Anybody Have Problems With Caramel Coloring?

[Tidings]

Wondering if anybody here has noticed a problem after ingesting foods containing Caramel coloring?

For some reason, drinking a caffeine-free Pepsi seems to bother my eyes (glaucomatous) and was wondering if others have any problems with caramel?

Found this at www.Gluten-free Casein-free.com/unacceptable.htm:

"Caramel Color****(MAY indicate the presence of milk protein) The problem with caramel color is it may or may not contain gluten depending on how it is manufactured. In the U.S.A. caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statute says: "the color additive caramel is the dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates: Dextrose (corn sugar), Invert sugar, Lactose (milk sugar), Malt syrup (usually from barley malt), Molasses (from cane), Starch Hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), Sucrose (cane or beet)." Also, acids, alkalis and salts are listed as additives which may be employed to assist the caramelization process."

P.S. This may be posted in wrong category, but am not sure how to relocate it. ???

[psawyer]

This may be posted in wrong category, but am not sure how to relocate it. ???

You can't. I can. I did.

As to the question, caramel color is one of those celiac urban myths that just won't go away.

Here is Shelley Case's take on it, from Gluten-Free Diet A Comprehensive Resource Guide:

Although gluten-containing ingredients (barley malt syrup and starch hydrolysates) can be used in the production of caramel color, North American companies use corn as it has a longer shelf life and makes a superior product. European companies use glucose derived from wheat starch, however caramel color is highly processed and contains no gluten.

[Emphasis in original]

I don't worry about caramel color. There is phosphoric acid in that cola, which can be hard on the digestive system, especially one that has been damaged by celiac disease.

[Skylark]

Gosh, there's a lot of stuff in Pepsi. Lots of phosphoric acid, sugar to spike your blood sugar, natural flavorings that you could be allergic to, and some people find they're sensitive to carmel color in a non-celiac way.

[seashele2]

As stated previouisly, in the US, caramel color is derived from corn if it is not labeled. (Some health food companies will derive their caramel color from other ingredients, but they list the source.) My daughter is corn allergic so have had 17 years experience with that one. However, that doesn't mean it's not the caramel coloring bothering you. Do other types of corn bother you?

Researchers have known since 1978 that corn gluten causes reactions in celiacs, the same as wheat, rye, oats and barley do. They decided, probably with the help of the very powerful corn lobby, that since all celiacs don't react, they wouldn't add it to prohibited grains. I can't remember the study data after all these years, but it was either 40% reacted or 40% did not react, which means 40% -60% of celiacs react negatively to corn and it causes celiac damage.

Since my daughter (who is also celiac) is corn allergic, we don't buy gluten-free stuff that contains corn derived ingredients anyway and even for my husband do not purchase anything with the toxic-for-your-liver high fructose corn syrup in it. I do have to admit, the couple times a year they have brought Pepsi & Mountain Dew Throwback and now 125th anniversary Dr. Pepper out (all sugar sweetened), I have been partaking even with the corn caramel color. I have been feeling very tired, but don't know if that's the cause or if it's from other health/allergy problems I have.

I hope you zero in on what's causing the problems for you.

Michelle

Western Washington State

[psawyer]

Researchers have known since 1978 that corn gluten causes reactions in celiacs, the same as wheat, rye, oats and barley do. They decided, probably with the help of the very powerful corn lobby, that since all celiacs don't react, they wouldn't add it to prohibited grains. I can't remember the study data after all these years, but it was either 40% reacted or 40% did not react, which means 40% -60% of celiacs react negatively to corn and it causes celiac damage.

Who are these researchers, and where can I read their published peer-reviewed studies?

[Tidings]

As stated previouisly, in the US, caramel color is derived from corn if it is not labeled. (Some health food companies will derive their caramel color from other ingredients, but they list the source.) My daughter is corn allergic so have had 17 years experience with that one. However, that doesn't mean it's not the caramel coloring bothering you. Do other types of corn bother you?

Hi Michelle,

You asked "Do other types of corn bother you?"

I hope not, because I grew up in "corn country" and am practically "addicted" to corn. (Yes, I know: Often the foods we love the most can be the ones we're actually allergic to...)

Anyway, I've been wondering lately if CORN might be a problem, and will try to cut back or eliminate it for a while and see if I notice any positive improvements.

That 1978 research you cite does sound worrisome and it seems odd that it's not been mentioned (to my knowledge) in any of the celiac books I've read. I do know that wheat, corn, eggs, etc. are VERY common allergens. Might be worth the "pain" to avoid corn for a while and see what happens--but it won't be easy: Corn and corn by-products are almost as ubiquitous as wheat and gluten; very hard to avoid.

One thing I have noticed is when I cut out SUGAR and anything with that awful high-fructose corn syrup, I don't CRAVE sugary stuff and don't even feel very hungry. It must be because my blood sugar is not spiking and doing roller-coaster-like ups and downs. When I do eat things with sugar (like--rarely--gluten-free pancakes with maple syrup), I feel hungry more often and when the blood sugar drops off, it's a precipitous drop and a hard fall.

[Tidings]

Gosh, there's a lot of stuff in Pepsi. Lots of phosphoric acid, sugar to spike your blood sugar, natural flavorings that you could be allergic to, and some people find they're sensitive to carmel color in a non-celiac way.

Hi, Skylark.

Yes, that "natural flavorings" thing is always worrisome. I don't know why FDA allows such vague terminology in the ingredients listings on foods. Why can't they just tell us WHAT it is that we are ingesting? All too often, "natural flavorings" or "natural spices" just means monosodium glutamate or something else that can cause problems for sensitive people. Oops--maybe I just answered my own question! There does still seem to be a lot of skirting around the issue in the vague terms used on product labels. Hope this changes one of these days and manufacturers are forced to reveal the true ingredients in all products we ingest, whether in foodstuffs or cosmetics. There is no excuse for not doing so--except, as someone suggested, powerful lobbyists usually manage to get their own self-serving agendas met and we the consumers are left with the consequences.

[psawyer]

All too often, "natural flavorings" or "natural spices" just means monosodium glutamate or something else that can cause problems for sensitive people

There are many forms of glutamic acid that can hide under other names, but flavorings and spices are not among them. Spices in an ingredient list refers to members of a specific list of ingredients, none of which are grains, or MSG. Flavorings could possibly include hidden barley, but barley is an expensive ingredient so it is almost always declared as "malt."

[Skylark]

Hi, Skylark.

Yes, that "natural flavorings" thing is always worrisome. I don't know why FDA allows such vague terminology in the ingredients listings on foods. Why can't they just tell us WHAT it is that we are ingesting? All too often, "natural flavorings" or "natural spices" just means monosodium glutamate or something else that can cause problems for sensitive people. Oops--maybe I just answered my own question! There does still seem to be a lot of skirting around the issue in the vague terms used on product labels. Hope this changes one of these days and manufacturers are forced to reveal the true ingredients in all products we ingest, whether in foodstuffs or cosmetics. There is no excuse for not doing so--except, as someone suggested, powerful lobbyists usually manage to get their own self-serving agendas met and we the consumers are left with the consequences.

You seem to be assuming that it is some chemical causing you problems. Cola flavoring contains vanilla, citrus oil, and cinnamon, all of which can be allergenic. I'm still betting on the sugar. Blood sugar fluctuations are not good for glaucoma and Pepsi is like a glucose challenge in a can.

As far as "natural flavorings", in the US, we are in a market-driven society. The FDA is pretty specific about the small amounts of flavorings that don't need to be declared, and they must all be on the GRAS list. Consumers have the right to vote with your money and not purchase products that do not disclose all their ingredients. As we keep reminding each other on this board, processed foods are very optional!

As for corn, all the peer-reviewed studies I've seen establish its safety in celiacs. I would also like to see the reference, and something from 1978 seems a little suspect if it hasn't been reproduced recently as celiac testing was not nearly as accurate then.

[Tidings]

Skylark wrote, "You seem to be assuming that it is some chemical causing you problems. Cola flavoring contains vanilla, citrus oil, and cinnamon, all of which can be allergenic. I'm still betting on the sugar."

--Could be. Don't recall using the word "chemical"; was just wondering if caramel coloring bothers folks. (Will continue to monitor and note any side-effects from caramel coloring...)

"FDA is pretty specific about the small amounts of flavorings that don't need to be declared, and they must all be on the GRAS list."

Any idea where we can find a list of GRAS foodstuffs?!

By the way, found this interesting recipe online:

"This is supposedly the original Pepsi-Cola recipe. It was submitted to a court in the USA when Pepsi-Cola filed for bankruptcy in 1923.

Ingredients:

7500 lbs. Sugar - standard confectioners 12 gal. Caramel - burnt sugar colour

Up to 1200 gallons Water 12 gal. Lime Juice

58 lbs. Phosphoric Acid - S.G. 1.750

Flavourings:

[lovegrov]

I'm not sure where Michelle came up with this suppressed research about corn and she hasn't provided a source, but I wouldn't worry about it. For what she said to be true, every single celiac expert I know of and every celiac pub and every study I've read would have to be in on the coverup of this news that 40-60 percent of people with celiac are damaged by corn. In addition, that 40-60 percent of people who are getting sick would have to stay quiet. That's an awful lot of people for the corn industry to buy off.

Absent any new, Earth-shattering information, the only grains people with celiac have to worry about are wheat, rye, barley and oats. And some people can eat uncontaminated oats.

richard

[CarolinaKip]

I was a hardcore pepsi max girl. I gave it up because of the carbonation. I gave up coffee too. I can drink earl grey tea semi okay. It could be the bubbles that bother you.... Although there isn't anything in pepsi thats healthy.

[Skylark]

Neato! I always wondered what was in Pepsi.

Here is the main page for the FDA GRAS lists.

Open Original Shared Link

At the very bottom of the page are the links to the electronic Code of Federal Regulations which has the full lists. 21 CFR Part 182 is the main list, with more stuff added in part 184. Wheat gluten is on there.

I was always intrigued that Coke was originally sold as a health tonic. My father told me that coke syrup (without the carbonation) was sold for upset stomachs. It originally had cocaine in it as well as caffeine. Part of the flavoring is still coca leaf extract and kola nut extract.

[kareng]

When I was a kid, we had Coke syrup by prescription in the fridge at all times for my delicate stomach. Tasted great! Wonder what was up with that touchy stomach?