<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
David Tanzer <[log in to unmask]> said:
>I've had good experience with "UltraClear Sustain" by Metagenics,
>which is a powdered rice-based beverage. It's designed
>for the "intestinally challenged." The label claims
>it's gluten-free and has no animal products.
My information is over a year old, and should be checked... but at least
back then, UltraClear Sustain contained rice processed with barley
enzymes by California Natural Products, the same firm which makes
rice protein for Rice Dream. I wrote and called Metagenics to try to
get them to remove their "gluten free" label, but was ignored.
Metagenics may have ignored me due to CNP's prior claims that the amount
of barley contamination is so small as to be inconsequential. Later, we got
them to actually measure the possible problem (see below). The amount of
UltraClear sustain that you drink per day may be much less than
a typical day's consumption of Rice Dream, but unless Metagenics
measures the concentration of rice protein compared with Rice
Dream, one cannot really compare the relative contamination.
Here is my post about Rice Dream (I've edited it down):
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 17:22:19 EDT
From: Bill Elkus <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: The Final Word on Rice Dream (Almost)
<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Joe Hall, Technical Sales Manager at California Natural Products (209) 858-2525
x 224, in cooperation with Imagine Foods, has completed the analysis of Rice
Dream mentioned in prior posts on our Celiac List. CNP makes the rice protein
used by Imagine Foods in their Rice Dream products. He sent us the following
fax:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For the purpose of this calculation, a conservative approach was taken. If we
are inaccurate, it should be on the side of overstating the extent of the
problem. All protein from barley, regardless of solubility, molecular weight,
or the fact that the protein is denatured during processing was assumed to be
"bad" protein....
Rice Dream Beverages: Under 5 mg protein per 240 ml serving; under 15 mg
barley protein per quart. ....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course, the natural question is "Is 10 or 15 mg of barley protein enough to
harm a Celiac ?" A major unknown is what percentage of the barley protein in
Rice Dream is "bad" for celiacs. I recall that about 80% of the wheat protein
in bread is gluten, but the barley protein in Rice Dream may be proportionately
far less harmful due to the processing involved.
Even if the percentage of "bad" barley protein in the 10-15 mg of barley
protein was known, there is no definitive answer to the question of how much
can be tolerated per day. ...
Previous posts to this list by Don Kasarda have cited a study where 15 mg of
gluten per day _did not_ cause observable damage via biopsy, and another study
where 100 mg gluten per day _did_ cause discernible intestinal changes in
celiacs. Each study had its own limitations and cannot be relied upon as the
definitive answer. Also, it is inherently difficult to prove that "no damage"
is caused, since one would have to look at every single system of the body, not
just the gut lining.
So.... we are each going to have to make our own decision as to whether or not
to include Rice Dream products in our diet. .......
===========================================
Bill Elkus
Los Angeles
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