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Hi
I have a few comments and question regarding the post from Kemp Randolph
and Taylor Cush post.
 
In regards to a zero toleranz: I am in favour of that and this is based on
the thoght that celiacs and others  need that assurance in order to feel
safe to eat certain foods from companies that make a huge variety of glutem
containing foods. If you do not ask for a zero toleranze from larger and
smaller companies you will have a hard time finding a toleranze level and a
control mechanism to make sure that the product is actually as safe as they
tell you. In order to prevent this i find it necessary to ask for a
glutenfree environment. I do believe though that even larger companies
could create these environments through proper storage and proper cleaning
as well as scheduled processing times., to eliminate cross contamination.
In most cases like i posted before with a Kellogs example it will be hardly
feasible for larger companies to do so.
 
Specialty suppliers are taken a lot of extra time , care and money risks to
provide a safe environment in the processing of glutenfree foods and the
safety of their products, at least i think they do.
Business wise it would make way more sense for them to sell the mixes and
recipes to other bakeries and food manufacturers so that you could have
their products in every little town any where in the world.
Knowing the food service emvironment and the bakery environment i consider
that a( unsafe and b) un ethical as the factor of cross contamination is
too obvious and too high. there is absolutely no way of controlling
excactly what happens in the bakery environment. maybe sometimes you are
lucky and find  a really careful business man/woman, but lots of times you
will deal with employess that will change all the times and do not have the
understanding and skills to really prevent the contamination.
Specialty food suppliers are asked over and over by hundreds of bakeries
and food manufacturers as well as bakery distribuitores to supply  formulas
and mixes. Lots of them do not and loose a lot of money and market share
that way.
 
If there is a way of control and guarantee they would love to sell  mixes
and recipes to anybody,until than they are responsible to all customers.
 
All of the people that want to eat foods from other companies already have
that choice and are considering taking the risks.They can just ask for the
manufacturing process and than will make up their own mind.
 
To state that you hope you do not have to purchase from specialty suppliers
makes specialty food suppliers feel rather unappreciated and tells them
all the special care and attention to detail is unnecessary.
Ted Wolff