Food 4 Less manufacturing and labeling.
The following information applies to Food 4 Less private label products. Food 4 Less private labels include the Private Selection, Private Selection Organic, Naturally Preferred, Value, Active Lifestyle, and Kroger brands.
Reading the Ingredient List. Food 4 Less abides by all laws and good manufacturing practices administered by government agencies such as the FDA and USDA. We cannot hide ingredients in our food. When reading ingredient lists, remember that all items contained in the product must be listed. For example, if a can of green beans states "green beans, water, and salt," those are the only ingredients contained in the product. If there is not an ingredient list, then the only ingredient is the produce itself.
Sometimes you will see the term "natural flavors" in the ingredient list. Natural flavors may contain gluten. In this instance, you will need to call the Kroger Dietitian Hotline at 1-800-632-6900 to find out if the product contains gluten. We will not divulge the exact ingredients in the natural flavors, as that information is proprietary. We will, however, let you know if the natural flavors contain gluten. Artificial flavors and spices do not contain gluten.
Some ingredient changes do not require changes to be reflected on the label (e.g., a change in the make-up of natural flavors).
Wheat is one of the eight main allergens. Our Allergen Labeling Program was developed using the Food Allergy Issues Alliance's guidelines. Both the Food Allergy Network and the FDA support these guidelines. As a part of these guidelines, packaging for a food containing any of the eight major food allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish) will identify the allergen present in the ingredient statement. This means that products containing wheat will have a statement that looks like this: Contains: Wheat. This statement will be located under the ingredient list. Oats, barley, and rye are not one of the main eight allergens and therefore will not be listed in a "Contains" statement. If there is any question about the ingredients, especially when natural flavors are listed, please call us.
Cross-Contamination. We can guarantee that products that do not list wheat in the ingredient statement are free of wheat because wheat is one of the eight main allergens. Individuals in our manufacturing plants are aware of the serious nature of Celiac Disease and the importance of listing the eight major allergens. When our plants manufacture foods both with and without gluten, the equipment is thoroughly cleaned before foods not containing any one of the eight main allergens are processed. If there is a possibility of cross-contamination with wheat, the product will state "May Contain: Wheat." We recommend that individuals attempting to eliminate gluten from their diets avoid consuming any items made in the store bakery or the deli due to the chance of cross-contamination.
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