Organic Valley Deli Cheeses

Just in.. Organic Valley Deli cheeses are now packed using tapioca/sago starch instead of corn starch. This was reported by company correspondence posted on Delphi Forums - Avoiding Corn.

Per Organic Valley: "We have completely converted to the the tapioca/sago starch dusting."

Do be careful though as there may still be a few corn starched packages left out there, and these may not fully hit the shelves for several months.

You'll also need to make sure to keep reading the labels for any other corny additives. This is just a packaging update.

Also - None of the Stringles or Sticks use corn starch. :)



2012 Update: Block cheeses are not safe. 


"their 8oz package is dusted in corn starch and their is a possibility of peanut cross contamination as it is packaged in a facility that processes peanuts! ...  the larger 16oz blocks and was told there is a risk with them as well due to the facility using corn starch on the outsides of the packaging"
Courtesy of the FB group.

Organic Valley - Cheese

We'd posted about Organic Valley's unsafe cheeses on our sister site and in the beginning of starting this blog, but its been so long that I think a reminder/update is necessary.

According to a post on Delphi- Avoiding Corn, in April of 2007 Organic Valley reported that they use corn starch in packaging their cheeses.

Another poster claims Organic Valley does not use this process on their Sharp and Regular Chedder BLOCK cheese (not raw cheddar), but this hasn't been human tested to confirm.

So do use extreme caution with Organic Valley cheeses.. or just avoid them (which is the safer bet).

Not Corn-free Research up until 11-13-06

Since this blog is new, and there has been some research done prior to opening the blog, I thought I'd put a short update on foods already researched either through company correspondence or through human guinea-pig testing.

Some of these products the companies still insist and declare corn-free status, and may be tolerable for those with higher tolerances. However, you have been warned.

Food Items: (listed alphabetically by brand/manufacturer)

365 Sodas (Whole Foods) All varieties - (citric acid is from corn, natural flavors -essential oils)

365 Organic Chicken Broth (now has corn starch)

Applegate Farms company confirms chicken pot pie, black forest ham, chicken nuggets, joystick Salami/Pepperoni/Soppressata (all varieties) contain corn.

Arrowhead Mills puffed cereals - possible cross contamination - reactions reported.

Barilla Pastas - has corn. Probably in the enrichments. Several reactions reported.

Cabot Cheese - Conveyer dressings dusted in corn, cross contamination likely.

Carr's Water Table Crackers: Multiple reactions reported. Possible flour contamination?

Cascadian Farms Purely O's company confirmed corn

Charmin Toilet tissue - contains corn starch.

Del Monte "naturally derived citric acid" is from corn. Citric acid is labeled if used.

Farm Friends Crackers - Malt contains corn grits. Customer service very helpful, looking into ways to make product safe.

Fleishmanns - yeast. Grown on corn.

Gold Medal Flour (unbleached) reported reactions

Gold Medal Organic Unbleached Flour CC 10/06 (multiple reactions)

Heinz vinegars (Cider vinegar is suspect, company never confirmed either way. All others Heinz said contains corn.)

Hodgson Mill Flour (unbleached) (CC) (clean/dust equip with corn starch between runs. not safe)

Hodgson's Mill Yeast – grown on corn.

Kellogg’s Organic Raisin Bran & Organic Mini-Wheats (several reported reactions)

Kleenex Tissues - confirmed corn.

Kirkland Vanilla Ice Cream: corn-free except the vanilla is distilled with corn alcohol.

LeSaffre yeast is grown on corn sugar.

Midel graham crackers and cookies. Trace amounts of corn. Reactions reported.

Namaste mixes (Note: Some contain xanthan gum. Namaste claims corn-free status, but several have reported reactions) CC GF

Newman's Own Spelt Pretzels (and other products) - Newman’s doesn't consider corn allergenic so cross-contamination is a big problem. Several reactions reported.

New Morning Honey Grahams (cream of tartar? corn source?) Has trace amounts of corn. Multiple reactions reported.

Organic Valley says are not cornfree: Buttermilk & Buttermilk powder (culture corn derived), Chocolate Milk, Heavy Whipping Cream, Lactose-free Milk, Eggnog, All soy products, Sour Cream, cream cheese (one of the two cultures is corn derived). Cheeses packaging dusted with cornstarch: See Article on News for Corn Avoiders

Organic Valley Milks – Company confirmed all except those produced at the “55 1224” plant are corn-free. GF However, all enriched ones have several reported reactions.

Piedmont Candy Company sticks - Company confirmed that they use cornstarch in all products.

Red Star Yeast (note: Grown on corn but company swears the final product has no corn after testing) Several reactions.

Rice Dream Cocoa Marble Fudge "Ice Cream" - company no longer says is corn-free.

Pom 400 Toilet Paper (glue at the start is corn and glue to hold paper to roll is corn) paper is corn-free otherwise - Sam's Club

SAF Yeasts - Grown on corn, company claims no corn remains.

Spice Hunter - some products contain maltodextrin. Unsure which ones as of yet.

Snyder of Hanover Pretzel Sticks CC 8/06 (reported reactions, possibly cross-contamination issues)

Spry gum - Xylitol from corn.

StoneyField Farms - All organic yogurts and smoothies - CC 8/06 (caution - vanilla does have corn alcohol, unsure on pectin. Company insists its corn-free) multiple reactions reported.

StoneyField Farms Plain Yogurt (full fat) CC unsure of source of corn, but several reported reactions.

SunMaid Raisins 1-877-415-3397 (multiple reported reactions, esp in Canada)

Terra Chips (Sweet Potato and Other) (processed on same lines with corn, but machinery cleaned between batches) 8/06 – several reported reactions

Tom's of Maine - Company Confirmed that xylitol may be corn or birch depending, and sorbitol is corn.

Walker's Shortbread Cookies (several reported reactions)


Soaps/Cleaners:
Method (Target) - products now have corn listed on the label.

Household:
Avalon Organics’: Lavender Shampoo (several reactions reported)
Dr. Bronner Sal-Suds: Lauryl glucoside made from corn.

Vitamins/Medications:
Excedrine Migraine: company now uses corn in all products.

Freeda Vitamins : Company quickly confirms corn-free status (as well as milk, egg, and yeast free) however on two separate trials of their products severe reactions were reported. Use extreme caution.

Nature’s Plus: Animal Parade Vitamins (corn-reactions reported)

Solgar Vitamins: Company confirms that these are corn-free, though multiple corn allergy reactions have been reported to several different products.