That Waitrose are no longer issuing a list of gluten free products for Own Label items?

[trulydelicious]

This really.

One used to be able to download from their website up-to-date lists of Own Label items for different dietary requirements (one being suitability for people avoiding gluten or coeliac disease)

However, last year these lists were pulled. The only thing available now is a drop-down/flag on a limited number of items (mainly dairy or fresh vegetables). A couple of times when I looked, even this flag showed some inconsistencies. Allergy labelling is no good as it does not take into account cross-contamination.

Often when I shop there now I end up not buying items that I otherwise would as I cannot take the risk (think chocolate, mayonnaise, soup, etc). The lockdown makes things worse as there are issues with deliveries from other supermarkets and I have to resort to buying from places that are close by (Waitrose being one of these).

This is not exactly a budget supermarket and some of these are certainly not budget items (e.g. the Dutchy Originals range). Also, they seem to spend a lot on aesthetics, packaging and the quality is generally good. How can they seem to have such disregard for this issue? Specially when they were able to compile these lists before? It must be impacting sales, surely?

I raised this with their customer support team who usually appear to be helpful but they did not seem to be interested.

Am I missing something?
Sorry for the rant and long post.

[trulydelicious]

MammaHC4568 did you contact them via Twitter?

[trulydelicious]

MammaHC456 very disappointing, it seems as if they didn't want to know. It's a shame as they were able to do it before.

[MammaHC456]

They directed me to the free from page when I asked so not much luck there after all ☹️

[trulydelicious]

bellabasset yes, Sainsbury's seem to be much better at gluten free

[bellabasset]

At the moment there seem to be less products available. But I have been buying for someone with strict dietary requirements and have been able to get a lot in Sainsburys. Have only been once to Tesco, but mostly Sainsburys.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

I have family with the disease. Since everything could potentially be cross-contaminated they don’t eat processed food any more. Everything is made from scratch and even then the kitchens they can eat from within the family are limited because they can’t have any trace of gluten

[ReincarnatedDodo]

@beabitnicer We are in agreeance - my point was that it needs to be done for all. I know about the risks of Ceoliacs in the long term, don't worry, I am not ignorant.

Allergen labels need to be for all of the twelve common allergens realistically if this is to be done by supermarkets.

[beabitnicer]

@OP

I thought that if there was a risk of cross contamination then it legally had to be listed as 'may contain' on the packaging? Is this not still the case?

[beabitnicer]

"You do realise that gluten is not the only allergen, and to be honest, in Ceoliac disease is not an emergency life threatening illness such as anaphylaxis, don't you?"

How bloody ignorant. It may not cause anaphylaxis but repeated consumption of even tiny cross contaminated amounts of gluten can lead to bowel and stomach cancer, osteoporosis and a whole range of other health conditions. Just because it doesn't kill you in the next 10 minutes doesn't mean it's not killing you internally. And there are all those who claim we shouldn't treat cancer for those who self inflict it (which btw I don't agree with), but they would argue that this cancer is self inflicted as if we'd just avoided gluten and been a little more careful we wouldn't then have subjected cancer on ourselves.

"If they did this for Gluten, they need to do it for all twelve common allergens at least."

This is agree with, it should be done for all the major allergies that legally require declaration on products. It is a matter of saving lives, both in the short and long term.

[trulydelicious]

TimothyTerrible yes, what's puzzling is that they make this list available to Coeliac UK but are no longer making it available directly to the general public. Doesn't make sense to me

[TimothyTerrible]

Perhaps it’s because they can’t guarantee there’s no cross-contamination outside of the Free From range? I can see its annoying if that information used to available and now isn’t though.

[trulydelicious]

Thanks TimothyTerrible. Those are mainly products labelled as gluten free by the manufacturer (e.g. Alpro, Tyrrells) or Waitrose Free From range (mainly gluten free bread or pasta)

However, if you were to buy say chocolate, mayonnaise or olive oil from Waitrose Own Label you wouldn't know if it had been cross-contaminated with gluten or not (which the previous list that they published used to tell you)

[trulydelicious]

ReincarnatedDodo yes, could be. I'm not too familiar with other allergies, though

[TimothyTerrible]

Are you looking in the right place? Isn’t this it?

[trulydelicious]

Also, if they can send the lists to Coeliac UK, why can't they make them available to the public?

[trulydelicious]

Queenunikitty yes, it's true. It's just that with the lockdown and all the disruption it would be easier if I could shop at Waitrose as it's close

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

Coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity are not niche, no.

But complaining that a specific supermarket no longer has a drop down menu of gluten-free products on their website is a very specific complaint so wouldn't it be better to try and target your complaint in a place where it will have most impact?

Not AIBU, the arsey end of Mumsnet.

[ReincarnatedDodo]

@trulydelicious You do realise that gluten is not the only allergen, and to be honest, in Ceoliac disease is not an emergency life threatening illness such as anaphylaxis, don't you?

If they did this for Gluten, they need to do it for all twelve common allergens at least.

[trulydelicious]

TheGreatWave yes, the problem is that there are a number of people who have issues with gluten / sensitivity and have to follow a strict gluten-free diet (whether they have been diagnosed with coeliac disease or not). Not everyone may want to or can afford to join the organisation.

I think large supermarkets should make this information available to customers regarding own brand products.

What I find annoying is that they used to be able to produce this list and have now pulled it.

[Queenunikitty]

Waitrose has never been great with gluten free, maybe try another supermarket? Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s are better and even M&S. I’m coeliac and so is my DC and I still shop there because it’s the nearest. In the past when I lived abroad in Asia, I just avoided anything that may contain gluten so no bread, pasta etc or any ready made food or sauces if any kind. It’s the only way to be totally safe.

[trulydelicious]

Chicchicchicchiclana I would not describe this as niche

[TheGreatWave]

Coeliac UK is a good place to start.

www.coeliac.org.uk/home/

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

This is quite niche. What is your AIBU? Perhaps start a petition or enlist the help of Coeliac UK?

[ReincarnatedDodo]

Cross contamination is an issue with all allergens though. I have an allergy to something that only has to be listed over a certain amount (sulphites). Glass bottles get washed in sulphites before they are filled with drinks a lot of times.

I literally have had to check, and have to check regularly that the process hasn't changed, if I want to drink a drink out of a glass bottle as it is not labelled on the bottle if it's been washed in sulphites prior to filling.

[trulydelicious]

Marks & Spencer have fewer items that are suitable but they seem to be taking things more seriously regarding this.