Con Agra Response To gluten-free Inquiry

[elocin71]

Thank you for your email concerning our Healthy Choice Fudge Bars.

We understand how important it is for people who have been medically diagnosed with gluten sensitivity to obtain accurate information about our food to help plan their meals and diets. And we continue to look for ways to meet the dietary needs of our consumers.

Since wheat is a major food allergen, if it is used in the product it would be listed in the contains statement following the ingredients list. The flour used in many of our products is wheat flour and you should avoid these products if you have gluten sensitivities. If any ingredient in the product includes rye or barley, it will be listed in parentheses immediately following the ingredient. Oats do not contain gluten, but they frequently have been exposed to wheat or barley and are not recommended for celiac patients. If Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors, or Spices listed in the ingredients list contain wheat, rye or barley, these ingredients would be listed in parenthesis immediately following the ingredient. Some fermented or distilled products such as vinegar may be derived from wheat. Most of the vinegar in our products is distilled and through the distilling process protein gluten is removed.

If modified food starch is contained in a product, the source will be called out on the label. If a product just says 'modified food starch' it will be corn unless otherwise noted.

Starting January of 2012, we began producing the following brands validated as gluten-free with gluten-free printed on their labels:

-Cocoa: Swiss Miss all varieties

-Egg Beaters: all varieties

-Tomatoes: Hunt's all varieties (excluding Pasta Sauces, Tomato Sauces and Ketchups)

-Orville Redenbacher's: all Ready to Eat varieties

Below is a list of some of our other products that do not contain added gluten*

Category/Brand/Items

-PAM Cooking Spray: all varieties except PAM Baking

-Hebrew National: all items except Franks in a Blanket

-Wesson oils: all varieties

-Peter Pan Peanut Butter: all varieties

-Popcorn: Act II microwave, Orville Redenbacher jar and microwave, excluding Crunch n Munch and Poppycock

-Pudding: Swiss Miss & Snack Pack, excludes those containing Tapioca

-Spreads: Parkay, Blue Bonnet, Fleischmann's and Move Over Butter

-David Seeds: all varieties

-Tomato Sauces: Hunt's tomato paste and sauces excluding pasta sauces

-Ketchup: Hunt's all varieties

-Reddi-Wip: all varieties

-Ro*Tel Tomatoes (excluding sauces)

*These items have been identified as not containing gluten. They are not currently routinely tested to affirm they contain less than 20ppm gluten for a 'gluten-free' claim.

We always advise consumers who may have sensitivities to recheck the ingredient list on each package. Products are oftentimes reformulated and the ingredients may change. If you have additional questions about your personal dietary needs, please consult your doctor or a registered dietitian.

[Lisa]

Yup! Con Agra is one of the good guys. I like to support them in every way I am able.

[elocin71]

i was surprised that their response was so thorough because of old posts that came up on here about their fudge bars. happily surprised

[bartfull]

I wish they would label all corn ingredients too.

[IrishHeart]

Here is what confuses people:

Starting January of 2012, we began producing the following brands validated as gluten-free with gluten-free printed on their labels:

-Tomatoes: Hunt's all varieties (excluding Pasta Sauces, Tomato Sauces and Ketchups)

Below is a list of some of our other products that do not contain added gluten*

*These items have been identified as not containing gluten. They are not currently routinely tested to affirm they contain less than 20ppm gluten for a 'gluten-free' claim.

-Tomato Sauces: Hunt's tomato paste and sauces excluding pasta sauces

-Ketchup: Hunt's all varieties

So, they are saying??:

These items do not contain gluten, but we do not routinely test them for the presence of gluten, and we do not ADD any gluten, but we do not put a certified gluten free label on them.

This company is GREAT about labeling something if it "contains wheat" , so I am guessing this all just means:

They are gluten free as far as we know.

Is that about right?

[Darn210]

They are gluten free by design (recipe) but they do not test to verify.

Pretty much what happens at my house when I cook.

[IrishHeart]

They are gluten free by design (recipe) but they do not test to verify.

Pretty much what happens at my house when I cook.

And that works for me....what time is dinner, J??