Listerine

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

So I just called Johnson & Johnson about Listerine. I was under the impression that it is gluten free...but wanted to double check. They said that there is no gluten in the product, but they do not actually test the product for gluten. So that was ok. But then I asked where the alcohol is derived from...and they said either natural sources (grain) or synthetic sources (petroleum). So then I asked if you don't know which one, and you don't know which grain- how can they really claim there are no gluten ingredients? She just re-iterated the same thing.

So I was just wondering if anyone had called them and got a similar response- or if anyone uses it without a problem. Just curious. I know that the Crest mouthwash is GF but I really didn't like it so I'm looking for an alternative.
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Rachel

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Did the say if the grain alcohol is distilled? If it's distilled, it GF unless something has been added after the fact.

Distilling removes the gluten molecules - they are too large to make it thru the process into the distillate.

Of course they could use corn as the grain...

http://forums.glutenfree.com/viewtopic.php?p=8132 - Distilling info
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Al

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

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

you know- I forgot to ask them if it was distilled. But they couldn't pin down the grain- or if it was even natural. I was hoping they'd say that it was from a GF grain- but all they could tell me was grain. It might be synthetic and they said there was no way for them to figure that out.
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Rachel

lorka · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 265

I use the listerine with fluoride (the dentist one), and I have been using it for about two years. I haven't called recently, but when I bought it verified it was safe.
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Fidissimus · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 1881 Location: Portland, OR.

I was also under the impression that it was safe and have been using it for a few years without incident. Though your comments make me nervous! How can they say it's GF if they don't know what's in it and they don't test for gluten? Wha?! Confused

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Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
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rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

I'll call them again and asked about the distilling part- maybe it is distilled and that's why they say that. I'll post the response when I get it. I tried to also send them an email but their system was down.
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Rachel

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

I'd venture to guess that most companies that say their product is GF do not do any testing. At least it's been my experience when I talk to companies and ask about testing.
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Al

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

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

I would assume the same about the testing. That wasn't the part that made me nervous...she just sounded so clueless and when she couldn't pin down the grain- that was a little strange. But maybe it is because it is distilled and they don't worry about it. I'll call them again today.
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Rachel

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

I had a similar experience in 2005 when I called about Tanqueray Gin.
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Al

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

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

ok, so I just called them again and got the same response (different person). She obviously didn't get what I was asking. She said again that there is no gluten ingredient listed but they can not say for sure the actual status of the product because they don't test it. I said that I understood that but I wanted to find out more information on the alcohol ingredient and whether it is distilled. She came back and said that they had no information on the alcohol ingredient and could NOT tell me if it was distilled. So I said, if you are not sure from where the alcohol is derived either grain or synthetic and you don't know if the alcohol is distilled, how can you say that there is no gluten in your ingredient list as the alcohol could be from a grain and if it isn't distilled- then would contain gluten? (I said it all really nicely, don't worry!). She said the same thing again- there is no gluten on the list of ingredients. Then she said I don't know how I could explain it any clearer. So I said thank you.
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Rachel

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Perhaps a bit of detective work might help...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listerine

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

hmmm...thanks Al.

That's a lot of info on ethanol! But, we are still not sure where the ethanol comes from. At the end of the day- it will probably end up being synthetic after doing all this research!
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Rachel