Hershey's

[The Edifying Conscience]

I just had an interesting conversation with a Hershey rep and ultimately with her manager, David. I first asked for a list of all Hershey owned companies.

Hershey Owned Companies

Cadbury
Maunaloa
Jolly Rancher
Dagoba
Grupo Lorena - candy
Joseph Schmidt
Leaf
Lowney
Sharffenburger
York
Y & S

Then I asked how I as a celiac would know if a particular product contained gluten. The rep told me "the product label includes an accurate listing of ingredients." I asked how would I know if the natural flavoring contained a gluten ingredient. She said that I would have to call the company. I got a little TEC-like as Al would say at the craziness of the statement and asked to speak to her manager.

After I calmed, could listen and hear, David and I had what I would consider a good conversation. It's absolutely true that "the product label includes and accurate listing of ingredients." The problem is with how I/we interpret this statement due to my/our communications with celiac/GF friendly companies like Kraft. When I heard this statement I 'heard' something totally different than what they were saying. I gave the above statement a different meaning than the words intended.

I shared with David the fact that the statement is confusing to those of us who frequently contact companies and are familiar with other celiac-friendly labeling practices. I then asked him to ask the powers that be to change their response to the gluten free question. I said there is probably someone else who interpreted their GF line as I did and it would probably be safer to just say "Hershey does not list any gluten-containing ingredients on the label. In order to get the gluten-free status of a Hershey product you will need to ask a representative." He did concur in that there was confusion and they needed a more clear way to share gluten-free information with the public. He said he would forward the call transcript to the nutrition department.


Hershey Products that are Gluten-Free and Were Tested*
Kisses - Milk chocolate
Hershey Bar and Hershey Almond Bar
Jolly Rancher hard candy and lolly pops
Hershey's Cocoa - plain unsweetened
Unsweetened Baking Chocolate Bar and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar
Hershey Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Hershey Chocolate Syrup

*I asked David which tests were used to determine whether or not the products are gluten free and he didn't have an answer to this question.

[GFPolarBear]

GARRRGH and here I love Dagoba, which *is* labeled gluten-free, and Schaffenbarger...

Time to go refresh my memory on Ghirardelli's site on what of theirs we can have and what we can't...

Oh, and thanks for the info on Nestle, Al! <3 for Nestle right now!

Quick follow-up - it looks like Dagoba may have its head on straight even if its corporate parent doesn't...

[NorthernElf]

I dunno....I am 99.9% sure I get a reaction to Hershey's kisses.

We had a kid party a little while ago and that was the only thing I ate, and drank water, and didn't touch anything wheat like.

For me it's M&Ms only...and Purdy's chocolate if I can get it.

[Fidissimus]

TEC I really appreciate you calling Hersheys and nailing them down on the accuracies of defining what is and isn't GF. ((hugs)) Hopefully the ultimate outcome will be better understanding for them of the Celiac condition and consumer care. Did they say if they'd get back to you on what tests they might have used to make a definitive statement about those products you listed as GF? To what ppm did they test that they're saying they're GF? (Big diff between 10ppm and 200ppm...)

In regards to my own reaction, according to my branch manager (I'll call her Helen), "the only Hershey's product I used was natural cocoa, so that shouldn't be a problem I wouldn't think." And according to TEC then it really shouldn't be a problem. The other ingredients she listed were, "I used Authentic Flours, jello brand, Polanor Jam (which is marked gf), Tillamook butter, Hershey's products..." Everything else she lists is GF. She's also got a 100% GF household so CC wouldn't be an issue.

So I don't know then. I really despise the term "Phantom Gluten" - it had to come from somewhere and I think I'd be better off to figure out from where so I could avoid it in the future instead of shrugging my shoulders and repeatedly making myself sick. I didn't eat before I left. I had a cup of coffee (of course!) on my way there and was fine during the whole two hour meeting (98% of the time I react in 20 minutes). I strongly feel it was not the coffee - which I've also had a least 500 times before from the local coffee shop. After the meeting ended there were two sets of treats laid out on the back table. Angel Food cake and Helen's Raspberry Layered Chocolate Cake. I had a slice of Noreen's Angel food cake. It was amazing - so light and delicate with a hint of lemon... really a beautiful dessert. Then I started eating a small slice of the chocolate cake and a little red flag went off somewhere in the back of my head - "no, no, no - don't eat any more of this" so when poor Helen wasn't looking I pitched it in the bin! (and then ate another piece of the angel food cake ) It wasn't that the chocolate cake didn't taste good, but my body knew before my brain did and was trying to get the message out... Anyway maybe I won't ever know for sure and even though Helen listed all her ingredients which now seem to me to be GF - I can't pin point it. It's just frustrating for me. I have it in my head that I've been GF long enough and know enough about the diet that I shouldn't ever have to be sick again.

Anyway - thanks all for letting me vent. It was a rough weekend and a longer than usual recovery time...

As as side note I've never had a single problem with Dagoba... actually it's what I usually get when I need my chocolate fix because they've been so reliably GF for me. I think I'll stick to them and hope corporate Hershey doesn't muck about in their business.
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[mrsppmrxky]

MrP is my 'Canary in the MIne".

He can eat Hershey's plain bars, Hershey's chocolate chips semi-sweet, the Kisses that are in the baking session.

MrP reacts to the wrapped Kisses................we are thinking maybe it is a reaction to the foil???? Do some kisses that are flavored contain other gluten or corn possibly and was a reaction to CC????

Who knows, we just avoid them like the plague.
_________________

[The Edifying Conscience]

[aklap]

bump
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[aklap]

bump for Jenn [not Fid Jenn, the new Jenn ]

This explains the frustrations we feel when dealing with companies like this.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[ilovechocolate]

hey Al, and everyone else! I've actually changed my name (not because of this thread believe or not) to ilovechocolate. i was formely Jenn who just joined a few days ago.

I'm SOOOO craving chocolate right now and want to grab a kiss or something. Hmm, maybe I'll check out that Nestle site someone was talking about. It's tricky b/c I'm asymptomatic so I just want to have any chocolate!!

[ostrich]

I know how hard it can be. You just want to have chocolate and damned the consequences, especially since you're "silent". But I'd read this thread carefully before grabbing the next Kiss.
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[cruelshoes]

Hersheys has not changed their tune in the 2 years since this thread started.

Verified by phone 3/6/08:

*All allergens are disclosed as required by law (only the top 8 ).

*Natural Flavor is outsourced and that information is "proprietary and not given" and are not required to full disclosure (other than the eight allergens). They will not confirm or deny if their natural flavors contain gluten.

Honestly, I hung on to Hersheys as long as I could, but this "bovine scatology" is ridiculous. Natural flavors from Hersheys are not safe, and I have, sadly, given up most of their other products as well.
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[aklap]

That sucks, bites AND blows!

Thanks for update Colleen.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[The Edifying Conscience]

[ostrich]

Ditto what Colleen said. I gave all my Kisses away and switched to Starburst.

Thanks a bunch for the update Colleen!
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[aklap]