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Hello list.

This post is primarily for the Israeli celiacs on the list and for
anyone out there who buys Elite brand foods.

I have been wondering why my son has been periodically complaining of
tummy aches since I thought I had it down pat as to what was GF and
what was not. I had done a lot of phone calling to the major and
not-so-major food companies in Israel and received lists and lists of
foods that were GF, as well as assurances from "food engineers" that
these ingredients don't change. There is also a Gluten Labeling Law in
Israel that is already 2 years old.

My son had a friend over who's mother knows of his diet. She sent a
package of snack food to share whose main ingredient is potato starch.
The only other suspicious ingredient was "starches". The Labeling Law
states that gluten content must be stated on the package. Many products
already have packaging that abides by this law. Well, just out of
curiosity I called the company and sure enough, it is NOT GF. (For
those interested, the snack food is called "Casino" potato crisps.) I
was very upset since my son had already started to partake. I wondered
how many other food items I assumed (besides the obvious) were GF and
were actually not. I let into the customer rep and marketing manager
for not abiding by the law and that they may not see the importance of
the GF diet but it is obviously important enough that a law was passed.
Companies had a full year to redo their packaging and now it is a full
year after that. Why do they not comply? It is so frustrating. I
understand only a little bit how the North American/European/Southern
Hemisphere celiacs feel since you all have many more food companies to
investigate, many more food products to ask about and the known risk
that ingredients change because the companies won't/can't divulge their
sources and they make substitutions depending on what's economical.

Sorry for the tirade. I am as furious as you would be. Just beware!

Sharon Marcus
formerly from Haifa,
now from Ma'ale Adumim,
Israel