I'm definitely getting better at reading food lables. These tri-focals come in handy! But I keep coming up on modified food starch. I googled it and apparently it can contain wheat, but doesn't necesarily. Is there any way to tell, or is it better to just toss everything in the fridge that says modified food starch? Yes, I'm glutlen-freeing the fridge and cupboards!
Hugs,

It depends where it comes from, in the US it is probably from Corn.

This web site is very handy for figuring ingredients out!
http://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_catid=12

Thanks for the link, Nancy! I just printed off the list of safe foods, and would have printed the list of forbidden foods, but the printer ran out of ink!
Hugs,

Lois,

Your best bet is to call the mfg and ask them about it. Not all MFS is GF. Nancy's right - it's more than likely from corn, but you don't know for sure. Companies like Kraft, ConAgra, UniLever will not hide gluten in MFS and "natural flavors". So you can be safe in knowing when you see those items on their labels, it does not contain gluten unless otherwise stated.

Keep readin' those labels and callin' those mfgs!!

Unilever Family Product List
ConAgra Family Product List
Kraft Family Product List

YIkes! I've got to watch out for natural flavors, too?
I never would have thought that natural flavor would have meant gluten.

Here is one example of a natural flavor that is derived from wheat. http://dreyers.slowchurned.com/flavor.aspx?b=112&f=1670 A few years ago this ice cream was my favorite...until they added wheat

Now that the new food labeling laws are in effect, any food manufactored after Jan 2006 must contain a warning if any of the top eight allergens are part of the ingredients. Wheat is in the top eight but that still leaves us guessing when it comes to barley, rye and oatmeal. Barley is the one that is most likely to be hidden. Even rice syrup can contain barley.

Anne

I've noticed that the new food labeling seems to still be being completely ignored. In fact, at first I noticed quite a few products called out the allergens but it seems like lately they're not. What is up with that?

Is it because they are using old labels made before 2006? Did they all rush to make more labels before the cut-off? And what is with the "made in a factory where wheat is also processed?". A general legal disclaimer?
Leslie

Boy, there is so much more to learn about all of this than I thought. You have no idea how much I appreciate all of the advice and tips. Even the things that are mentioned as a side thought, like the natural flavors being mentioned in a thread on modified food starch, are greatly appreciated.
Hugs,

I suspect we are seeing "old" labels. The law only covered food made after 1/2006. It does not count for food product that is already in the distribution channel or wearhouses I think Anne mentioned that could take up to a year before all the old labeled food would be used up. Obviously that wouldn't hold true for all products...

Lois, there is a steep learning curve to this. Just keep plugging away it, soon it will become 2nd nature. You might want to checkout GF Diet Boot Camp. It covers many of the basics for those brand new to this confusing world of GF-dom.