RE: Rice Milks

September 4, 2007

I just bought two large cartons of it this weekend. We have experienced no

ill effects. But if you are ultra sensitive...I can see where you would be

concerned. You may get quite a few boxes that are Ok and then one that you

react to.

I know that flavor wise I have tried WF Organic Rice Milk too. I prefer the

WF brand (also no notice able effects) to the TJ brand. The WF Organic Rice

Milk I 'think' (don't have a box to check) says the same thing...GF,DF,SF

but is on shared equipment. There cost is about 1.69 for a 32oz box. A

little more $ but very good taste. You can request to buy a case at 10% of

the case price. The Vanilla flavor is yummy.

We have also bought Pacific Rice milk. They do not disclose if it is on

shared equipment, but I would presume so since they make other type of milks

too (oat, almond, soy etc..). We buy Plain or Vanilla by the case at Cash

and Carry here in Oakland. It is much cheaper by the case and we go through

a lot of it.

Eileen

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Naren Wadhwani

Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 12:53 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Trader Joe's and mis-labeled foods

well, it's the Trader Joe's brand... and it's something I definitely

wouldn't try. they only charged me $1.50 for it so I'm not too

worried about taking it back but I was going to trash it. I expect

that no product should ever be labeled gluten free if there is a

chance it is contaminated in any way. my experience with Soy Dream

products (soy drinks are not labeled gluten free but ingredients are

gluten free) is that I get a very mild reaction to them. basically

just a little bit of burping. this may be akin to the " silent damage "

which celiacs are said to experience however, and it is disturbing.

I spoke with the Soy Dream company (Hain's foods?) a while back

because I noticed the product didn't say gluten free on it, although

the ingredients indicated it was. they told me that they don't label

it gluten free for our safety because it is made on the same equipment

as gluten containing products. they said they do false runs of the

drink but they still don't label it gluten free. now this is one of

the first indications of my " ultra-sensitivity " . despite their false

runs, I'm sure I get a gluten reaction from their drinks. anyway, I'm

interested to also hear what other people think of the Trader Joe's

labeling on their rice milk.

Naren

On 9/4/07, Lillyth Denaghy Keogh-Quillan

<lillythdenaghykeogh@...> wrote:

>

> Which brand was it? Also, did you try it? I know their soups say made on

> equipment shared with wheat, and I've never had a problem with it. (I'm

> super sensitive too). I think with the things like soup & such, they just

> use the same giant stainless steel pots. Not all things made on " shared

> equipment " mean they have gluten in them. (Though I tend to think they

are

> more likely to than not).

>

> I'm bringing this up because I avoided the soups for over a year, and then

> tried one one day & I've never had a problem.

>

> I would try it before you go sending them an email - they are VERY careful

> about their foods & would be horrified if someone got a reaction. Or, if

> you're not willing to try it, how about letting us know which brand &

> letting one of us try it?

>

> Lil

>

> ________________________________

>

> From: [mailto: ]

> On Behalf Of Naren Wadhwani

> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 7:47 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Trader Joe's and mis-labeled foods

>

> I recently bought a container of rice milk at Trader Joe's that is

> mislabeled as gluten free. I was psyched to see this new product and

> especially so when I read " gluten free " , and then I was really

> disappointed and a bit ticked when I got home and read the

> ingredients. It says it's processed on shared equipment with wheat,

> etc. I am super sensitive to gluten and I know not to use this, but

> this labeling is extremely misleading to celiacs. I still have to

> contact Trader Joe's (it is their label) but I thought it best to do

> so via email after sending this out to the group. I think it may

> require a " group response " for them to take notice.

>

> I also got sick the other day after eating some rice made with Harvest

> Sun vegetable bouillon cubes. Their website indicates that these are

> gluten free, but I don't know what kind of standard they are using. I

> have been learning about new allergies I have, so I'm not as quick to

> point fingers here but I'm curious if anyone has any experience with

> this product (www.horizonfoods.ca). I was starving and then I made

> this rice, fell asleep after eating, and woke up and got sick. It

> almost seemed like a staff poisoning kind of response as opposed to

> gluten, but I don't know.

>

September 4, 2007

That is so frustrating that Trader Joe's is labelling things GF that are produced on shared equipment! It's one thing if they're made in the same facility - That doesn't mean much. But shared equipment... That is just a bad idea.

BTW, has anyone tried TJ's Frozen Homestyle Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Pancakes? I had them this morning. Nowhere near as good as the ones I make from scratch or from Pamela's mix - They're kind of chewy, as though they're made of sweet rice flour or something - But they are a nice alternative for breakfast when I'm in a rush.

I buy Pacific rice milk and almond milk, and I love it. Never had a problem.BTW: If you ever bring something home and discover you can't eat it, and don't want to take the time to return it - PLEASE don't throw it out. Food banks can really use gluten-free and dairy-free donations... Think about how great it would be for a lactose-intolerant family to get a box of rice milk from the food bank instead of the usual crap that people donate. You can stick packaged shelf-stable goods in the donation bins at most grocery stores. I make a point of donating healthy foods these days, because it occurred to me how little I'd be able to eat if I was, G-d forbid, having to get my food from a food bank.

Isaiah-- Gluten-Free Bayhttp://glutenfreebay.blogspot.com

September 4, 2007

I am a fan of the Pacific rice milks

(vanilla and plain) as well…and never had a problem. As for the TJs, I did

have trouble with the soup, I tried a box a month ago and got sick, but it

could’ve been a coincidence with something else. Im going to give it

another try b/4 I rule them out, just haven’t built up the mindset yet.

ps – tks Isaiah for reminding us of

the food bank donations

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of I.T.

Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007

9:22 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Rice

Milks

That is

so frustrating that Trader Joe's is labelling things GF that are produced on

shared equipment! It's one thing if they're made in the same facility - That

doesn't mean much. But shared equipment... That is just a bad idea.

BTW, has anyone tried TJ's Frozen Homestyle Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Pancakes? I

had them this morning. Nowhere near as good as the ones I make from scratch or

from Pamela's mix - They're kind of chewy, as though they're made of sweet rice

flour or something - But they are a nice alternative for breakfast when I'm in

a rush.

I buy Pacific rice milk and almond milk, and I love it. Never had a problem.

BTW: If you ever bring something home and discover you can't eat it, and don't

want to take the time to return it - PLEASE don't throw it out. Food banks can

really use gluten-free and dairy-free donations... Think about how great it

would be for a lactose-intolerant family to get a box of rice milk from the

food bank instead of the usual crap that people donate. You can stick packaged

shelf-stable goods in the donation bins at most grocery stores. I make a point

of donating healthy foods these days, because it occurred to me how little I'd

be able to eat if I was, G-d forbid, having to get my food from a food bank.

Isaiah

--

Gluten-Free Bay

http://glutenfreebay.blogspot.com

September 4, 2007

That’s a great idea about the food

banks.

But back to the “shared equipment”,

remember, that can be anything from a big stainless steel vat to a conveyer

belt they put the stainless steel vat on. I’ve talked to at least one

company that has “shared equipment” (they are a frozen foods mfr.)

who had about five or six different things they produce in batches. EVERYTHING

they own is stainless steel – they do this because they know wood is porous.

They scrub down everything VERY thoroughly whenever they switch batches –

they were very knowledgeable, and changed their recipe the moment that I, one

person had a reaction. Their barley malt had tested at 0 parts per million,

but I assured them this was not the case. They changed it right away &

recalled all other boxes immediately.

My point is, I had a long talk with the

owner, found out a lot of his practices, and “shared equipment”

does not always mean contamination. My guess is that if Trader Joe’s is

labeling things GF, they are GF, shared equipment or no.

And, as I said, I am very sensitive, and I

have never had a problem with the rice milk or with the soups. I don’t

take my chances on everything that says “shared equipment”, but if

it says GF, I at least try it, and I have never had a reaction from them –

and if I get even one drop of soy sauce, I am sick for three days.

Please at least double check to see if you

have a reaction before emails get sent.

Lil

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of I.T.