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

I am forwarding this information onto all the list members. Hope this
helps anyone interested in it. This is what I asked and the answer comes
right afterwards.

To Whom It May Concern:

This is an urgent request for information. I am a celiac - intolerant to
gluten proteins found in wheat, oats, barley and rye. I have also become
lactose intolerant and need to go to some other type of milk, preferably
soy.

Celiacs are being warned to stay away from rice or soy milk due to the
fact they are processed with malt (which, of course, comes from the
barley.)

I really want to drink Soy Dream because I like the taste, but am afraid
to continue til I hear from you.

I thank you in advance for the information you provide me.

Ellen

Dear Ellen,

Thank you for contacting our office with questions about gluten in our
products.  The following Imagine Foods products are gluten free:
Imagine Natural(r) Garden Vegetable Soups, Soy Dream(r) Beverages, Imagine
Natural(r) Puddings, Power Dream(tm) Natural Energy Drinks - Raspberry and
Chai flavors, and Rice Dream(r) Frozen Desserts in plain Carob, Chocolate,
and Vanilla flavors only.

There are two primary areas of concern regarding the gluten content of
our Rice Dream products.  They are grain alcohol based flavoring
extracts, and the use of enzymes grown on grain in processing.

Rice Dream Beverage is made primarily from rice, it contains no whole
wheat or barley ingredients.  However, our patented enzyme process
utilizes enzymes, which are derived from various grains including
barley, to convert the complex carbohydrates in brown rice to naturally
occurring sugars.  It is this process that gives Rice Dream products
their sweet flavor without the need for added sweeteners. The actual
grains used to grow the enzymes are discarded after the enzymes are
extracted.

However, it is possible, that gluten may exist in minute amounts in the
final product. The barley protein in the final Rice Dream Beverage
product, if present at all, would occur in parts per million amounts
(less than 5 mg barley protein per 8 oz serving).

We are not required by the FDA to list on the product labels, the
enzymes, how they are developed, or how they are used in the processing
of our products. However, we certainly did not wish to mislead or
endanger our gluten sensitive customers.  In response to consumer
requests, Rice Dream Beverage containers have been labeled to indicate
the presence of trace amounts of gluten (the container says "contains
less than .002% barley protein").

Many gluten sensitive people are also advised to avoid grain alcohol
based flavoring extracts. These types of extracts are contained in most
of our products and listed as "natural flavors".  The total volume of
these extracts in a serving of any of our products is less than half of
1%.

According to a representative from the USDA, a proper distillation of
alcohol should not contain any gluten.  One notable exception to the use
of wheat based alcohol is our vanilla extract, and the flavoring
extracts used in our Imagine Natural Puddings, and Power  Dream.  These
extracts are corn based and therefore acceptable in a wheat-free diet.

Imagine Foods products that do not contain alcohol based flavoring
extracts are the plain Carob and Chocolate flavors of Rice Dream Frozen
Dessert.  Products that contain corn based extracts are: All flavors of
Power Dream, Imagine Natural Puddings, and The Vanilla Flavor Rice Dream
Frozen Dessert. These products should be acceptable in a gluten-free
diet.

We understand that there is no established "safe" level of gluten for
Celiac patients.  We hope knowing the amount of gluten which may be
present In Rice Dream will allow people, in conjunction with their
health care providers, to make informed decisions about whether Rice
Dream products are appropriate for their diets.

We have developed a process for utilizing a non-grain enzyme source for
our Rice Dream Frozen Dessert and Imagine Pudding Snacks. Unfortunately,
this enzyme does not work for the processing of Rice Dream Beverage. If
we can successfully meet our product requirements using enzymes grown on
another medium, we will switch to them.

Because of it's minimal gluten content, we believe that Rice Dream can
be a useful alternative for many people wishing to avoid gluten.
Unfortunately, for previously mentioned reasons, we are unable to
guarantee the total absence of minute amounts of gluten in many of these
products.  I apologize for any confusion regarding this subject.

Please feel free to contact me again if I can be of further assistance,
or visit our web site at www.imaginefoods.com for additional product
information and store locations.

Cordially,

Mary Stift
Consumer Relations Manager
Imagine Foods
800-333-6339  Ext. 57
Fax: 360-647-2724
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On Monday, October 11, 1999, Ellen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: