Great Specialty: January 2, 2010 Update
As noted previously on our site, and on other blogs, a number of products sold at Great Specialty Products [dot] com having a gluten free product claim contained measurable amounts of gluten. Our initial post showed five products to have gluten, an additional four tests have also shown high levels of gluten in three other products. We know of no tests which have shown a gluten free product (using 20 ppm as the definition of gluten free). Tests using both the R5 and Skerrit antibody have been used. The lone test used capable of showing very high levels of gluten indicated the levels were similar to that of regular bread (>5,000 ppm of gluten).
We are providing this information due to the number of inquiries we have had since our initial post. Any investigations being pursued are the domain of the appropriate authorities and we make no comment about those efforts.
If you have purchased these products and they have affected your health, please contact the relevant state agency. Despite the regulatory and labeling constraints around gluten, we are fortunate to have state agencies which are very quick to act when someone says, “I ate this and it made me or my child sick.” Please contact only the relevant group, while we appreciate the efforts of those who are disturbed by the implications of this information, our efforts are focused on providing factual information to the appropriate parties.
- North Carolina: North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Safety (”NCDA&CS”) ask for a Food Compliance Officer; (919) 733.7366.
- South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Agriculture; (803) 734-2210.
- Virginia: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Toll-free within VA (800) 552-9963. Virginia has an online complaint form available here.
- Maryland: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Community Health Administration; (410) 767-5300.
- Washington, DC: We have received inquiries from Washington DC, however we have been unable to identify the appropriate regulatory body to approach. If you know of the appropriate group, please let us know at contact@junonutrition.com so we can update this link.
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has an online complaint form.
- Ohio: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Division; (614) 728-6250
If you have samples of the product please keep them in a refrigerated environment and pass that information on as you call the parties mentioned above. Other records which indicate the date or purchase, any labeling that was provided should be retained and shared with the appropriate authorities. To date we know of no attempts by the manufacturer to issue a recall or alert previous customers.
These products were available by purchase in person, by delivery and via the mail service. The website appears to still be functioning (we are not linking to it). Their first efforts to sell products can be dated to October 1, 2009.
Food Labeling, Food Safety
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Celiac, Food tests, Gluten, High levels, kits, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Results, Safety, South Carolina, State agencies, Washington DC
I bought the bread. Nc dept of ag sent it for testing
it was >5000 ppm gluten.
I bought several bread products via the internet for my son. We thought he had the upper GI bug off and on for the last month. Headaches, nausea, stomach cramps, light headedness. Finally put it together that it was the bread products from Great Specialty bakery!!! I do have products left and I will be sending thenm
Maggie - please contact NCDA&CS about this as soon as possible. We are very fortunate that they have been so diligent in their work and they can take your comments anonymously if you prefer.