soy info from heinz

[kscolorado]

Sorting out all the stuff in my fridge that contains soy, i read the back of lea and parrins Worcestershire sauce and couldnt find soy so I emailed them and this is what I got:

Dear Kathryne,

Thank you for visiting our web site.

Regarding your inquiry the Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce does not contain any Soy in it.

Because we understand how difficult it is for consumers with food allergies to find 'safe' processed foods, we clearly list the 8 Major Allergens (as determined by the Food and Drug Administration) on our ingredient panels if they are included in our products. These include: Soy; Wheat; Peanuts; Eggs; Dairy; Tree Nuts; Shellfish & Crustaceans; and Fish. NONE of these ingredients are present in Heinz Ketchup. In addition to this, we can assure you that natural flavorings do not contain any animal products.

Unfortunately, because recipes are not patentable, we are unable to share specific ingredient information with you. Therefore, we suggest that you not use this product if you are allergic to an ingredient other than those specifically declared on the label.

Thanks again for contacting us. We appreciate your interest.

Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com

When contacting us, please refer to the following reference number: 003067010A

HEINZ/cl

I already knew that it was gluten free so now I can safely enjoy it in my guacamole dip ect!

[tex]

Therefore, we suggest that you not use this product if you are allergic to an ingredient other than those specifically declared on the label.

I sure hate to see disclaimers like that, because it makes me think that they are trying to warn me about something, but can't come right out and say it, (without revealing proprietary information about their recipe). For example, barley and rye are exempt from labeling requirements, though the hordein and secalin in them are just as allergenic as the gluten in wheat. Many companies go ahead and volunteer information about barley and rye, but they are not required to do so by law, and I can certainly see how they might not want to volunteer that information, if it happens to be a vital ingredient that separates their product from the competition, because of the unique taste that it imparts.

Probably you are safe using the product, but it's a crying shame the way the Congress, and the FDA can never get their acts together, to write the regulations so that labels can actually be trusted. They always manage to leave critical loopholes, that cause grave risks for many consumers.

Tex

[kscolorado]

i so very agree with you Tex. I find the soy labeling so much harder than the gluten labeling! Soy is also a top 8 allergen but because the FDA allows refined soy bean oil to be exempt because SUPPOSEDLY its not supposed to contain the protein anymore, companies are getting away with hiding things! Yeah, I can have the lea and parrins.....for now but they could change the natural flavors with no warning.

[starfire]

I definitely agree that soy OIL should be listed as an alergen. I think that's what did me in a couple weekends ago.

Love, Shirley