Equipment Shared With, Same Equipment As, Same Plant As

[Arizona Gary]

I have some Trader Joe's Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup. The label says, "Made on equipment shared with wheat." I have some Sam's Choice (Wal-Mart) Mountain Trail Mix that says, "Packed on the same equipment as wheat." I can't find a specific example right now, but I think I have seen a label that said "packed in the same plant as wheat." My question is how seriously do I need to take these cautions. Some of my relatives say it is just a cya warning but does not really mean anything.

[GlutenGalAZ]

It is more "your" choice. Some people react to very very small traces of gluten where they will not eat anything that is made on the same lines/plant as wheat products. Some people will still eat these items.

Some companies they clean the lines really good (where you don't have problems and some companies still clean the lines but some people tend to still have problems).

Personally I use to try certain products that had this disclaimer on it and if I do not have a problem with the product I would buy it again BUT if I had problems with the product then I would not buy/eat that item anymore.

For a few months now though I have been staying away from products that have this disclaimer on it.

Hope this helped some.

Good Luck with what you wanna do

[MaryJones2]

Welcome Gary. There is no correct answer to your question. I would not discount it as cya though. It really depends on how sensitive you are, what the product is, what else is made in the facility and the processes used by that manufacturer. Some people can consume products packed on the same equipment and others can't. Some can use products made by one company and not others. I am hyper sensitive and find that I often have problems with stuff made in the same facility and the same equipment is out of the question.

To give you two examples, cornmeal that is ground on the same equipment as wheat often has enough wheat residue to make it not gluten-free. Potato chips that are made in a facility that also makes crackers might not be gluten-free because of the flour floating around the facility.

[ShayFL]

If it just says...."manufactured in a facility that also manufactures wheat" and nothing else, I wont buy it.

If it says something like...." "We do not provide a gluten or allergy free statement for our products since the facility and production lines haven't been verified to run as such. We do follow strict Good Manufacturing Practices to minimize the potential for cross contamination but we do not test for the presence of allergens in our final product. "

I like to see some indication that they are aware of CC and the negative consequences it can have on certain people and are doing things to make sure that doesnt happen i.e. good manufacturing practices....

So far this has worked for me very well. No glutening from any products. Of course most of what I eat these days is from scratch and whole foods. But I do have the chip now and again.

[silly-ack]

I have some things from Trader Joes that says 'Gluten Free' right on the label, but says made in the same plant or may share equipment etc.

I talked to an operator at the celiac foundation and she told me that the rule is if it has a certain amount of anything (like 30 parts per million i think) it has to be included in the ingredients, so if it not in the ingrdients and just says "..same equipment.." then it shouldn't be enough for you to feel ill effects from.

But it's totally possibly that you could be sensitive enough to get sick from it, so you should try things and gauge your reactions.

Also, most companies put those kinds of disclaimers on packages just so they have an out if someone gets sick and decides to sue.

I personally don't normally have a problem with things like that, but everyone is different.

Good luck!

[Mtndog]

I think it's individual- I WILL eat something processed in the same factory but not shared equipment. I'm too sensitive.

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

I agree with Mtndog. I will eat foods manufactured in the same facility, but not on shared equipment. (at least not on purpose)

[Snow Angel]

I did try TJ's corn chowder this weekend and had mild gluten symptoms (dh & bloat) from either that or CC in my home. They follow "good manufacturing practice" so its really hard to tell. I am tempted to try it again when my BF's not home touching all my stuff with his gluteny hands. I always stock in their lentil and veg. chille, ate it forever, now im scared.... I so far have always had good luck with Amy's gluten-free soups/products, the soups are fantastic, my local shop is finally stocking more variety.

TJ's site

all Trader Joe's private label suppliers follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's). We work closely with all of the companies that manufacture our products and require that they are vigilant about minimizing and monitoring any potential cross contamination risk. Some of the steps taken to prevent cross contamination include education and training of employees about allergens, careful labeling and segregation of allergen ingredients, cleaning of lines between production runs and stringent scheduling of product runs. Manufacturers may even use alternate days to process products that contain allergens from those products that do not.

[Juliebove]

I agree with Mtndog. I will eat foods manufactured in the same facility, but not on shared equipment. (at least not on purpose)

Agreed.