<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Dear List Friends,

I inquired about the gluten-free status of Dowd and Rogers' processing
facilities for their Gluten Free products.  The co-founder is himself a
Celiac and personally replied about this issue.  His email is below:

*****

Thank you for your very important inquiry. In sourcing, formulating, and

producing these mixes we have been very vigilant regarding cross-
contamination. I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1973 and know
firsthand how difficult this diet can be.

We source our fine white rice flour from a mill that mills only rice
flour.

Our Italian chestnut flour comes from a producer who only produces whole
chestnuts, chestnut flour, and various vegetables. Our  tapioca flour is
sourced from Thailand from a plant that only produces tapioca flour. All
other ingredients have been diligently checked to ensure there are no
obscure forms of wheat, barley, rye, or oats (our baking powder is made
with cornstarch and our flavorings are in a corn base).

Regarding our processing, our mixes are blended and packaged in a
strictly controlled environment. Although the blending facility we use
does deal with wheat flour, our packing facility does not. We employ
the following procedures with our blending facility:

1. Thorougly clean all required equipment IMMEDIATELY prior to
scaling and blending (involves 3 pieces of equipment: a scoop, a large
stainless steel bowl for a Hobart blender, and a blending paddle).

2. All scaling and blending to be first run of the day on a Monday (to
avoid settling dust from previous blendings - facility is closed
Saturday and Sunday).

3. No simultaneous scaling or blending of gluten free mixes with
non-gluten free mixes or ingredients.

4. Cover all raw ingredients, pre-blends, and finished blends at all
times.

I have personally viewed the blending process and can ensure that
any cross-contamination is avoided.

I hope this provides enough information for you and hope you'll try our
mixes soon. Be sure to visit our website and let us know if we can be
of any other help.

Derek Dowd
Dowd and Rogers Inc.