<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> ---Let me know what you think, and if I need no include any more information. I really think that the only way to get such a large (and irresponsible company) to change is to force the issue. If the media picks up on this issue, P&G will have to change---- Dateline, I have recently been informed of a very disturbing policy enacted by Proctor and Gamble, potentially affecting thousands of Americans, and many others world wide. I have a condition called Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease and it's cousin Dermatitis Herpeteformis require that the patient completely eliminates gluten in their diets as well as any product that can potentially be absorbed through the skin. Gluten is found in Wheat Oats Rye and Barley. The difficulty for a Celiac patient is that gluten or gluten containing ingredients may not be mentioned on an ingredient label. For example: maltodextrin, caramel coloring, and vinegar may all be made from many different grain sources, one of which is wheat. Also, vitamin E and other non food ingredients may be made from wheat or other gluten containing grains. Another factor that makes living with Celiac Disease difficult are the current FDA regulations that enable manufacturers of foods to leave ingredients off of the list if they comprise less tha 2% of the product. Even at less than 2%, many celiacs can become quite ill from ingesting the product. Celiacs depend on the ability to contact manufacturers to find out if there is gluten in a product that might not be mentioned on the label. Many manufacturers are very helpful, while others are less than accomodating. Proctor and Gamble has recently implemented a policy that I personally feel (as well as thousands of others in the celiac community) is dangerous. Prior to a few weeks ago, if a customer called the Proctor and Gamble asking about the gluten-free status of a product, the representative would be quite helpful in accomodating the request. Unfortunately, that has changed. Now a customer that for health reasons wants information about a particular products ingredients must get a doctors letter in order for Proctor and Gamble to answer their question. That places an unnecessary burden on the patient, not to mention the doctors who now must take time to write letters for their celiac patients. We could just avoid all P&G products, but with their large product lin! e, it is virtually impossible to do so. This is a blatant attempt on the part of Proctor and Gamble to decrease the amount of information requests, because they know not all of us will be able to get a doctors letter. The company does not care about the potential impact on thousands of patients and their families. Proctor and Gamble knows that many people will take the risk of becoming ill because the product is readily available and they don't have time to go to the doctor, not to mention the money to pay for an office visit just to find out about one questionable ingredient. I am also concerned about the impact on individuals with other food sensitivities such as egg, corn, or peanuts - these are potentially deadly allergies. If Proctor and Gamble has the policy strictly for requests about gluten content, I would consider it a dangerous form of discrimination against Celiacs. On the other hand if this new policy has been implemented for a host of potential allergans I ! would find this a horrendously dangerous policy based on laziness on the part of Proctor and Gamble. Consumers have the right to know what is in the products they use, whether or not it is specifically listed on the label. Companies have the responsibility to answer reasonable customer questions about their product. Proctor and Gamble has broken faith with thousands of Celiac customers and their families, and put us all at a tremendous risk. I sincerely hope that Dateline will look further into this policy, and let the American public know that one of the largest companies in America apparently doesn't care about the health and safety of their customers. If you need any more background information about Celiac Disease or anything else that I mentioned in this note, I would be happy to oblige. Sincerely, Merrie Stith [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]