PopChips states on their bag that they contain no gluten ingredients. The bitter irony is that they also have a statement underneath the ingredients that repeats that they contain no gluten ingredients underneath a statement that says that they are manufactured on equipment shared with wheat.
I made this discovery myself after having purchased a bag of them from a local store that carries a lot of gluten free products. Needless to say, I'm a bit irritated by this.
As someone who went gluten free because of severe wheat allergies, this kind of misleading information drives me up the wall.
Misleading how? Because at the top of the bag in large, bold print it says no gluten ingredients. But at the bottom underneath the ingredients the statement comes in about the shared equipment. Wheat is a gluten ingredient and if a product is manufactured on equipment that also processes wheat, it is unethical and misleading and false advertising for them to claim that they have no gluten ingredients.
Good luck getting the FDA to actually do their job and get this kind of misleading labeling eradicated.
By the way, I am forwarding this review to the company and will post their reply if and when I get one.
I got response April 12, 2011.
ReplyDeleteSusan Elizabeth Spann
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Date: April 12, 2011 1:13:12 AM CDT
To: 'Susan Elizabeth Spann'
Subject: RE: Popchips has misleading labeling
Reply-To:
hi there susan. first of all, we’re really sorry for creating any confusion! we know how important the gluten issue is and for the past year started to run popchips under a gluten free process. we wanted to run that way for a lengthy period of time to ensure popchips tested gluten free (and could therefore be certified as such) before we made a “gluten free” claim on our packaging. the good news is that for the last year we have not tested positive to gluten so we are now in the process of converting our packaging to clearly state that popchips are “gluten free” -- and the disclaimer of “made on equipment” will be removed.
while we were going through this process, we felt it was important to let consumers know that while we do not use any gluten ingredients, popchips were being “made on shared equipment” to try to be overly careful with people who are extremely gluten intolerant. we’re pleased that we are now able to state that popchips are gluten free and estimate this packaging change will take place sometime this summer.
again, we’re truly sorry about any confusion and certainly didn’t intend to be misleading, but are now excited about our upcoming change to clearly identify popchips as Gluten Free! if you’d like to email us your address, we’d be happy to send a couple coupons your way so that you can enjoy a few bags of popchips on us!
best,
keith
I'm confused. So are they saying that popchips USED to be made on equipment shared with wheat, but are no longer?
ReplyDeleteI will never try POP Chips. I was recently diagnosed with Celiacs. I thought these chips were gluten free. I got very suck on Popchips. Say no more. I need to be more careful reading labels.
ReplyDeleteI will never try POP Chips. I was recently diagnosed with Celiacs. I thought these chips were gluten free. I got very suck on Popchips. Say no more. I need to be more careful reading labels.
ReplyDeleteI will never try POP Chips. I was recently diagnosed with Celiacs. I thought these chips were gluten free. I got very suck on Popchips. Say no more. I need to be more careful reading labels.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand, yes, they apparently used to be made on shared equipment. Of course, I don't know for sure about if they are no longer.
ReplyDelete