[Knoxceliacs] Followup: Frito Lay Gluten Free List

[Dan Alton]

Thanks for following up with them and sharing your experience. No doubt
Linda¹s not to blame, but a company the size of theirs should know better.

Dan Alton
Bluegill Creative
(865) 544-5321
www.BluegillCreative.com



From: Debra Grey Adams <Sparkelr at Comcast.net>
Reply-To: Knoxville Area Celiac Support Group <knoxceliacs at celi-act.com>
Followup-To: 
<mailman.5.1181763663.29399.knoxceliacs_celi-act.com at celi-act.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:11:32 -0400
To: Celi-Act Forum <knoxceliacs at celi-act.com>
Subject: [Knoxceliacs] Followup: Frito Lay Gluten Free List

I was just called back by Linda, the nutritionist at FritoLay, twice.

In the first call, she confirmed that barley flour is not on the Lay's KC
Masterpiece BBQ potato chips ingredient list, and added something about it
being so small an amount that maybe it was not required to be listed.  Then,
she announced that they will eventually update the packaging.

I asked how much needed to be present for it to require listing, and she
said she did not know, but added that did not matter since they will be
adding it to the list.  I asked what she meant by "eventually", and she said
something to the effect that it takes time to make this sort of change, and
then implied that I should be satisfied that they "intend" to.

I must admit that, by this point, I was somewhat less rational than I like
to be ... I was incredulous and growing angry ... so I can not quote the
rest of that conversation.  It went something like the following:  I said
something about never thinking FritoLay would have such a cavalier attitude.
And that I would, of course, be posting my findings.  And that something
like this would not go unnoticed.  And that probably a lot of people with
all sorts of food sensitivities would find it hard to ever trust FritoLay
again.  I assured Linda that I was not upset with her and thanked her for
calling back.

It was not 20 minutes later that Linda called me again.  She said that
"They" are escalating the packaging change, and that she wanted to be sure
that I did not misunderstand our earlier conversation ... that they are
addressing the problem.  (Apparently, she is a very nice person who is in an
unenviable position.)  I responded that I appreciate their escalation, then
asked what that means in terms of time ... how long should we expect?  Of
course, "They" had not prepared her for that question.

I know FritoLay has tried harder than many companies.  I believe they put up
the website gluten information in good faith and maintain it
conscientiously.  I appreciate that I can call with questions and get a
referral to a nutritionist.  I believe, in this case, there is simply a
disconnect between the departments that know and address our issues and the
departments which oversee procurement, formulation, and packaging.  Poor
intra-office communication appears to be a common failing of "big business".
It should not be accepted as a good excuse.

I hate it that this situation reminds me that we, as a society, have a long
way to go ... that the squeaky wheel gets the grease ... that we won't ever
get their if we don't push, together ... and that I, as a celiac, must
continue to maintain a tiresome level of personal vigilance.

Good Luck,
Debra Grey Adams

-------- Original Message --------
 Subject:  Frito Lay Gluten Free List
 Date:  Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:00:45 -0400
 From:  Debra Grey Adams <Sparkelr at Comcast.net>
<mailto:Sparkelr at Comcast.net>
 To:  knoxceliacs at celi-act.com
 References:  
<mailman.5.1181763663.29399.knoxceliacs_celi-act.com at celi-act.com>
<mailto:mailman.5.1181763663.29399.knoxceliacs_celi-act.com at celi-act.com>

It's very interesting this subject came up, since I was glutened on 6/11
and didn't know why.  I knew that the only thing out of my ordinary that
I had eaten was some KC Masterpiece BBQ potato chips, but I had
dutifully checked the ingredient list and confirmed it was clear.

Today, I checked out the website and found two contradictory points:
1. The "Products Not Containing Gluten" page lists several "KC
Masterpiece" products, but NOT the regular chips.  This is very hard to
catch at first, since the names vary by only a word or two here and there.
2. By clicking on the Products menu and choosing Lay's Potato Chips,
then KC Masterpiece Potato Chips, a graphic of the package Ingredients
List is displayed.  It does NOT list any suspicious ingredients.

So, I called them. I spoke first with a nice representative, named
Sandy, who confirmed that they contain barley ... in her ingredient
list.  I asked why the package does not list barley.  She explained that
the packaging simply had not yet caught up with the ingredients change.
I told her this was alarming news to me, since I am gluten-intolerant,
and I had a mild reaction after eating them.  I then said that, for
instance, I could not see them suddenly adding soy to a product without
putting that on the label, since some people are allergic to soy
products ... and that I did not see how this was any different.  She
suddenly sounded very concerned, and asked if she could have a
nutritionist call me back.

Within half an hour, I received a call from Linda, who identified
herself as a nutritionist at FritoLay.  She mentioned that she had
already had another call on this today, and asked if she could call me
back when she hears back from their regulatory people.  She seemed
genuinely concerned, but she also asked about this being posted on the
web, etc.  I told her it is, mentioning "a list-serve" and webpage, but
gave out no specific details.  I do believe they are aware this could
blow up on them with bad publicity, so I suspect we will get some action
soon.  We will see.

Meanwhile, at this time, please accept my sincere thanks for all who
manage and/or contribute to this list-serve.  I have been receiving the
digest versions for about six months or so, and I appreciate just
knowing you are there facing the same challenges every day.  However,
times like this when you help remind me that I am not crazy ... or
hypochondriac ... I could just hug you all!

Regards,
Debra Grey Adams



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