<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
>letter, from Jaime Breitenbach, Consumer Relations Representative
>(1-800-252-1587), indicates that StarKist tuna "does not contain the
>following ingredients:  Corn, emulsifiers, wheat starch, preservatives,
>vegetable gum, distilled vinegar, colorings and dyes, modified food starch,
>derivatives of gluten, malt made from barley, color with grain sources,
>alcohol made from grain, cereals and cereal grains,  glutin (gliadin) from
>wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet or buckwheat."
 
What, according to the label on the can of Starkist tuna I am reading, it
DOES contain are hydrolyzed casein  (a milk protein),  and vegetable broth
(among other things).    It is quite possible that the consumer relations
representative does not even *KNOW*   what is in "vegetable broth".   It
has been my experience that many consumer realtions persons do not know
what is in ingredients that are themselves processed food items.    And
when they don't know sometimes they guess at what may to them seem to be
obvious:    "Vegetable broth"?    must be just vegetables.         Many
broths, however, contain wheat flour as thickener.      IMHO it would not
be safe to assume that the tuna is genuinely gluten free unless the
consumer relations person indicates that she know what ingredients are in
the "vegetable broth"   **and lists them**.       *****It is never safe to
accept someone elses assurances that something is "gluten free"   or "does
not contain"*****     Even with the best of intentions there are just too
many chances for misunderstandings, confusions, unconcious assumptions etc.
 
The only reliable thing is a **COMPLETE LIST**  of **BASIC**  ingredients
(i.e.:   no ingredients that are themselves processed or that contain
subingredients unless THEIR ingredients are listed, etc. down to the basic
level.)
 
Anything less is a gamble.   If you are willing to take such a gamble,
fine.   That is your choice.   But calling anything other than a gamble or
calculated risk is a delusion.        Some of us can get by with that.
But some of us can't.
 
Jim Barron
Chapel Hill NC
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