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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10602
Location: WI, USA
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 Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject: Companies that don't go above and beyond in labling |
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After receiving a response from Pinnacle and Sara Lee on the same day, I thought it might be nice to have a thread that lists the companies that don't make it easy for us to purchase their products. Understand - they do in fact follow the rules of the law - but nothing more...
On the flip-side, we do have a list of companies that do go above and beyond their legal responsibility when it comes to labeling allergens. It just goes to show that it is possible to label gluten effectively.
Which type of company would you rather patronize?
Can any one think of another company that might belong here?
Pinnacle Foods
| on 4/7/09 a Pinnacle CSR wrote: | Dear Al:
Thank you for taking the time to contact Consumer Insights regarding your
recent purchase of Pinnacle Foods. It gives us great pride to have the
opportunity to interact with the individuals who use our products.
Since we are constantly improving our products, ingredients change on a
regular basis which may affect gluten based ingredients. With that, we
must recommend that you review the list of ingredients on the current
package prior to purchase to ensure that you are meeting your specific
dietary needs. There is no gluten in natural flavorings, per USDA's
directive for what is allowed to be called "flavors" or "natural flavors"
(spices/spice extracts).
On labeling, we disclose all ingredients in compliance with the Food and
Drug Administrations requirements. Furthermore, if any allergens are
determined to be within these ingredients, they will also be noted on
labeling in compliance with The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer
Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004 which was passed to ensure that
individuals could easily and accurately identify food ingredients that may
cause allergic reactions. The allergens covered under this act are milk,
eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soy.
Beyond those requirements, the details of individual ingredients are part
of our confidential formulation which we are not able to disclose.
I hope that you understand why I am unable to assist you at this time.
S------ K-----
Consumer Insights Representative
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
Last edited by aklap on Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GFPolarBear
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 362
Location: WI
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Fortunately, it looks like Kraft and ConAgra would have what Pinnacle does covered. (and yay for them both.  ) |
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Kathie
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:45 am Post subject: |
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HERSHEY'S
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10602
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have any emails or conversations with Hershey's to say exactly why?
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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Kathie
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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| aklap wrote: |
Do you have any emails or conversations with Hershey's to say exactly why? |
There have been a number of threads regarding them. I think TEC probably has contacted them more than anyone. Would it be easier just to link to the threads? There's a couple one for Hershey's and the most recent was about mini-eggs, I think.
The problem is their natural flavor, they will not tell you what it is derived from. I would link it myself but my computer is smarter than me, sorry. 
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10602
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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What I'm looking for is first hand conversations or preferably emails like the one above that will document their policies. This way others can see exactly what they are doing.
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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Kathie
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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From 2/09 (Edited a cazillion times so it makes sense  )
| Quote: | TEC - Cadbury Mini-Eggs? Just spoke to the CEO of Hershey's Assistant regarding those and their antiquated labeling policy yesterday. They don't know if they're GF. Allegedly, their flavoring house won't reveal the ingredients as it's proprietary information. I'm trying to figure out who own the flavoring house...I have an instinct but haven't been able to prove/disprove it.
Bastards....Next week I'm going to post a bit about Hershey and reveal the phone numbers to get in touch with the CEO so all of my celiac friends can call and share their dissatisfaction with Hershey's labeling policy.
Stay tuned! |
| Quote: | Rachel
"Thank you for contacting The Hershey Company.
Our product label includes an accurate listing of the ingredients in our products. However, on occasion, the list of ingredients can change. We encourage you to check the ingredient label on the package before you make a purchase. This label provides accurate, current information about all the ingredients in the package.
If you should have questions concerning additional products, please call us at 800-468-1714. A representative will be glad to assist you with any questions you may have
We appreciate your loyalty as a consumer.
TEC - Commenting on the bold...yes the ingredients are 100% but what about the ingredients ingredients?
Call David J. West, COO of Hershey. I'm sure his assistant will be glad to take your call just as she did mine. Flood 'em with rational phone calls until at the very least they give out clear and concise information.
100 Crystal A Drive
Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
Phone: 717-534-4200
Fax: 717-534-6550 |
| Quote: | Rachel
Second email response:
"
Thank you for contacting The Hershey Company.
For assistance with your question, Natural colors and flavors are derived from natural sources which could have gluten.
Your interest in our company is appreciated." |
| Quote: | Colleen
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. |
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Pattrish
Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 109
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:09 am Post subject: |
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Although this may not apply to Hershey's directly, most ingredients that list "natural flavoring" or "natural seasoning" are lose terms for dreaded MSG.
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The Edifying Conscience
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 2920
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| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:08 am Post subject: |
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| Pattrish wrote: | | Although this may not apply to Hershey's directly, most ingredients that list "natural flavoring" or "natural seasoning" are lose terms for dreaded MSG. |
Can you back that up with some proof? I've never heard that before. |
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10602
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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This is what FDA says about labeling MSG...
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/msg.html
| Quote: | Ingredient Listing
Under current FDA regulations, when MSG is added to a food, it must be identified as "monosodium glutamate" in the label's ingredient list. Each ingredient used to make a food must be declared by its name in this list.
While technically MSG is only one of several forms of free glutamate used in foods, consumers frequently use the term MSG to mean all free glutamate. For this reason, FDA considers foods whose labels say "No MSG" or "No Added MSG" to be misleading if the food contains ingredients that are sources of free glutamates, such as hydrolyzed protein.
In 1993, FDA proposed adding the phrase "(contains glutamate)" to the common or usual names of certain protein hydrolysates that contain substantial amounts of glutamate. For example, if the proposal were adopted, hydrolyzed soy protein would have to be declared on food labels as "hydrolyzed soy protein (contains glutamate)." However, if FDA issues a new proposal, it would probably supersede this 1993 one.
In 1994, FDA received a citizen's petition requesting changes in labeling requirements for foods that contain MSG or related substances. The petition asks for mandatory listing of MSG as an ingredient on labels of manufactured and processed foods that contain manufactured free glutamic acid. It further asks that the amount of free glutamic acid or MSG in such products be stated on the label, along with a warning that MSG may be harmful to certain groups of people. FDA has not yet taken action on the petition. |
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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Pattrish
Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 109
Location: Oklahoma
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The Edifying Conscience
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 2920
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| Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Pattrish wrote: | | Although this may not apply to Hershey's directly, most ingredients that list "natural flavoring" or "natural seasoning" are lose terms for dreaded MSG. |
You've listed several sites that offer 'information' about MSG. However, they don't support your quote above.
While it seems from the info you posted that the USDA does allow MSG to be lumped in with flavorings. The FDA does not. |
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Pattrish
Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 109
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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Edifying: I guess I don't get it...where in my statement do I refer to the FDA?
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