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Label changes signal that Breyers ice cream flavors we had thought to be MSG-free in the past may no longer be free of MSG.
For years, the Truth and Labeling Campaign has received reports from readers of our Web site who have had MSG-reactions from ice cream that contained "carrageenan." We recommended to these people that they use Breyers natural ice cream that is packaged in a black box, limiting their selections to vanilla, strawberry and peach. We also indicated that most people were able to tolerate Hagan Daaz vanilla and strawberry ice creams.
In recent years, the ownership of the Breyer’s brand has changed, and with that change has come change in the ingredients in their ice cream. We can no longer recommend Breyer’s ice cream, although the plain vanilla in the black box may be MSG-free.
"Vanilla" has been replaced by “natural flavor”, probably in order to save a little money, but even if they are now using "vanillin," an apparently safe ingredient for MSG-sensitive people, the term "natural flavor" is a suspect term for MSG-sensitive people and, in more cases than not includes some processed free glutamic acid (MSG). The content of "natural flavor" can change at any time without notice since congress has declared flavors and flavorings to be proprietary, and do not require disclosure by food companies.
Because of concerns of MSG-sensitive people, we contacted Good Humor-Breyers in early June to voice our concerns regarding their change in ingredients and to explain that we no longer could recommend Breyers ice creams to readers of our Web site. We also pointed out that most MSG-sensitive people would not use a product that included "natural flavors."
We were assured by the representative of Good Humor-Breyers to whom we spoke that we would be contacted by someone to discuss the issue and to, at least, assure me that the Breyers product remained safe for MSG-sensitive people. To this date, we have received no call from Breyers.
We can no longer recommend that MSG-sensitive people use Breyers ice creams. We believe that all MSG-sensitive people should contact Good Humor-Breyers and express their disappointment that the company has demonstrated their lack of concern for consumers who are MSG-sensitive, a group, which based on peer reviewed studies numbers more than 25% of the population.
You may contact Good Humor-Breyers by E-mail, Snail mail, or by telephone:
E-mail: http://www.icecreamusa.com/talk/breypack.asp
Snail mail
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream
Attn: Consumer Response
P.O. Box 19007
Green Bay, WI 54307-9007Phone: (920) 499-5151
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