Danactive Probiotic Yogurt Drink

[Midwest]

Before I found out that I couldn't have gluten, I used to drink the small DanActive yogurt drinks a lot. The other day I saw them in the grocery store, checked the ingredient list & looked for any allergy warnings, and considering it safe, I purchased a batch.

This morning for breakfast I had milk, a banana, and one Danactive. About 15 mins later my throat started closing up which for me is a tell-tale sign of glutening.

So I immediately started an internet search and found some past references to the product. Apparently Dannon does not say their products are gluten-free but rather gluten "safe." In other words they do use gluten as a stabilizer but must feel it is in such tiny amounts to be harmless.

Anyhow, my body didn't lie and quickly pointed out the hidden gluten to me. Now I see it as a blessing that I am as sensitive as I am to spot such things quickly. The rest of the Danactive goes in the trash when I get home.

I just wanted to post this to warn others who may not realize there is an issue with this product. Their labeling is misleading and since I thought the law required them to post possible allergens, I would consider it criminal.

[psawyer]

  On 6/18/2010 at 1:02 PM, Midwest said:

In other words they do use gluten as a stabilizer but must feel it is in such tiny amounts to be harmless.

Can you cite an authorative source for this allegation that there is gluten as an ingredient? What, exactly, is it listed as in the ingredients list?

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 6/18/2010 at 2:43 PM, psawyer said:

Can you cite an authorative source for this allegation that there is gluten as an ingredient? What, exactly, is it listed as in the ingredients list?

I had a hard time finding the ingredient list for this product and the site would not let me copy it. It does contain 'natural flavors', while I don't know for sure if that is the gluten source it could be. Note I am not saying this is or isn't for sure gluten free but a statement like 'gluten safe' would keep me from trying the product. To me that says that it may contain gluten but at a low level. I do recall others having issues with these products.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Yikes. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm addicted to making my own yogurt in my crockpot. If you like to drink your yogurt then you will really like homemade yogurt as it tends to be thinner then store brands.

[Midwest]

I just got off the phone with a DanActive representative and she confirmed that DanActive Probiotic drinks are not gluten free. She said they use the term "gluten safe" and "not gluten safe" instead of gluten-free and containing gluten. She mentioned about three products that they consider "gluten safe" (I explained to her that this term is very misleading as there is no "safe" level of gluten for people who are intolerant to it.

I explained that the packaging is misleading. As a "not gluten safe" item, there is nothing at all to indicate the presence of wheat, rye, barley, or malt. And so it is a hidden gluten. I explained that all they need to do is change the labeling to add something to the effect of "May contain traces of gluten" to cover themselves and also let us gluten intolerant folks know.

I told her that 1 in 130 people are expected to have gluten related issues and so their product is affecting a larger base than they realize.

She was very nice and said she was going to pass my comments on along (and she asked several other questions related to the product date, when I ate it, with what other items, etc.).

I told her that in it's current state of packaging, DanActive is a problem for all unaware people with gluten problems and that I hope they'll change things so as to prevent harm/pain to those people. It's not that people don't like Dannon as a company, I said, but that we need to be properly informed so we can choose gluten vs. non-gluten products properly.

[buffettbride]

Dannon is notoriously a bad labeler. I stick with Yoplait.

[Skylark]

Not disclosing wheat ingredients is a violation of FDA allergen labeling rules. Here is how to report your reaction and Dannon's admission that there is undisclosed wheat in their product.

Open Original Shared Link

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 6/22/2010 at 9:04 PM, Skylark said:

Not disclosing wheat ingredients is a violation of FDA allergen labeling rules. Here is how to report your reaction and Dannon's admission that there is undisclosed wheat in their product.

Open Original Shared Link

Thanks for the link it will be helpful and I will be bookmarking it.

It is true that wheat has to be disclosed but barley can be added as a 'flavoring' and not be disclosed. Oats and rye also do not have to be disclosed but they are rarely an issue as they are not used as a flavoring like barley is. Hopefully The regulations that allow other gluten ingredients to not be listed if they are in small amounts will change soon.

[Lisa]

  On 6/22/2010 at 7:36 PM, buffettbride said:

Dannon is notoriously a bad labeler. I stick with Yoplait.

I second that! I like to buy products that are open and willing to label their stuff "gluten free"

Here - Here for Yoplait!!!

[StephanieGF]

  On 6/22/2010 at 9:04 PM, Skylark said:

Not disclosing wheat ingredients is a violation of FDA allergen labeling rules. Here is how to report your reaction and Dannon's admission that there is undisclosed wheat in their product.

Open Original Shared Link

Remember, it might not be wheat. CC with oats, barely or rye (my guess would be some sort of barely malt) could cause trace amounts of gluten to be in the product. There are no requirements to disclose that.

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 6/23/2010 at 10:58 AM, StephanieGF said:

Remember, it might not be wheat. CC with oats, barely or rye (my guess would be some sort of barely malt) could cause trace amounts of gluten to be in the product. There are no requirements to disclose that.

Exactly and there is also no requirement to label if an item is make with gluten free ingredients but has a risk of cross contamination in the plant. Even if wheat is used in other products.

[Midwest]

I spoke to a friend last night who has a lot of knowledge of food processors, labeling, etc.

He said that the reason why Dannon does not have to disclose any gluten for the DanActive line is because it is not technically considered a food.

How is that you ask? It is because it contains "probiotics." Apparently by including the probiotic line in the description of this yogurt, it falls outside the range of FDA requirements just like the FDA does not get involved in anything that claims to related to vitamins, etc. The allergen statements apparently are not required of vendors outside the "food" zone. So technically Dannon is not breaking FDA regulations on allergen disclosures with this product.