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

At 5:23 AM -0800 12/26/03, F Winslow wrote:

>A product declaring itself to be 100% of a non-GF
>item is by definition, GF.

I appreciate the sentiment of this comment -- juice is juice is
juice.  If it says 100%, and its ingredient label lists nothing else,
it's likely a safe bet.  I wouldn't personally pursue asking after
the "GF-ness" of a product that said 100% anything (non-gluten) on
the label, and also lists no suspicious products among its
ingredients.

But "100%" on labels CAN be misleading.

An example:  Nathan's all-beef hot dogs say "100% Beef," big as life,
on the label.  I have been in restaurants where I've been told that
they are 100% beef -- with everyone (including me) assuming they are
OK to eat.  However, examination of the ingredient list on the
package shows these yummy dogs contain wheat starch.  I'm sure the
100% refers to the meat-content only (duh!) -- but I was suckered in
and I'm sure others are as well.  I, personally, only go by
ingredient list anymore, after this discovery.

MY QUESTION:  I would, however, be interested to know from the group
if there are ever cases when NOTHING suspicious appears on the label,
only to call the manufacturer and be told that the the product
contains gluten.  (And what were the products/brands this happened
with?)

Let me clarify this request.  (1) I do NOT mean ingredient lists that
show nebulous and undefined ingredients such as "natural flavorings,"
"spices," etc.  I AM talking about labels that out-and-out suggest
NOTHING suspicious, but where further inquiry reveals they are NOT
GF.  (2) I am talking ONLY about commercial products for which an
official ingredient list is available.  And (3) I am also not talking
about cross-contamination issues, because that is an entire other
Pandora's box I'm not up to opening with this request.

Thanks for any help and tips on this subject!  Given all the product
questions on this list, maybe your answers will help others besides
myself.  I will be happy to summarize if I get any responses that
help shed light on this issue.

-Suzanne

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*