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

It has been some time since there has been a comphrensive report posted on the
list about the complex topic of RICE DREAM, a very popular line of non-dairy
and non-wheat based milks, desserts and puddings.  An update follows:

Imagine Foods produces the Rice Dream products.  Although they do not disclose
it anywhere on the product labels, barley enzymes are used as part of the
production process.  About 14 months ago, I made the following post on this
topic:

>From: Bill Elkus ([log in to unmask])
>Date: 15 Feb 1996

>Joe Hall, Technical Sales Manager at California Natural Products
>(209) 858-2525 x224, in cooperation with Imagine Foods, has completed
>the analysis of Rice Dream mentioned in prior posts on our Celiac List.
>CNP makes the rice protein used by Imagine Foods in their Rice Dream
>products. He sent us the following fax:

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>"For the purpose of this calculation, a conservative approach was taken.
>If we are inaccurate, it should be on the side of overstating the extent
>of the problem. All protein from barley, regardless of solubility,
>molecular weight, or the fact that the protein is denatured during
>processing was assumed to be "bad" protein.

>"Summary of Calculations:

>Rice Dream Beverages: Under 5 mg protein per 240 ml serving; under 15 mg
>barley protein per quart.

>Rice Dream Puddings: Under 10 mg barley protein per individual serving.
>As of 2/15/96 it is anticipated that there will be zero barley protein
>on all product made after April 1996.

>Rice Dream Frozen Dessert. Under 15 mg barley protein per quart at
>present. As of 2/15/96 it is anticipated that there will be zero barley
>protein on all product made after May 1996."

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Of course, the natural question is "Is 10 or 15 mg of barley protein
>enough to harm a Celiac ?" A major unknown is what percentage of the
>barley protein in Rice Dream is "bad" for celiacs. I recall that about
>80% of the wheat protein in bread is gluten, but the barley protein in
>Rice Dream may be proportionately far less harmful due to the processing
involved.

>Even if the percentage of "bad" barley protein in the 10-15 mg of
>barley protein was known, there is no definitive answer to the question
>of how much can be tolerated per day. There is currently an
>active discussion on cel-pro (the discussion group for professionals
>in the celiac field) on this exact topic, and the listowners will post
>a summary of their discussion in a few weeks.

>Previous posts to this list by Don Kasarda have cited a study where
>15 mg of gluten per day _did not_ cause observable damage via biopsy,
>and another study where 100 mg gluten per day _did_ cause discernible
>intestinal changes in celiacs. Each study had its own limitations and
>cannot be relied upon as the definitive answer. Also, it is inherently
>difficult to prove that "no damage" is caused, since one would have to
>look at every single system of the body, not just the gut lining.

>So.... we are each going to have to make our own decision as to whether
>or not to include Rice Dream products in our diet. At least after May,
>it appears the desserts will be OK. And for the beverage, at least we
>have an upper boundary on the amount of barley to assist us in our decision.

After the above post was written, a 15 page file of the cel-pro max -
gluten discussion was put onto the listserv.  It can be downloaded by
sending an email to [log in to unmask] with the body
GET CELIAC MXGLUTEN, or viewed at our archival website:
http://www.fastlane.net/homepages/thodge/mxgluten

Although there were significant differences of opinion, the discussion
left me with the conclusion that I would not allow my celiac son
to consume a quart of Rice Dream a day, especially when there are other
non-milk alternatives available which are strictly gluten free.  For a
discussion of these alternatives, see http://www.panix.com/~nomilk/milkalt.txt

I have recently confirmed with Imagine that indeed the non-beverage
products no longer contain barley enzymes (although the Rice Dream milk
still does).  However, the non-beverage products still have grain-based
alcohol, which some (but not all) celiacs avoid.  Here is an email from
Imagine Foods which I received today:

L>To: [log in to unmask]
L>From: [log in to unmask]
L>Date: 05/01/97 11:18:06 AM EDT
L>Subject: Re: gluten in rice dream

L>Dear Mr. Elkus:

L>Thank you for contacting our office.  Our RICE DREAM FROZEN DESSERT and
L>IMAGINE PUDDING SNACKS product lines produced after May of 1996 contain
L>no gluten from barley enzymes.  We are now utilizing a non-grain enzyme
L>in the processing of these products.

L>However, this does not make them gluten free, as we are still using
L>alcohol based natural flavorings.  I do not have specific numbers on
L>the amount of gluten this may contribute to the product, but the
L>amount of natural flavors in the product is small, less than half
L>of one percent.

L>The Carob flavor RICE DREAM FROZEN DESSERT is currently our only
L>gluten free product because it does not utilize a flavoring extract.

L>Please contact me again if I can be of further assistance.

L>Sincerely,
L>Loretta Dunn
L>Customer Service Manager

Bill Elkus
Los Angeles