I was so excited!

[lil_miss_understood]

I was going through my co-op's distributor's list of gluten free foods and came across Van's wheat free "gluten free" pancakes.
Then I read the ingredients.
Can someone tell me how they contain malt extract yet are still considered gluten free?

[changingseasons]

Is there something else besides barley that maybe they're making the "malt" out of? (It's usually barley, right?)

[changingseasons]

Just found this here:

Malt flavoring is usually made from barley and is not gluten free. Labels do not have to specify the source of malt flavoring but some companies voluntarily note which grain is used. In rare instances, malt is made from corn and wouldbe gluten free.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

Is there something else besides barley that maybe they're making the "malt" out of? (It's usually barley, right?)

Yes, it's usually barley.
I emailed them asking them how/why it's still considered gf. I hope I wasn't rude. I'm so tired and I phrase things badly when I'm tired.

[lil_miss_understood]

Have I told you recently that you rock my socks, CS?
Now I'll wait to see if that's their answer.

[changingseasons]

Yeah... I'm pretty awesome.

[ASusan]

I thought Van's was wheat-free but not specifically gluten free?
I will get them when I'm having a craving, but I prefer TJs - they taste better and have better texture. Of course, Van's are at Kroger, which is walking distance from my house and TJs is an hour away in the city.

Watch out for one of the Vans - they have blueberry and aren't labeled as such. (blueberry in ingredients, but not on the front of the box, as I recall - yuk). I just checked the website - the buckwheat waffles have blueberry in them.

And I just realized that you are talking about pancakes and not waffles. I'll just slink off now.

[lil_miss_understood]

I just heard back from Van's. They state that the original version of both their Wheat free pancakes and Wheat free French Toast sticks contained malt extract but they have since removed it. Text to follow:

Dear Van's Customer;

Van’s launched two products back in April 2009 Wheat Free products –
Cinnamon French Toast Sticks and Homestyle Pancakes. We have received
some inquires regarding the use of malt extract in the first version of
these new products. Malt extract was only contained in these two new
items, and is no longer in the new items. Additionally, malt is not an
ingredient in any of our wheat free waffles.

For all our wheat free items (including the first version of the new
items with malt extract), Van’s has always tested incoming raw
materials and outgoing finished product to ensure they meet or exceed
the proposed FDA gluten free standard (<20 ppm gluten) and these new
products are no exception. However, we do understand that the inclusion
of malt extract in the first version of our new products caused
confusion among some Van’s gluten free consumers. As a result, we
removed malt extract from these two products.

We hope that you will continue to enjoy Van’s products and appreciate
the opportunity to provide you with great-tasting gluten free foods


Sincerely,
The Team at Van's

[ASusan]

Good to know. Thanks, JR.