Confusion about the gluten-free-ness of Ore Ida’s Tater Tots October 2, 2007
Posted by Karen Joy in Celiac Disease, Cooking/Baking/Food/Recipes, Gluten-Free Blogfriends and Resources.4 comments
I was alarmed when I recently saw that on its online page of its gluten-free foods that Ore-Ida/Heinz no longer listed Tater Tots — often a staple of those on a gluten-free diet — as gluten-free.
Indeed, from the web page, here are the list of gluten-free foods:
GLUTEN FREE PRODUCTS If you suffer from celiac disease (gluten intolerance) you will be pleased to know that the Ore-Ida® Brand offers a wide variety of products that are gluten-free.
Hash Browns UPC CODE: Ore-Ida® Southern Style Hash Browns (32 oz.)
1312000392 Ore-Ida® Potatoes O’Brien (28 oz.)
1312000469 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (30 oz.)
1312000833 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)
1312000862 Ore-Ida® 9 count Golden Patties® (20.25 oz.)
1312000080 The Classics Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (32 oz.)
1312000258 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (5 lb.)
1312000278 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (32 oz.)
1312000286 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (5 lb.)
1312000291 Ore-Ida® Potato Wedges with Skins (24 oz.)
1312001012 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (28 oz.)
1312000828 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.) (Costco only)
1312008564 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.) (Sam’s only)
1312008572 Extra Crispy Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Fast Food FriesTM (26 oz.)
1312001417 Fun Shapes Ore-Ida® Pixie Crinkles® (26 oz.)
1312000296 Ore-Ida® Cottage Fries (32 oz.)
1312000377 Seasoned Ore-Ida® French Fries (8 lb.) (Sam’s Club only)
1312000647 * Please note that recipes and processes can change from time to time. Therefore, we recommend that you always check the ingredient statement on the label
Unless I’m blind, Tater Tots are not on that list. (For the record, Ore Ida considers Tater Tots to be in its “Fun Shapes” category.)
It was my theory that since Ore Ida is now making an “extra crispy” line of potato goods, most of which contain actual pure wheat gluten, that perhaps there was some cross-contamination going on in the manufacturing process, leading them to remove Tater Tots from the list.
So, I submitted a question to the website, even though I had to give up practically all of my private information to do so, asking for clarity in the matter. They were kind enough to respond in about 24 hours with this statement:
Thank you for your interest in Heinz Products. We certainly understand how difficult it can be to find foods that meet the requirements of a restricted diet.
As you requested, the following is a listing of all of our products that do NOT have gluten containing ingredients. If the product you asked about is not on this list, then it does have gluten containing ingredients.
HEINZ PRODUCTS:
Heinz Ketchup (All Varieties)
Heinz Organic Ketchup
Heinz One Carb Ketchup
Heinz No Sodium Added Ketchup
Heinz Hot & Spicy Kick’rsLea & Perrins Products– All Varieties
Jack Daniel’s EZ Marinader — Teriyaki Variety
Jack Daniel’s EZ Marinader — Garlic & Herb Variety
Distilled White Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Flavored VinegarCLASSICO PASTA SAUCES:
All Classico Pasta SaucesTGI FRIDAY’S SALSA:
Both Mild and Medium Salsa in 16-ounce jar
DELIMEX PRODUCTS:
UPC CODE: PRODUCT NAME:
1769600012 Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769600018 Tamales, 12 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600019 Tamales, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken & Cheese
1769600020 Taquitos, 24 ct. Smart & Final Beef
1769600024 Tamales, 6 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600028 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600029 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769600048 Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600095 Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600096 Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769600133 Taquitos, 22 ct. Schwan’s Beef w/ Salsa
1769600155 Tamales, 15 ct. Costco Beef
1769600159 Tamales, 20 ct. Delimex Beef, Costco
1769600180 Taquitos, 60 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600186 Taquitos, 60 ct. Sam’s Club Beef
1769600206 Tamales, 2 ct. Trader Joe’s Beef
1769600207 Tamales, 2 ct. Trader Joe’s Chicken & Cheese
1769600214 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex 3-Cheese
1769600222 Tamales, 6 ct. Schwan’s Beef
1769600481 Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Beef (Mexico Import)
1769600500 Taquitos, Delimex Beef / Deli-Pak
1769600505 Taquitos, Mini, 40 ct. Beef, Snacker Tray w/ salsa
1769600554 Tamales, Cheese Deli Bulk Pack
1769600555 Tamales, Chicken Deli Bulk Pack
1769600556 Tamales, Beef Deli Bulk Pack
1769600565 Tamales, 20 ct.Beef, Sams Club
1769600684 Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Beef
1769600685 Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Chicken
1769601208 Tamales, 2 ct. Trader Joe’s Cheese & Green Chiles
ORE-IDA PRODUCTS:
UPC CODE: PRODUCT NAME:
13120XXXXX- ALL VARIETIES of Ore-Ida® Tater Tots®
1312000080 Ore-Ida Golden Patties® (9 ct.)
1312000198 Ore-Ida® Snackin’ Fries ™ (10.5 oz.)
1312000258 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (32 oz.)
1312000278 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (5 lb.)
1312000286 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (32 oz.)
1312000291 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (5 lb.)
1312000296 Ore-Ida® Pixie Crinkles (26 oz.)
1312000377 Ore-Ida® Cottage Fries (32 oz.)
1312000392 Ore-Ida® Southern Style Hash Browns (32 oz.)
1312001417 Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries (26 oz.)
1312000469 Ore-Ida® Potatoes O’Brien (28 oz.)
1312000647 Ore-Ida® French Fries (8 lb.)
1312000654 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)
1312000801 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (5 lb)
1312000809 Ore-Ida® Crunch Time Classics Straight Cut (24 oz.)
1312000810 Ore-Ida® Crunch Time Classics Crinkle Cut (24 oz.)
1312000828 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (28 oz.)
1312000829 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (40 oz.)
1312000833 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (30 oz.)
1312000845 Ore-Ida® Deep Fries Crinkle Cuts (24 oz.)
1312000854 Ore-Ida® Hash Browns (5 lb.)
1312000862 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)
1312001012 Ore-Ida® Potato Wedges with Skins (24 oz.)
1312001190 Ore-Ida® Steak Fries (3.75 lb.)
1312008564 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.)
1312008565 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (8 lb.)
1312008572 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.)
Again, we appreciate you taking the time to contact us. If you need further information, feel free to call us at this toll-free number (1-800-255-5750). Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM, Eastern Time.
That list does show that Tater Tots are gluten-free!!
I did just call the toll-free number listed, and the customer service rep told me that the website does not have up-to-date information, but that the list above is the current authority. Hm. That’s a little confusing; it’d be great if they were consistently providing identical information to all consumers. BUT, I am glad that they are gluten-free.
Sheesh.
I also find it very interesting that Lea & Perrins is now listed as gluten-free. It at least used to be made with malt vinegar, which is not g.f. Recently, I checked a label at the store, and it just listed “vinegar.” Maybe they’re using distilled now.
Also of note is the fact that many Delimex products are gluten-free, as are Costco Taquito items, and the fact that, apparently, Heinz makes the tamales sold at Trader Joe’s. I thought virtually all of T.J.’s stuff came from small producers. I guess not.
Anyways. I guess all of we Tater Tot eaters who must maintain a g.f. diet can breathe a sigh of relief.
So… what did you DO all day? October 2, 2007
Posted by Karen Joy in Funny Stuff, Housework, Marriage, Parenting, The Dear Hubby.3 comments
I must admit, my husband is merciful and tactful, and I don’t remember that exact question ever coming out of his mouth. But, sometimes, I can tell by his quick glance with widened eyes around the place when he comes home that he’s sometimes thinking it.
I laughed out loud at this post from Anonymom, which starts
This is for all the stay-at-home-mothers who are exhausted at the end of the day only to be greeted by the words, “What did you do all day long?”
She then goes on to detail the day in Husband Perceived Time (the time hubbies think a task should take) vs. Actual Time.
Anonymom has a baby and a preschooler, so my life as a homeschooling mom of four isn’t identical to hers, but it does bear some striking similarities.
