Dear Chicago Tribune Editor:

On behalf of everyone at Glutino including all our customers and millions of Americans living with celiac disease, we want to sincerely thank you for publishing the two-part investigative series entitled “Allergy Threat: A Tribune Investigation” (Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, 2008)

We applaud Mr. Roe for his two-part article disclosing mislabeling issues and its impact on consumers with food allergies. His article clearly demonstrates the challenges that people living with celiac disease and other food allergies face on a daily basis and how the mislabeling of certain foods can cause life-threatening situations. Mrs. Pridemore’s touching and frightening story illustrates how the mislabeling of products can not only be fatal to our children but also breaks the confidence of consumers who must depend on these companies and labels.

Since 1983, Glutino has been the leading North American manufacturer of gluten-free foods. We produce our products in a dedicated gluten-free facility and we test every single batch that is produced in our plants for gluten. Our quality control follows very strict guidelines for testing all our products to ensure they have less than 10ppm of gluten which is lower than the FDA’s proposed requirements of 20ppm.

We have also been very active within the celiac community, supporting celiac patients through awareness events, financial support and safe, tasty products. Consumers depend on us to provide them with consistently safe, top quality foods and to accurately disclose all the ingredients.

We know it is unsettling for them when they become ill from eating a product or when they learn that a company they depend on has let them down. . Each and every Glutino employee understands that consumers depend on us and as a leading gluten-free company we realize the importance of diligently and accurately reporting the ingredients on our labels.

Once again, thank you for educating and making people aware of this growing problem of mislabeled products and their devastating effects on Americans of all ages especially children and parents that try so hard to keep them safe. As a father of 2 children and one on the way, I can relate to Mrs. Pridemore and her sense of helplessness faced with companies that are putting out confusing advisory warnings. Glutino is committed to help those living with celiac disease live happy, normal lives.

Sincerely,
Steven Singer
President, Glutino Food Group

Glutino/Gluten-Free Pantry is a founding member of the American Celiac Disease Alliance, a 501 (c) 3 group comprised of the leaders in all components of the celiac community. The Alliance is an advocacy organization that represents and advocates on behalf of the entire celiac community -- patients, physicians, researchers, and food manufacturers, and other service providers.