, which is why I prefer the Rice Chex.

Regards,

Ted

[Chrissyb]

I have had the new Rice Chex and had no problem with them has a matter of fact I made a yummy carmel coated rice chex mix with them was a big hit at a birthday party I went to. So I for one am happy with them.

[MyMississippi]

Yep--- I like my empty calorie junk food rice chexs with cinnamon sprinkled over and with blueberries and milk------- Makes a nice little snack---

But I can't eat them often---- too many carbs for me !

[dana.naomi]

I only recently (as in yesterday!) heard about this rice chex thing. I'm at once very excited and very nervous. Do I dare risk finding out that I'm super sensative? Sometimes being celiac requires the bravery of a lion tamer, haha.

[Rya]

I decided to be brave (and slightly selfish) and try the Rice Chex. They sounded sooooo appealing. I can generally eat "processed" foods, I guess depending on how you define those. Here's my story..

I'd been not feeling wonderful for quite some time. Dizzy fairly often, headaches sometimes, moderate weight loss, changes in the toilet kind of thing. I went on a rampage one night and found 8 products I use daily in my bathroom with wheat or oats in them. Why had I not noticed this?? I immediately threw them out.

Three days later...

Labor Day I had: pomegranate margarita mix (verified the day after by the company as gluten-free - I checked the label prior, nothing suspicous), HEB Jalapeno potato chips (label verified), and Rice Chex (probably 8 servings, I indulged). I got sicker than I've been in a long time.

I still didn't want to believe it was the Rice Chex. So I waited until today to have some. My reactions are typically 30 minutes to 2 hours after I eat. I waited 4 or 5 hours. Nothing changed. I had another bowl. 8 hours later, I'm sicker than I've been since last Thanksgiving.

My theory (I have lots of these, mostly wrong I've discovered, but hey) is they don't have much gluten based on my reaction time, but the quantity I ate just did me in. Grr, stupid self. I haven't tried the chips since then either. The boyfriend and I are both fairly certain it's the Rice Chex, though, if not the chips, too.

I'm nervous because I just read an article about nutrigenomics. I've been concerned about getting my B vitamins for a long time. I eat eggs, nuts, and meat for B6 and 12, I try to eat enriched and fortified and whole grain as often as possible, though our budget is so tight right now. Anywho, this article said lack of thiamin, riboflavin, and folate especially can be detrimental to one's DNA (which makes sense). They believe this is the foundation for chronic diseases for both said person and that person's offspring. Nothing that rocks the boat of what we know, but seeing it writing is a bit nerve-racking.

Anyway, sorry about the long post. I think I'm going to rummage through this forum and find out what good vitamins everyone likes. I've been such a proponent of getting everything from food for so long; but I think it's time to change.

[larry mac]

  Rya said:

I decided to be brave (and slightly selfish) and try the Rice Chex..... I had: pomegranate margarita mix (verified the day after by the company as gluten-free - I checked the label prior, nothing suspicous), HEB Jalapeno potato chips (label verified), and Rice Chex (probably 8 servings, I indulged). I got sicker than I've been in a long time......

Eight servings of anything is not prudent IMO. It's no wonder you got sick. That's a lot of milk, sugar, and cereal. Plus, you had already been feeling sick for some time. Can't really blame the Rice Chex.

  Rya said:

I still didn't want to believe it was the Rice Chex. So I waited until today to have some. My reactions are typically 30 minutes to 2 hours after I eat. I waited 4 or 5 hours. Nothing changed. I had another bowl. 8 hours later, I'm sicker than I've been since last Thanksgiving.

Nothing but cereal for 13 hours. Odd.

best regards, lm

[Rya]

  larry mac said:

Eight servings of anything is not prudent IMO. It's no wonder you got sick. That's a lot of milk, sugar, and cereal. Plus, you had already been feeling sick for some time. Can't really blame the Rice Chex.

Nothing but cereal for 13 hours. Odd.

best regards, lm

I agree, it's not prudent.

It's no more milk than I drink in any given day, I still tolerate lactose fine. The rice chex has 2g of sugar per serving, I don't think that's much at all. If you're referring to the carbohydrates when you say sugar, they equate to something like corn tortillas, of which I also eat a good bit of.

As for "nothing but cereal for 13 hours," I ate in foods in between that I've been eating for months and months without problems. My "usuals" if you will. Might I clarify that my feeling sick for sometimes was passive dizziness, some nausea occasionally, etc. That is far different than when I "react" and look 9 months pregnant and have to spend the day in bed. Perhaps I didn't commicate that well as I didn't feel well last night.

I'm still blaming the Rice Chex, and frankly I find your comment a bit hurtful. I feel like I know my body and my reactions very well.

[Chrissyb]

I am sorry I have to agree with larry mac 8 serving of anything in one day is enough to make anyone sick. Weather you had other foods to eat inbetween the serving or not. And I am no expert but if not is "It's no more milk than I drink in any given day" as you say that sure sounds like an awful lot of milk to me even if you have not problem with dairy. But like you say you know your body so go ahead and blame the Rice Chex

[larry mac]

I'm sorry Rya. After re-reading my post, it's apparent I was somewhat abrupt and insensitive. I was not trying to imply that you may have an eating disorder or anything like that. I was simply questioning the fairness of blaming the Rice Chex based on your stated diet that day.

Actually, when I read about the margaritas, jalepeno potato chips, and Rice Chex, I thought, now that's my kind of girl! But then you lost me with the extra seven servings. Then again, who am I to approve or disaprove of someones diet? For that, and for being hurtful, please accept my apology.

I eat one bowl of Rice Chex every morning and haven't had a problem. But others on this board have. By now we all know that some are going to be sensitive or intolerant of them for some reason. It is my sincere hope that the majority of Celiacs will be able to tolerate them. And it will encourage not only General Mills but other mainstream companies to offer more products to us. I'm guessing this is a "test" for them. I'm also guessing they're waiting to see if they get sued by a Celiac family that claims their kid got real sick on their "so-called" Gluten Free product. They may very well figure it's just not worth the hassle to deal with us "food nuts". I hope not.

best regards, lm

[Rya]

LOL! Well it was Labor Day.

I certainly accept your apology and hope you'll accept mine - I am sorry for my response. I think my response back was equally abrasive, at least in my mind even if it did not come across that way.

I suppose I can't be 100% sure (but I am 99%) that it is the Rice Chex, though I doubt I'll consume them again.

As for other Celiacs, I would never dream of telling the company I reacted. I've read how happy other people are that they can have these and how many doors it has opened for them. I am not looking to take that away. I still commend the company for giving it a go, and I do not want that mentality to stop in the least. I was actually considering writing General Mills to thank them (not mentioning my reaction), though I've not gotten around to it.

For the record, I wrote down my actual consumption of the Rice Chex - 5 cups (so 5 servings, according to the box) and 24 oz of 1% milk on sept. 1 and 3 cups of rice chex with 16 oz of 1% milk on sept 5. I measure all my food (trying to lose some pounds) and keep a food journal.

Rya