Help! Wheat-free Vs. Gluten-free

[calyptogena]

Hello! I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about two weeks ago, and I've gone through my refrigerator and to check the food labels of everything I've got. On many of the foods (for example Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing) there were no specific ingredients that contained gluten, but there were plenty of vague ingredients like "modified food starch" or "natural flavorings." I e-mailed Hidden Valley to ask about whether their foods contained gluten or not and I received the following reply:

Thank you for contacting us.

Unfortunately, we do not have a gluten free product list available. The FDA requires that we list the following allergens on our ingredient labels:

1. Egg

2. Soybean (excluding high refined oil)

3. Dairy

4. Peanut

5. Wheat (barley, rye, oats, or any source of gluten)

6. Fish

7. Crustacean

8. Tree Nut

For the most accurate source of information, please check the back of the ingredient panel for every purchase as ingredients may change.

Does this mean that the FDA requires "contains Wheat" or similar wording of one of the suspect foods is present? If so, does this mean that if it doesn't list "modified food starch (wheat)" it's okay to eat? (Assuming that wheat isn't listed specifically as an ingredient.) That seems almost too easy...

Please let me know, thanks!

[AndreaB]

As far as I know Modified Food Starch is safe in the US. If it has wheat they need to label it. Some people still react to "safe" things due to cross contamination issues or other food intolerances.

Gluten free is free from all gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oats). Wheat free from what I've seen usually contains barley or oats.....so not a safe thing to eat.

[missy'smom]

Wheat and ingredients derived from wheat are required by law to be listed, barley and ingredients derived from barley are not required to be listed, but some manufacturers voluntarily do so. Here is a list and info that might be helpful. Open Original Shared Link And oats listed on labels are usually not certified gluten-free oats so are contaminated with wheat.

[NorthernElf]

I wouldn't touch the dressing - it's the natural flavors that could get you...or cross contamination from another dressing that is manufactured in the plant. If you can't confirm it's gluten-free, it's just not worth the risk.

[CeliacMom2008]

Your wheat free question has been addressed, but I thought I'd comment on your dressing.

We're still fairly new, but we use Hidden Valley Ranch dressing regularly. My son loves EVERYTHING better if it's dipped in ranch! But if there's any chance your existing dressing has been contaminated, buy new. That goes for anything in the fridge. For example, your margarine is probably gluten free, but if it was used by someone who double dipped while making buttering bread or toast, it's bad for you now. After you buy new, if you're living in a mixed household, you might consider writing on the packages which items are yours and must remain gluten-free.

[calyptogena]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess what I'm trying to ask is "Is Hidden Valley correct when they say ...The FDA requires that we list the following allergens on our ingredient labels...Wheat (barley, rye, oats, or any source of gluten)..."? The impression I'm getting is that the answer is "No, they are mistaken" (Or I could be misreading the email). Is this correct?

Thanks!