E.D Smith

[Cheryl-C]

This is an email I received from the people at E.D Smith this week. Just thought I'd share in case anyone else was curious:

Dear Cheryl,

Thank you for requesting information regarding E.D Smith products. We are always pleased to hear from consumers who have enjoyed our products, and are concerned that your diet now requires special needs.

Our manufacturing facility is not gluten-free, however, cross-contamination between products with differing ingredients that are produced on the same line is prevented by sanitation and processing procedures such as flushing the lines to drain, a hot water rinse, or complete sanitation washups as required.

Attached, please find a listing of our E.D Smith and Habitant Brand gluten-free grocery products, which we hope you will find useful.We appreciate your interest in our products and thank you for your inquiry.

Here is the attached list:

E.D Smith gluten-free grocery list

PIE FILLINGS

Apple

Blueberry

Cherry

Cherry Cranberry

Lemon

Mincemeat

Mincemeat with Rum & Brandy

Wildberry

Peach/Passionfruit

Pure Pumpkin

Raisin

Raspberry

Rhubarb/Strawberry

Strawberry

Light& Fruity Cherry Filling

JAM/MARMALADE

Black Currant pure jam

Seedless Raspberry pure jam

Seedless Strawberry pure jam

Mint Jelly

Strawberry pure jam

Raspberry pure jam

Pure Orange Marmalade

Lemon Spread

NO SUGAR ADDED FRUIT/MARMALADE

Table syrup

Butter syrup

Strawberry spread

Raspberry spread

Seedless Strawberry spread

Apricot Peach Passionfruit spread

Orange Lemon Lime Marmalade

SPA FRUITS

NSA Raspberry spread

NSA Strawberry spread

***

Being new to all this, I'm not sure what to think about the production-line issue. I haven't eaten any jam since going gluten-free so I don't know if it's risky or if I'll end up suffering some cc. Has anyone here had any trouble with E.D Smith?

I miss jam.

[heatherjane]

I haven't had that brand, nor am I am big jam/jelly person, but Welch's website says that all of their products are gluten free, which would include their jams/jellies.

It sounds from E.D.'s email that they try to take good precautions to avoid cross-contamination. (I'm actually impressed that they took the time to explain their cleaning process). I think it's a judgment call you'd have to make. Some celiacs stay far away from anything made on shared lines (or facilities), as do I, but some would not see it as much of a risk if the lines are thoroughly cleaned.

[kareng]

They talk about cc but do they really make anything on those lines with gluten? If the list they gave you is all of thier products, then maybe they couldn't cc for gluten. They may be talking about cc of strawberry when making cherry.

also, the fact that they had a clue about what you are asking, makes me feel more confident in getting thier products.

[heatherjane]

They talk about cc but do they really make anything on those lines with gluten? If the list they gave you is all of thier products, then maybe they couldn't cc for gluten. They may be talking about cc of strawberry when making cherry.

also, the fact that they had a clue about what you are asking, makes me feel more confident in getting thier products.

I agree. Many companies are just trying to avoid legal issues. I've learned that sometimes you just have to use common sense when deciphering their responses.

[Cheryl-C]

I had the same thought - they probably don't make things with gluten, considering they are a jam/jelly company. Of course, now I'm going to be suspicious of anything listing "glucose" after the issue with Western Creamery...ugh.

However, as a side note, I received an email from Greaves jam/jelly company that had even better news:

Hi Cheryl:

Thank you for your interest in our products. All of our products are gluten free except our Relish. There is no possibility of cross contamination as the Relish is made totally separately and the entire line and equipment is completely sanitized before anything else is produced. Please enjoy all of other products. Thanks Bonnie

This email made me happy because I love, love Greaves jam!

[heatherjane]

I had the same thought - they probably don't make things with gluten, considering they are a jam/jelly company. Of course, now I'm going to be suspicious of anything listing "glucose" after the issue with Western Creamery...ugh.

However, as a side note, I received an email from Greaves jam/jelly company that had even better news:

Hi Cheryl:

Thank you for your interest in our products. All of our products are gluten free except our Relish. There is no possibility of cross contamination as the Relish is made totally separately and the entire line and equipment is completely sanitized before anything else is produced. Please enjoy all of other products. Thanks Bonnie

This email made me happy because I love, love Greaves jam!

Are you in the US? If a product is manufactured in the US, they are required by law to clearly identify indgredients derived from wheat, since it is considered one of the 8 major allergens.

[Cheryl-C]

Are you in the US? If a product is manufactured in the US, they are required by law to clearly identify indgredients derived from wheat, since it is considered one of the 8 major allergens.

No, I'm in Toronto, Canada. I wish we had the same clear labels here. Or better yet: "This product contains gluten/This product does not contain gluten." Sigh.