January 9, 2010 Update on Gluten-Free Status of Kix Cereal:
As I am always gaining new insight and perspective on the gluten-free status of foods, I have grown more leery of just reading ingredient labels and making a decision based on the ingredient knowledge I have and the information I read on a label. I am learning to “ask the next question.” As a celiac myself and the mother of a celiac child, it is my own personal responsibility for assessing the risk of a certain food for me and my son. That being said, I emailed General Mills to inquire why Kix cereal is not labeled gluten-free (like Chex) when there is no apparent gluten-containing ingredient on the label.
This is the response I received:
Dear Ms. Kelly:Thank you for contacting us about gluten in Kix cereal. General Mills offers several products that are labeled gluten-free. Please check the package label for the gluten-free statement on the front/side/back of the package. Only products that can be verified to be gluten free will be declared as gluten free on the label. It is important to check the product label each time you purchase a product because it has the most accurate information about the product in the package.Because we constantly strive to improve our products′ quality and nutritional value, the most up-to-date product information is on the package the product is purchased in. For that reason, we do not distribute product information lists as they could quickly become outdated.For products not labeled gluten free, we will always declare gluten containing ingredients if they are added to the product. If the ingredient declaration lists wheat, oats, barley, rye, or derivatives of these grains, then the product contains gluten. Examples of derivative ingredients include: malt, barley malt, organic malt, semolina, Durham, triticale, and spelt. We do not include gluten containing ingredients in the ′Natural Flavors′ or ′Spices′ on the product ingredient list. If there are gluten ingredients in our products, those ingredients are always clearly listed.If there are no gluten- containing ingredients listed in the product ingredient label, but the product does not make a gluten free claim, it is because we cannot fully assure that this product is gluten free. While we have not added gluten-containing ingredients, factors such as sourcing, conditions of manufacture, etc. do not allow us to provide the full level of assurance that a gluten free claim requires.Additional information regarding gluten may be obtained by contacting your health care professional or:Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc.PO Box 31700Omaha, NE 68131-0700402-558-0600Or toll free: 877-CSA-4-CSA (877-272-4272)We hope this information is helpful.Sincerely,Leah GiovanniConsumer Services
I just read a post on the Silly Yaks Yahoo Group about Kix Cereal no longer containing oats!
As with the Chex, be sure to read the ingredient label first to make sure the package has the new ingredient list and is not the old formulation.
Kix Cereal No Longer Contains Oats
Posted by:
Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:44 am (PDT)
According to the General Mills website, oats have been removed from General Mills’ original Kix; the cereal now contains gluten-free ingredients.
Gluten Free Philly has more info:
http://glutenfreephilly.blogspot.com/2009/06/just-for-kix.html
<http://glutenfreephilly.blogspot.com/2009/06/just-for-kix.html>
S’moreables Gluten Free Graham Crackers by Kinnikinnick
It is that time of year again. Campfires…roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and the quintessential essence of all things summer, S’mores.
When beginning my new gluten-free life 5 years ago, I quickly learned that the sooner I could forget about how something “should” taste, the better off I would be. In what seems like an “overnight” sensation…gluten-free is everywhere. Food companies are even trying to make gluten-free TASTE good. The more companies get involved, the greater the competition and we don’t have to settle for cardboard anymore!
Here is one of those items. My mom likes these. This is big.
We like the "well-toasted" variety of roasted marshmallows! 
The S’moreables do break easily, so be careful if you are making S’mores…but don’t throw away any broken graham crackers! Throw them in the food processor, blender or even crush them in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin to make crumbs, then freeze until you need a graham cracker crust. Zero waste. Think real cheesecake…yummy!
Get some, you wont be sorry.
To read more about Kinnikinnick’s S’moreables, click here. I buy mine on Amazon.
My favorite magazine, Gluten-Free Living; has been a great source of information for me. I just received my most recent copy, Number 2/2009. In the first article, “Top 10 Most Nagging Ingredient Questions,” by Editor Ann Whelan, she sets it straight on ingredients like Caramel Coloring, Cheese (i.e.: Blue cheeses), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Low-gluten-hosts, Maltodextrin, Mono and Diglycerides, Oats, Skin Products, Spices and Vinegars.
The following is an excerpt from that article regarding the gluten-free status of vinegar:
“Vinegar is gluten free, has always been gluten free and should never have been questioned in the first place. Distillation is a process that effectively removes the gluten protein, even if wheat is used. Consequently, distilled vinegar made from wheat is gluten free.”
“However, most vinegar is not made from wheat. Apple, corn, grape and rice sugars are the most frequently used sources. The bottom line is that all distilled vinegars are safe on the gluten free diet so you don’t have to worry about the source being listed on the label.”
“Malt vinegar, however, is not distilled and it therefore is not safe for those who follow a gluten-free diet.”
The following are examples of other great articles in this issue of Gluten-Free Living Magazine:
Malt Extract in Gluten-Free Food?- Are celiac patients in the US missing out on a good thing?
- Summer heats up GF food choices
- How to grill gluten free
- Lickety Split: GF ice cream is easy to find
- Basement Brew: How to make homemade GF beer
- 3 steps to lose weight on a GF diet
- A review of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s new book, “The G Free Diet”
- New organic, imported, kid-friendly GF foods
- Is it Gluten Free: A basic diet guide for celiacs
- Is there a GF bubble market?
I highly recommend Gluten-Free Living for anyone on the gluten-free diet. I know it may seem a bit expensive at $34.00 for 4 issues or $54.o0 for 8 issues (I do the 8 issue subscription), but I think it is worth it. I don’t mind paying top dollar if it helps me live a less confusing gluten-free life! 
The whole experience was amazing. The staff was kind, informed of the GF diet and how to take the necessary precautions due to the danger for celiacs from cross-contamination. And boy, were they informed! I saw something that I have never seen in the 5 years of dining out gluten-free. The server and the manager delivered our food wearing gloves, to further prevent cross contamination. Gloves!
I was speechless. Really, I almost kissed them. Luka blew them one for all of us!
We all ordered pizza, there were 3 types to choose from, cheese, pepperoni or vegetable. They are thin crust and touted as “individual” sized pizzas. It would easily serve 2 people if you order a salad to go with it. We ordered some of each and we all ordered the Caesar salad too.
Heaven. That’s all I can say, it was that good. I forgot what real pizza with a thin, pliable crust tasted like! I could actually fold it and it didn’t break or fall to pieces in crumbles.
I don’t think we spoke a word at our table until we were finished, which says quite a bit in itself!
A bonus for the grown-ups on the gluten free diet?
Beer. 
I wish we had an Uno’s here in Albuquerque…
Well, I guess that is why we have a macked out mini-van…ROAD TRIP!!!
Thank you so much Las Cruces Pizzaria Uno Chicago Grill and Assistant General Manager, Thomas Fry. A 5 star experience in my book.
To view the Uno’s Chicago Grill Gluten-Free Menu, click here.
