Glutened By Chicken Stock Cubes :(

[Marz]

Nothing like a bit of unintentional glutening to remind you every now and then that "Yup, definitely gluten intolerant..." The worst part is I checked all the ingredients carefully, and everything looked fine, they even mentioned "maize flour" so I thought they were nice to use a gluten-free starch for once. And I was in a rush.... never ever be in a rush while shopping for new ingredients...

Didn't bother to search the pack for the allergen warning label. Something that's often missing on local brands anyway, so I assumed there was nothing.

When I checked this morning after a lovely chicken stew (That didn't go down so lovely) - found the warning stating "Gluten". Why don't they put the allergen warning right next to the ingredients? Why hide it in the smallest font possible on the most obscure part of the pack?

Looking forward to the rash, stomach pain/cramps, nausea and being emotionally unstable for the next few days....*sigh*

[Diane-in-FL]

So sorry that happened. What brand was it?

[lovegrov]

What are the laws concerning listing gluten in South Africa? In the U.S. we're just happy to discover that a company will list any gluten since by law all they HAVE to list is wheat.

richard

[Marz]

What are the laws concerning listing gluten in South Africa? In the U.S. we're just happy to discover that a company will list any gluten since by law all they HAVE to list is wheat.

richard

There are laws in place, but it's pretty much "self-regulated" which makes me very wary

Some new labelling regulations were put in place the last year or two, and companies had until March 2011 to comply. Some companies just went with "Not suitable for people with celiac disease" which upsets me greatly as they didn't have wheat/gluten listed before, and I was happily eating the items before without much problems - now I can't chance it.

The new law passed in March 2010 : Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link - not the most prestigious website for factual info, but this summarizes it nicely.

I can't find the website where I found the information previously, but they specifically said they are relying on companies reporting competing companies for non-compliance.

The most important changes in labelling in South Africa have to do with nutritional value information on products. For example, smoothies can no longer be advertised as 98% fat free. Instead, the label must show that they contain 2% fat. Under the new regulations, manufacturers will not be allowed to make nutritional claims about food products unless:

* the food has been analysed in an accredited laboratory.

* the nutrient content is greater than a specified amount per serving.

Common allergens such as gluten, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish or crustaceans, or significant cereals (wheat, rye, barley and oats) must be indicated clearly on food labels.

The Barley one is quite important - so many sweet/chocolate manufacturers have been hiding Barley/Malt Extract in "Flavours" and it's driving me nuts!