<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Hi Susan.I've wondered about this myself.Especially the ones where someone has asked "is xxx GF" and then they
summarize all the answers they've received.... e.g. Five people said yes and seven said no and two people said they don't get sick when they eat xxx, but one person does get sick.How can anyone feel safe with that? Half the time I never do know exactly which food has made me sick....I always phone or email the company to find the correct information. Quite frankly, I feel we're harming ourselves by not phoning the companies. How will they know we have specific GF needs if we never contact them to tell them about our needs.
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When I know a product is GF because I use it and have checked it, I will respond to a question. If I "think" it is GF because I have seen it on a GF list but I don't use it, I usually don't answer. I do think there have been more negative posts lately.
There have been a couple of posts lately by someone named Kit (I think) about tea bags and glue/heat sealing. From her posts I feel (and fear) she is alienating people at companies and also perhaps people on the list. I feel she may be browbeating the people who answer phones and may do us more harm than good - food companies will not want to admit anything is GF. And list members may be intimidated to ask a question for fear she may respond. These are my feelings, and I may be wrong.
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susan, the best way to not get blasted is to only post things you have a number for and say "the last time i called the manufacturer, it was gf...here is the number so that you can call to verify yourself".
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Susan: Wow, I've been blasted but not with the type of response you mention. When I've posted that something is GF, I usually mention that I've talked with the manufacturer, so I guess that answers the question that the doubting Thomas' have. I do trust much of what I read here, but not all. In fact, just last week someone posted that they had checked with Mariani and found that all their dried fruits were GF--all except the yogurt covered raisins. I had checked with the same company a couple of years ago and was told that their YC raisins WERE GF. Okay, whom to believe? So I called the company again, and after they did some checking with their suppliers, they confirmed that the raisins were okay for my son (who has been eating them for several years). I posted this info yesterday, and so far no negative responses (just one very happy woman who loves them :-) ). So there you have it. Please post for the good of us all, even if a few make doing so a questionable experience.
I'd say just ignore them, but they get to me, too, sometimes.
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I have stopped posting information that I get for the same reason. Stuff like the glue in teabags question that has been going through this list lately is just maddening. Even if I have reprinted the letter from a person at the company stating that the product is gluten free, I get replies (in unkind tones) from people on this list asking if it has corn gluten, or soy or something else. It is frustrating that a few people make us hesitant to share what should be good news.
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One way we use to screen accuracy of info in Delphi Forums is to require the following before we submit it to our gluten free page:
1. Product Name:
2. Company Name:
3. Phone Number and/or Website Address:
4. Date Information Was Obtained:
5. Method: Email, phone call, snail mail, etc.
This way, we can see how old the info is and decide if we need to call them for ourselves. If there is something irregular about the info, that is, the company doesn't seem to know what gluten free means, or they include corn gluten in the list of things to worry about, we note that as well. Have you visited Delphi? below find the standard invite:
New Celiacs:
You Don't Have To Do This Alone!
Visit our Celiac Disease
On-Line Celiac Disease Support Group to learn more about what to eat and how to get well.
We have an extensive list of everyday gluten-free foods and medicines and plenty of good advice. Learn where on-line to shop for the best goodies, and how to make your own. We can boast a gourmet cook who posts a huge list of recipes, and two
doctors who deal with this disease in their personal lives. Join us.
Membership is free, and the rewards are many. http://forums.delphiforums.com/celiac/start
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I get a lot of how do you knows, then they go to question even that. They follow up with what about this what about that? You are right on one thing too. All those folks you feel they have to be condescending or down right nasty. It make one not want to post a question for fear of being slammed.
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I've stopped writing to the list about products, because I too got blasted one too many times. What I like best is when listmembers quote company responses. Then we're getting it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, but we're working together, so each of us doesn't have to contact every company ourselves. I never accept just the word of someone on the list, because I've experienced the reverse of "how do you know". There are too many times people insist something is not gf, when their opinion is baseless. Why do without, when something is safe. Thanks for your efforts. The more of us who research, share, and post, the more choices we have.
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I rarely get a how do you know? answer. In many cases, I do wonder why people don't call themselves (unless it's a weekend), although I don't ask that.
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There is too much conflicting information provided when people ask for the GF status of something. I'm afraid that this indicates that some of the responders are not basing their responses on written (print or e-mail) response from the company involved. Therefore, I disregard any information provided on gluten status unless it is provided as a direct quote from the company. If I call a company, I request a written response, preferably e-mail, then I can help others by copying and
pasting the company's response. When providing the List with information from a company, the information should always be accompanied by the date of the response, the name of the company & the product(s), and the ways to contact the company (e-mail address, mailing address, phone number). And, don't forget, indicate the country as well, as product formulations
vary.
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*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*
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