<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hey all, I"m forwarding this along. I Saw these in a Fresh Fields Whole Food Market in Clarendon VA. It looks like they are ok, but sadly i ate suspect dark chocolate on the same day so can't say my empirical trial wasn't corrupted. >From: "Dona Zach" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: RE: Fruit Leather and special diets >Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 12:15:34 -0800 > >Thank you for your email. Since Stretch Island products are made up of 100% >fruit, the question regarding allergens in our products usually arise from >concern over the ingredients used in the natural flavorings that are added >to certain flavors. > >For folks with gluten intolerance or celiacs disease, this concern almost >always stems specifically from alcohols and/or vinegars that may be >included in the natural flavors. We have received written statements from >all of our flavor suppliers, stating that the flavorings used in our >products are gluten-free. > >In addition, according to the Gluten Intolerance Group: "Alcohols and >vinegars properly distilled should not contain harmful gluten peptides. >Research indicates that the gluten peptide is too large to carry over >in the distillation process. This leaves the resultant liquid gluten- >free unless a gluten-containing additive is inserted after the >distillation process." > >Based on this information, we feel comfortable stating that all 8 (soon to >be 9!) Original Fruit Leather flavors, all 4 Organic Fruit Leather flavors, >as well as the 6 Stretch Island Naturals flavors, are gluten-free, even with >the natural flavors added to them. However, the final decision is yours to >make. > >The question regarding casein is a bit more simple - there is none.. :) > >I appreciate the information on the Celiac Society of America, and we will >certainly look into contacting them, as well as providing more complete >gluten information on our diet pages. I hope this has answered your >questions. If you have any additional concerns, please feel free to contact >us. We appreciate your interest in our products. > >With best regards.. Dona, Customer Service > >-----Original Message----- >From: Miki Tracey [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 1:21 PM >Subject: Fruit Leather and special diets > > >Hey, I saw your fruit leather in my whole foods store. It looked just >like the fruit roll ups i remember from childhood, and i'm interested >for myself and my little one. We both have celiac disease, which means >we simply cannot have wheat, oats, barley or rye in any form (even if >its on your production lines to grease (oil) or separate (flour)). On >top of that, I can't have casein which is in milk products (though i'm >still not entirely sure where). > >We are most interested in the ingredient in the truly tropical fruit >leather that is indicated as 'natural flavor'. Particularly as barley >malt is a TASTY natural flavor that we can't have. And theres no way at >all for us to know what you may be using on your production line to help >you produce these products which not only look and sound good, but smell >tasty too. The water section of my grocery, where wholefoods had put >your display smelled tastily of fruit this morning. > >Can you verify that you and/or your suppliers don't use gluten or casein >containing products in your fruit leather (i saw apple, blueberry, grape >and tropical in my store)? I'd really appreciate it, because we both >love our afternoon snack and gf pretzels are tasty but they are getting >old. > >If you could also contact the Celiac Society of America at >[log in to unmask] or at CSA/USA, Inc.; PO Box 31700; Omaha, NE >68131-0700. They compile a list of products that are gluten free for >their memebers > >As a suggestion, if you are gluten and or casein free, I recommend using >your special diets page to spread the word. I happen to know i'm not >the only celiac out there looking for something yummy to munch on at 3 >in the afternoon. > >Miki, mother of Duncan, 3yrs, Virginia. Miki Tracey [log in to unmask]