I wrote to Sunmaid raisins as I love raisins and was in a paranoid state. I asked if there was any flour used anywhere to either coat the belts or prevent them from sticking together or if there was any airborne chance of contamination. Yesterday evening my phone rang and it was this lady from Sunmaid, calling me to let me know their product is wholly gluten free and no flour is used anywhere. She was munching on raisins as we talked and told me that applied to all their dried fruit!

I also wrote to Calbee Snappea Crisps (as SOMETHING was bothering me yesterday) and they were very nice too. However, here's their reply so it is one of those "decide for yourself" cases:

Dear Ms. Terri Collins


Thank you for sending your inquiry to us regarding the gluten content of our Snapea Crisps Original Flavor product. We receive many such inquiries and are delighted to report that our Original Flavor product does not contain any ingredient or ingredient components made from wheat, rye, or barley products.

As you probably already know we also manufacture another similar product
called Caesar Flavor Snapea Crisps. You should be aware that this product
does contain dairy components. In addition we also have other wheat based
snacks that are made on the same manufacturing line. As part of our
Allergen Control Program we only manufacture our Snapea Crisps Original
Flavor product after a full clean-up of our manufacturing line to help
control allergens that might contaminate the Original flavor product.

As far as cross-contamination we have controls in place to safeguard against
these types of contamination based primarily on segregation of ingredients
and in-process materials, and using color coded containers. We wish we were
a large enough company to have a dedicated line for the Original flavor
product, but since this is not possible at present, we safeguard the product
as best we can.

Although we cannot guarantee that our Original Flavor Snapea Crisps are
completely free from gluten and casein, we feel that the presence of these
ingredients would be extremely minimal. We recommend however that you
consult your physician regarding our product to determine if it is
acceptable in your diet. We sincerely hope that you will be able to
continue to enjoy our product!

Again, thanks for contacting us!


****************************************
Megumi "Meg" Okada
mokada@calbeeamerica.com
Calbee America, Inc.
20900 Normandie Ave., #A
Torrance, CA 90502
Tel (310) 328-8100
Fax (310) 328-8344
***************************

Sounds like the standard "covering their buts" reply......

Karen

It is pretty much the standard reply but one thing that concerns me a bit was them saying wheat,rye, and barley. They did not cover oats in there

I think they often don't, now, since oats aren't techincally an issue. Most replies I get now do not contain anything about oats. I don't think oats are really used very often in products, though--at least in stuff like natural flavors, etc. I trust that something's gluten-free if they tell me no wheat, rye, barley (within reason, of course: I wouldn't trust Quaker Oats).

I agree w/ Karen that it's a pretty typical cya response

Usually when I email a company I will cover oats as well just because I am paranoid Most of the time I have received a response back including what I asked about which makes me feel better. I get what you are saying though...alot of companies refer to gluten as in wheat,rye,barley

Yea...I also ask if the product contains gluten (which is in wheat, rye, barley, and oats), but the response usually eliminates the oats.

This is obviously an old thread, but what I am wondering if anyone reacts to the Snapea Crisps? I love them, and haven't had them for a few months now. I bought some yesterday and had a small bowl of them. I got gurgly and had D this morning. I have been super healthy for the last two months with no D! I am wondering if there is enough CC to make me ill. They do list the made on shared equipment statement.
anyone?
Molly

i just bought some of the snappea.. yumo! no I have had no issues