In order to avoid further confusion, I'd like to clarify a few points in
Explorer's statement about Rice Dream.

RICE DREAM BEVERAGE is made primarily from rice, it does not contain
whole wheat or barley ingredients.  However, our patented enzymatic
process uses enzymes, which are derived from various grains including
barley, to convert the complex carbohydrates in brown rice to naturally
occurring sugars.  The actual grains used to grow the enzymes are
discarded after the enzymes are extracted.

The barley protein in the final RICE DREAM BEVERAGE product, if present
at all, would occur in parts per million amounts (less than 5 mg barley
protein  per 8 oz serving). In addition, the enzymes are essentially
used up in the process, (broken down to peptides and amino acids).  It
is therefore possible, that gluten may exist in minute amounts in the
final product.

We are not required by the FDA to list  the enzymes, how they are
developed, or how they are used in the processing of our products.
However, we certainly do not wish to mislead or endanger our gluten
sensitive customers.  In response to consumer requests, beginning in the
Fall of 1998, the Rice Dream Beverage container will be labeled to
indicate the presence of trace amounts of gluten.

We understand that there is no established "safe" level of gluten for
Celiac patients.  We hope knowing the amount of gluten which may be
present in RICE DREAM will allow people, in conjunction with their
health care providers, to make informed decisions about whether RICE
DREAM beverages are appropriate for their diets.

We apologize for any confusion regarding this subject.  Please contact me
directly if I can be of further help.


Ellen Weiser
Imagine Foods, Inc.
Ph: 800-333-6339  (ext. 36)
Fax:650-327-1459
Email: [log in to unmask]

>
>Mark,
>
>I am sure a lot of people on the No Milk list already know this, but
>since many of you are new, maybe it would be worth mentioning again that
>I am on the Celiac Mailing List as well, and Rice Dream is notorious for
>containing gluten, i.e. their brown rice is washed with barley enzymes
>and barley is a gluten containing grain.  Many cases of milk
>allergy/intolerance are brought on after the intestinal villi have been
>compromised by a wheat/gluten allergy/intolerance and since the villi
>then have impaired absorption, then it also becomes difficult to produce
>the enzymes that digest lactose, whey and/or casein.  I would try a
>wheat elimination diet.  I went through the same thing.  Drank Rice
>Dream and ate frozen Rice Dream for years thinking it was gluten and
>dairy free only to have one relapse after another.  I think the company
>should be taken to task over thir labeling misinformation, leading
>people to believe that their product just contains brown rice when in
>fact, it also contains barley.  Pacific Brown Rice Beverage is great.
>It is a little more watery, but shake it good, and it is better than
>walking around like a zombie.
>
>explorer