Alert: Mama Lucia Meatballs Removes Gluten-Free from Packaging

We love Mama Lucia All Beef Meatballs found in the frozen foods section of Safeway and Giant. They are delicious with pasta and in open-faced meatball subs with Udi’s Gluten Free hot dog buns. When I went to buy Mama Lucia Meatballs last night, I was shocked to see that gluten-free has been removed from the front of the All Beef package. I searched the package, and gluten-free is nowhere on the new package! 

Are Mama Lucia Meatballs still gluten-free? Here are the three email replies I received today from a conversation with a Quaker Maid Consumer Affairs representative, with the most recent reply last.

“Thank you for contacting us regarding the Mama Lucia All Beef Italian Style Meatballs. Your comments are appreciated. The “Gluten-Free” notation has been removed from the new packaging, however, the formulation and ingredients are the same. This all beef meatball is still gluten-free. Please accept my apology for the confusion.” 

“I understand that such packaging notation are very important and I’m sorry for any stress this has caused you. The change was made when the package sizes were updated and with the idea that new items may be added to the meatball facility sometime in the future. There has not been any manufacturing change at this point. Because this might mean the facility will no longer be strictly gluten-free, they considered this change very carefully and did not come to this decision lightly. At this time and in the near future you can be assured that all Mama Lucia Meatballs are gluten-free including the All Beef variety. It will be important to watch the BACK of the package where allergens are listed.” 

“Yes they are tested. Nothing is changing! Be assured that the meatballs you have are gluten-free, we are still producing all meatballs that are gluten-free.”

While I would like to trust the company that the product is still gluten-free, my 12 years of eating gluten-free tells me otherwise. Why would you take gluten-free off the package if your product is still gluten-free now? I can’t help but wonder if there is more they aren’t saying. Is it safe for celiac disease? They are clearly saying that their manufacturing may change in the near future when they introduce gluten products, so even if they are gluten-free now, they likely will not be in the near future due to cross-contamination. 

I asked multiple times if gluten-free is being removed from all of their meatball products or only the All Beef ones, but I did not receive a response. None of the photos on their website have gluten-free on any of the packages anymore. Their website FAQ now says, “There are no wheat or gluten ingredients in the products.”

My recommendation is to continue always reading ingredients and start searching for a different brand of gluten-free frozen meatballs. For brands, if you value your gluten-free consumers, don’t remove gluten-free from the package and expect them to keep buying it!

How to Get SAFE Gluten-Free Food at a Restaurant

How do you determine if the gluten-free food at a restaurant is truly SAFE for someone with celiac disease to eat? There has been tons of news coverage about Domino’s launching a “gluten-free” pizza that is not SAFE for those with celiac disease.

 

Since May is Celiac Awareness Month, it is the perfect time to implement an easy technique that people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can follow at restaurants. We need to ensure restaurant employees understand the importance of SAFE gluten-free food, and don’t confuse our order with a weight loss fad!

 

Use my SAFE technique before taking a bite! 

 

Shared cooking equipment, serving spoons, or fryers? Don’t eat it! 

Alert the chef that you will get extremely sick if your meal is not 100% gluten-free.

Follow recommendations and reviews from gluten-free websites, blogs, and support groups.

Examine their knowledge of gluten-free ingredients and cross-contamination.

  

Help keep the gluten-free community SAFE by sharing this blog post!

Snow Photos and Food Safety

We received over two feet of snow this weekend in this historical snowstorm, making this the third snowiest winter of all time in Washington. Prior to the storm, I stocked up on food and household essentials, but didn't expect to experience two power outages. The second power outage was just before I made dinner. I was thankful that I had some thawed Udi's whole grain bread and Purefit protein bars. Udi's gluten-free bread is unique in that it does not need to be heated to make it soft.

Fortunately, each time my power was restored in about five hours, and the food in my refrigerator was still good. The USDA says food is good for approximately four hours in a closed refrigerator. If the doors are kept closed, food in the freezer lasts 24 hours if half full and 48 hours if full. For a longer power outage in winter, you can store your food from your refrigerator outside. Next time, I will have some shelf stable cartons of Silk or dry milk on hand in case my milk goes bad.

Here are some photos I took today, the day after the storm ended. On Facebook, you can view photos I took during the storm.

One of my favorite photos!

Can you find the fire hydrant?

There is a neighbor's car buried under that snow. I am so glad a friend will try to dig out my car from the parking lot tomorrow.

Can you find the car? Hint the car is driving with two feet of snow on top.

Some plowed mounds of snow are more than 5 feet high and taller than this person. The city plows streets in my neighborhood quickly, but some neighborhoods will be waiting several days for a plow.

Many people are also still waiting for their power to be restored. Schools are closed for at least the next two days. After three snowstorms last week, more snow is forecasted for Tuesday evening. Instead of being frustrated with the endless snow and dangerous ice, I am so thankful my power was quickly restored and am enjoying taking photos and blogging!