When "wheat" is listed on a food as an ingredient, could that really be "wheat gluten"?

[AZBlue]

I am planning to stay away from any foods that contain wheat gluten and encourage others to do the same - if these companies see sales of these items decline, maybe they'll actually get the message!

So, I'm wondering if foods that list wheat as an ingredient are actually covering up the fact that it's wheat gluten - or would they be required to list it as wheat gluten and not just wheat? I tried to look this up but had no luck, so wanted to see if anyone on DU is knowledgable in these things.

Thanks!
:hi:

[crikkett]

1. try some organic brands

from what I understand anything with flour contains wheat gluten.

[RufusTFirefly]

8. crikkett is right

Gluten is the sticky stuff that makes dough elastic. It's part of most common flours.
Personally, I eat wheat gluten all the time and don't intend to stop. It's an excellent source of protein, especially if it contains ground-up rodents.

[hang a left]

22. you funny nt

[bananas]

10. The problem is with added wheat gluten

From the original wheat, they can make "whole wheat flour",
or seperate out the parts: wheat bran, wheat germ, wheat gluten, etc.
The current problem is a batch of wheat gluten was contaminated with something.
Wheat gluten is added to breads, pastries, soups, etc because it gives better texture and has lots of protein.
Even organic bread can be made with organic wheat gluten.
edit to add: But the problem batch was not organic wheat gluten, so organic bread should be safe.

[Liberty Belle]

12. True, organic is supposed to be chemical free, so should be safe.

[bananas]

2. The FDA has "strict" regulations about what can be put on the label

"strict" not having the obvious meaning,
for example "100%" can mean a lot less than "100%".
If nobody answers your question, you might want to search www.fda.gov

[Spike89]

16. Labels won't list accidental additives

Just to be clear, I'm all for strict labeling guidelines. However, the label (even on "organic" products) is only going to list the ingredients that are supposed to be in the food--that can be much different from what is actually in there. Labels are very important, but even more important is rigorous inspection and oversight of the production process...even the most purely organic-grown crop can be tainted (bacteria don't discriminate).

[GreenTea]

23. That's what the corporate farmers love to hear.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Spike89!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[hlthe2b]

3. good luck with that... Nearly all whole grain breads, buns, bagels

cakes, rolls contain wheat gluten. Wheat gluten is a protein additive to tons of other foods, especially vegetarian entrees, etc.

I don't know how to be safe about it except to use a local bakery and put them on the spot as to the source of all their ingredients.

[hlthe2b]

7. FDA has proposed language for "gluten free"--not yet adopted.

1 The proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 2,795 (Jan. 23, 2007), is available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fr070123.html

FDA
also released a related guidance document, entitled “Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule”
(Jan. 23, 2007), which is available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/glutqa.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. If it's wheat, then it's got wheat gluten.

If they seperate out the gluten first, then put it in something, then they'd probably have to label it as "wheat gluten."

[Quakerfriend]

5. Current labeling laws do require that if the product contains

wheat gluten, it must be listed on the ingredients as 'wheat gluten'.

IMO, we should all be following the continued attempts by the USDA and FDA to strip our food labeling laws of all info. Thus far,they have been successful at dumbing down the standards for labeling organic foods. And, today (4/2) they are pushing through new laws which would make it OK to sell cloned meats and dairy products WITHOUT LABELING THEM AS CLONED- These could also be labeled as organic. This is truly frightening, from a scientific standpoint. We do not have the slightest idea what the implications of this might be as it relates to human health and well being.

Of course, they have been very careful to keep this out of the MSM. AMericans need to pay as much attention to their own foodstuffs as they pay to their cats/dogs!!

[AZBlue]

6. That is terrifying.

"cloned meats and dairy products WITHOUT LABELING THEM AS CLONED- These could also be labeled as organic"

I really thought I'd be safe since I buy organic meat and dairy.

[Quakerfriend]

17. Yes, it is truly frightening. I have degrees in nutrition and

bichem and worked for yrs @ the NIH doing nutritional research w/hospital patients. And, I think WE NEED TO REVOLT AGAINST THIS! It is not good.

The Europeans and the rest of the world seem to be aware of the dangers here.:eyes:

[bananas]

11. Yes, recently I pointed out that the flower symbol indicates irradiated food

and was surprised at how many people didn't know it.

[karlrschneider]

13. I've been searching for irradiated food for years without success.

Why is it so hard to find?

[crikkett]

15. oh please can I see the flower

and is it required labeling?

[bananas]

19. here

I don't know if it's required.
Flowers in this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=501248&mesg_id=501468

[Quakerfriend]

18. Yes, for some reason Americans still live under the premise

that their government protects them from all. NOT!!

[AZBlue]

20. They really do, don't they?

Although I think the tainted people and pet foods are beginning to help people wake up.

About a year ago I was talking to my mom about moving to Italy some time in the future and she made a remark about the food - something about it not being as safe in Europe. I couldn't believe it - my own mother, who's pretty smart. I told her I'd feel much safer eating in Europe than I do here!

[DemBones DemBones]

25. I would much rather live in Italy, think the food is safer

and certainly tastes much better. As far as I know, Europe is still not allowing GM foods, either, though I wouldn't be surprised if the EU falls prey to pressure to do so. The EU promotes globalization, which our Italian friends don't like.

[Rosemary2205]

9. No

wheat and wheat gluten are listed differently on the label. It's unlikely you'll ever see "wheat" as the ingredient unless the ingredient is whole, unprocessed wheat. Instead you will see "wheat flour", "wheat gluten" etc.

Now be advised. For people with gluten allergies or reactions -- any product with wheat anything (flour or gluten) does have gluten. Wheat flour naturally creates it's own gluten - but oftentimes gluten is also added extra to make the product softer and more platable.

The tainted chinese product in question is specifically "wheat gluten".

[SoCalDem]

14. Just stay away from boxed/pouched/pre-prepared stuff

It's quite easy to cook from scratch, once you get the hang of it..

Go on e-bay/amazon and get yourself some old cookbooks. I recommend HP Make a Mix books. You can make your own cake mix, pancake mix, hot roll mix, breading mix.

Buy flour from a trusted source and make your own.. the compliments will roll in too.. "real" food tastes so much better :)

[AZBlue]

21. Excellent idea! Thank you!

I'm going to go look up that book right now!

[Vinca]

24. There's nothing wrong with wheat gluten (except for the stuff coming

from 1 place in China being contaminated). Anything can be contaminated. Tomorrow it might be corn meal in tacos. Wheat gluten is used in bakery products to give an oomph to yeast. I bake my own bread and routinely use 1/4 cup of organic wheat gluten in every batch. If you decide to avoid wheat gluten, you should probably be avoiding wheat flour and wheat bran, too, because it all comes from the same place. The problem isn't the wheat, it's the lack of food inspections.