Question About Food Labels

[speedy2056]

Does anybody know whether a specific food or drink's label HAS to state whether that food or drink was made in a factory that contains gluten?

The reason I ask is because I bought strawberry flavoured milk yesterday from a store here in the UK and I came down with anxiety and shortness of breath again. I know some of you may say that I could be allergic to milk and dairy but I drink normal milk just fine.

There was nothing in the ingredients to indicate that the drink itself contained gluten.

Is it mandatory for it to be stated on labels that foods are made in factories with gluten? I came down with a reaction yesterday and there were no ingredients indicating that the strawberry flavoured milk I drank contained any gluten but I felt anxiety and a rapid heart rate shortly after consuming it, followed by irritability - the symptoms I suffer normally when I'm glutened.

I called the store and they weren't very helpful other than to call on Monday to get further information, but I was just wondering whether it was mandatory to state this?

I'm from the UK and I couldn't find any information about this issue.

[bartfull]

Strawberry FLAVORED milk. I bet the flaviring had something in it, or it could be, if they used real strawberries in their flavoring, that thoses strawberries were mulched with wheat straw. I learned right here that commercially grown strawberries often are.

[kareng]

In the US, I don't think they have to say same facility or even equipment.

I would think it unlikely that a place that makes milk would make anything with gluten, Maybe they make chocolate malt flavored milk?

[psawyer]

Is it mandatory for it to be stated on labels that foods are made in factories with gluten?

No, it is not in any jurisdiction that I am aware of. Such a declaration is completely voluntary.

[speedy2056]

First of all, I want to apologise for submitting another post on this issue soon after because I didn't think to look at other forums to see whether my post was moved.

Anyway, I am still quite new to this. So, flavoring ingredients can contain wheat/gluten? Okay. And that's interesting about the strawberries coming into contact with wheat before being made for the drink. That's another plausible theory.

I'm staying away from that brand of drink from now on.

[psawyer]

I would imagine that the strawberries are washed after harvesting. No recognized authority has suggested that fresh fruit of any kind is a concern for gluten.

[kareng]

First of all, I want to apologise for submitting another post on this issue soon after because I didn't think to look at other forums to see whether my post was moved.

Anyway, I am still quite new to this. So, flavoring ingredients can contain wheat/gluten? Okay. And that's interesting about the strawberries coming into contact with wheat before being made for the drink. That's another plausible theory.

I'm staying away from that brand of drink from now on.

Staying away from that brand sounds like a good idea. Something didn't work for you.

[GlutenGladi8or]

I bought strawberry flavoured milk yesterday from a store here in the UK and I came down with anxiety and shortness of breath again.

Unfortunately, when a food or beverage item says "strawberry flavoured", the manufacturer can add the berry flavor without ANY actual fruit. Yep, they rely on a medley of man made chemicals to mimic the flavor. Hence, the word "artificial flavors"!

If this is the case, your reaction most likely is to a chemical that was made in a lab. Without seeing the actual ingredients, I can only guess at this time.

The less ingredients we ingest (and more WHOLE foods) the less guessing you have to do when these types of issues arise.