Re: Kraft

[Guest guest]

This is my understanding-

Wheat starch supposedly has the protein removed, so would not be considered an allergen. There is a company that makes wheat starch that, according to research, is not supposed to be harmful to celiacs. Wheat starch made by some other companies is still harmful to celiacs. With not knowing which company made the wheat starch, I avoid wheat starch for my family. When I check the ingredients on products, I start with the allergen statement, then if that is okay, I'll read the entire list of ingredients.

Kraft

Does anyone have experience with Kraft products not being labeled properly? Many people on this list rave about how well they label their products, but this has not been my experience. Although, I don't regular buy Kraft products. Has anyone else noticed things with ingredients such as wheat starch and yet not having a wheat allergen label on it, specifically Kraft? I was just wondering perhaps if this is a regional thing...not being able to think of any other reason why I don't notice Kraft products with allergen labels and yet many other people seem to.

Thanks!

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[Guest guest]

> Does anyone have experience with Kraft products not being labeled

> properly?

As I said in another post, I have had numerous bad experiences with

Kraft products despite diligent scrutiny of their labels and phone

calls to their consumer line. I have found that responses on their

consumer line have been legalistic and evasive. But that is not

surprising in view of the labeling fiasco below. If Kraft-Nabisco

(owned by !) can't be trusted to follow the 2003 labeling

guidelines, can they be trusted to follow the new ones coming into

effect next January? Caveat emptor!

<http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200301/010903.html>

Kraft Says ‘Cheese’ Despite Truth-In-Labeling Law;

Leahy, Dayton Hail FDA Enforcement Action

On Kraft’s Misuse Of Milk Protein Concentrates

(Thursday, Jan. 9) – Senator Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Mark

Dayton (D-Minn.) Thursday commended Food and Drug Administration

officials for their year-end action to enforce truth-in-labeling laws

that apply to Kraft Foods’ illegal use of milk protein concentrates in

certain Kraft items marketed as ‘cheese’ products.

In their letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy

, the two senators ask to be kept informed as the FDA pursues

compliance actions with Kraft and urge his agency to take any further

actions needed to ensure truth-in-labeling compliance.

On Dec. 18, officials from FDA’s Chicago District Office issued a

warning letter to Kraft Foods North America Inc., a division of Philip

, citing serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act, stemming from the firm’s unlawful labeling of ‘cheese’

products containing milk protein concentrates (MPCs). The products

cited by FDA include Kraft Singles American and Cheddar Pasteurized

Cheese Food products, and Kraft Velveeta Pasteurized Process Cheese

Spread. The letter tells Kraft that the firm’s actions violate section

403(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Truth-in-labeling laws overseen by FDA -- intended to protect the

interests of consumers, promote fair competition, maintain product

quality and prevent economic fraud on consumers – establish “standards

of identity” for various food products. FDA has established such

standards for more than 70 types of cheeses and related cheese

products. These standards prevent manufacturers from using additives

that may result in inferior products being marketed as ‘cheese.’ Under

these standards, it is unlawful to use MPCs as a food ingredient in any

standardized cheese product. Mislabeling can mislead consumers into

buying cheaper, inferior products, and mislabeling also disadvantages

competitors who abide by the labeling law.

“(Food standards) maintain the general quality of a large part of the

national food supply and prevent economic fraud,” the senators said in

the letter. “Without standards, different foods could have the same

names or the same foods could have different names. Both situations

would be confusing and misleading to consumers and create unfair

competition.”

Congressman Bernie is circulating a similar letter in the House.