Misleading gluten-free Labelling At Whole Foods

[NicoleAJ]

These reporters at the Chicago Tribune seemed to be well informed about their research into allergy labelling. I still trust the gluten free bakehouse products because they are produced in a gluten-free facility, but I'll definitely think twice before buying some of the 360 Everyday WF products that say that they use good manufacturing practices to segregate products in the same facility.

I was particularly surprised at the level of gluten found in Wellshire farms products-- up to 1200 ppms in the "gluten free" hot dogs!

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[DarkIvy]

Ugh, that's so scary.

I'm so glad the Chicago Tribune is bringing a bit of light to this topic, though. That's huge!

I've been wondering about some of the Whole Foods stuff for a while. It's a little bit misleading, as some of the stuff is marked gluten-free, but then you read the label and it may not necessarily be gluten-free. For a while, one of the WF I go to had gluten-free muffins baked fresh every day... in their bakery full of wheat and sitting right next to the gluteny muffins on the bakery shelf. I had some employee try to convince me that they were safe but I said I'd pass.

The article pointed out something I've been wondering for a while myself: how does one interpret labels that say something "may" contain x and y ingredients? Stronger labeling would be nice. I understand that companies may not always know for sure, but a "may or may not" statement is going to deter someone with celiac or severe allergies anyway, so they might as well be more honest. Even "this product is very likely to contain x and y" or "not suitable for folks with the following allergens: ___" would be nice. It's almost like the "may contain" is so non-commital that it really can be interpreted either way. They absolutely should be more clear.

Also, I think it would be nice if they could list barely, oats, and rye more clearly, too. Just because something is "wheat free" doesn't mean it is gluten free, as we all know, and I'm always wondering what's what.

[darlindeb25]

Here is the second part of the article. It focuses on Whole Foods practice of using the label "Good manufacturing practices,were used to segregate" potential allergens such as tree nuts, soy or milk".

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Wheat dust in the tortilla plant "is really impossible to segregate" from non-wheat products, McCabe said.

Bueno cleans equipment and uses separate assembly lines for different products, he said. But wheat dust is so tiny and prevalent at the plant, he added, that "I could be breathing in wheat dust right now, and I'm two buildings away, in an office."

But the Tribune found that many tortillas currently for sale have neither warning stickers nor new packaging with the proper language

[happygirl]

Same article - merged the two threads together.

[darlindeb25]

I had not seen Nicole's thread, sorry. The forum is very irratic as of late, wouldn't open again this morning for a time. I would have joined hers had I seen it first.

Thank you happygirl!

[darlindeb25]

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Feedburner is a great program. Click on the link, then scroll down to the Chicago Tribune, and you can listen to Steve and Johnnie (Steve is a celiac too), interview the writer of the article. It's in 3 parts, and very interesting.

[happygirl]

related article and statement from Glutino: Open Original Shared Link

[NicoleAJ]

Thanks Deb for posting the radio interview--it was really interesting to hear the journalist's view and hear such great press for awareness of intolerances and food allergies.

[JNBunnie1]

Thanks Deb for posting the radio interview--it was really interesting to hear the journalist's view and hear such great press for awareness of intolerances and food allergies.

Have I mentioned I'm never buying anything from Wellshire Farms again?