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

Hi Everyone,

I read someones post recently re: The original Boca Burger and how it
is "no longer gluten-free." I never knew it was gluten-free! But, the
poster gave contact info for the company and encouraged others to write to
them and ask them to change the recipe to the way it was.

I did, and they responded with the following:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: BocaMarketing [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 11:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 8084090
>
>
> Thank you for visiting our Web site.  We are very sorry that you are
> disappointed with the changes.
>
> All Boca Foods products contain wheat gluten.  Each individual,
> with his or her health practitioner, must make his own determination
> about whether or not he or she can eat our products.
>
> At Boca we are committed to bringing you a variety of great tasting,
> meatless products that make you feel good about what you're eating. Your
> comments are very important to us, and we will forward your comments to
> the appropriate staff for their benefit. We're always sensitive to
> the comments of our consumers and they're taken into consideration when a
> product is reevaluated.
>
> Please add our site to your bookmarks, and visit us again soon!

So, I sent the following reply...

Thank you for your reply. There is no such thing as determining with a
health practitioner whether or not I, or any other celiac can eat your
products. We cannot eat wheat gluten, period. Not now, not ever.

I have only been diagnosed for a year and half but I can assure you that
there are a LOT of people living with this condition, and a limited amount
of food choices, especially when you also happen to be a vegetarian.

My gastroenterologist has told me that I am the only vegetarian celiac he
has and he wonders how the heck I'm doing this diet and continuing to stay
vegetarian. However, I know that I am not the only one. I am committed to
staying vegetarian even though I have to adhere to a gluten-free diet.

I am in marketing so I certainly understand how demand determines what
products you will produce. However, I encourage your "health smart" company
to consider a Gluten-Free line. Non-vegetarian celiacs would be just as
likely to purchase your products as vegetarian celiacs. We are all in the
same boat and we have needs for "convenient" heat-and-eat foods like
everyone else. Do some market research!

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact
me if I can be of any assistance. The following is a link to a website
for celiacs that is to me, my bible for what is "safe" to eat and what
is not.  Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/celiac.html Thank you, Deb

___________________________________________

Perhaps if other celiacs, vegetarian or not, wrote to Boca asking for them
to consider a gluten-free line, that would gain more of their attention. I
am only one voice, but I know that there are others!

I send my best wishes to you all,
Deb