Gluten-Free Chex Launching in Canada

Here is some great news for gluten-free Canadians. Two varieties of gluten-free Chex will be coming to Canada in summer 2011. Below is the message that was shared on the Gluten Freely Facebook page.

"General Mills is excited to announce that we are bringing two varieties of gluten free CHEX cereal to Canada! Great tasting Honey Nut Chex and Rice Chex will be available in the cereal aisle at national retailers across the country by the end of June."

Sign up here to receive more information.

Review: New Rice Krispies Gluten-Free

 
Today, two complimentary pre-launch samples of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free cereal arrived at my door! The two 12 ounce boxes are samples not intended for sale. The front and back of the boxes are the same image and both side panels are the same nutrition facts with no information about manufacturing. For information about manufacturing and testing, read my previous blog post.

Rice Krispies Gluten-Free is made from brown rice and contains 50% of the daily value of iron. The cereal looks like original Rice Krispies, except for some brown edges on many pieces. As soon as I poured the milk, I heard a loud "Snap, Crackle, and Pop." The taste and texture of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free are very similar to the Rice Krispies I remember eating four years ago, but slightly different. My daughter loved them. 

I also received a recipe to make Rice Krispies treats. While I am sure they will make excellent Rice Krispies treats, I am going to savor every last bowl of Rice Krispies until they hit store shelves in June and I can buy them. The MSRP is $3.99, which is the same as original Rice Krispies.

Rice Krispies Gluten-Free: Manufacturing Information

I just received an email from a member of the Kellogg's Rice Krispies Brand Team, who is sending me a pre-launch sample of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free. I immediately inquired about manufacturing and received the following response.

"And as for testing it for gluten, to ensure the gluten-free status, the product is made in a separate production facility that has been making gluten-free items for nearly a decade. Every batch of product is tested for gluten, as is the production line."

I am so happy to hear it is tested for gluten. I look forward to trying it and blogging about it! Look for Rice Krispies Gluten-Free to hit select U.S. store shelves in early June 2011. Currently, the product is only being launched in the U.S., not Canada.

Video: Kumquats Educational Puppets Explain Celiac Disease to Kids

Kumquats are adorable educational puppets. There is something very comforting about seeing puppets talking about celiac disease. While the video is very simple and short, it is a good starting point for talking to kids about celiac disease. The ending was my favorite part and made me smile!