Big Butterball G-Free Turkey Mistake

UPDATE NOV 11th: Butterball apologized for their mistake and edited their website to remove the problematic sentence. Many thanks to you for your help getting their attention, and keeping fellow gluten-free peeps safe!

I’m one of those g-free advocates that gets cross-eyed when I see ignorant comments online. But my head starts spinning when it comes to mistakes from large companies who have a specific responsibility to know better. Yes, I’m talking to you, Butterball. I was updating my yearly gluten-free Thanksgiving newsletter and I saw this doozy:

butterballSo if you look closely above, you’ll see the problem

22655-07100 Butterball Ready To Cook Premium Stuffed Young Turkey with Herb Roasted Stuffing (note: Wheat gluten is in the stuffing only. The turkey itself is gluten free.)

Yes, they’ve listed as exceptions and not gluten-free, but the problem is this line:note: Wheat gluten is in the stuffing only. The turkey itself is gluten free.

Um, no. The turkey WAS gluten-free. Then you stuffed it. It is no longer gluten-free. Poof. Magic. Presto chango. Now gluten-full.

So I know many of you are thinking, well, I know better, and I bet you do. Or maybe you’re thinking, well, I buy a free range turkey so it doesn’t matter to me.

But it does. If Butterball is one of the main sellers of turkey in this country, that’s a problem. Especially since I’m sure that everyone has heard the “oh, just eat around the stuffing/pie crust/crouton” BS at least once, if not 10 times. They can do better and they need to start. Like, now.

Pretty please, make my day and nudge Butterball to change their website. They owe the gluten-free community clear and accurate information.

About Cheryl Harris

Life played a funny trick on me. I've studied nutrition for years, and much to my surprise, found out that I could manage many of my health issues via diet. I've been GF for years, and I've got a bunch of allergies and sensitivities. But it definitely doesn't keep me from cooking, baking and enjoying my food. Thanks for stopping by.
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8 Responses to Big Butterball G-Free Turkey Mistake

  1. Thanks so much for bringing this really scary statement to our attention, Cheryl! Shared every way possible and contact Butterball via the contact link you shared as well as via FB and Twitter. Hope they take this false dangerous statement down immediately and get their staff trained. I’m really questioning anything on their site right now.

    Shirley

  2. Thank YOU, Shirley! I really appreciate it, and I’ve been surprised/disappointed at the lack of allergen and gluten awareness from Butterball in the past.

  3. Sherry court says:

    @ butterball website messaging. I’m sorry however I believe you’ve read this incorrectly. The advertising clearly states it is a GF product with exception of the list of 9 items. Those 9 items make it non Gf including the stuffing.
    That is how I read it and most others who read this piece of yours.
    Thanks for continuous policing products on everyones behalf.

  4. T Buzz says:

    It says “with the exception of the nine products below— the turkey is GF”. . . . This is a list of 9 items WHICH CONTAIN Gluten. They know stuffing has gluten. That’s why it’s on the list.

  5. Becky says:

    When I went to their site, I found this:
    http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/gluten-free-holiday-dinner

    Rather sad that they get it right on one part of the website but not the other!

  6. Becky says:

    Read what you posted closer. It says “With the exception of the nine products listed below” Note the word EXCPETION.

  7. Becky, TBuzz, Sherry,
    Thanks for your input. I know the stuffed turkey listed as on their list of products that are not gluten-free. However, it is still misleading.
    Verbatim quote: “note: Wheat gluten is in the stuffing only. The turkey itself is gluten free.”
    Nope. Wheat gluten is in the turkey once stuffed. All of it. So this is inaccurate and needs to change.

  8. T Buzz says:

    You are correct! I missed that line on my phone screen. Very misleading for people who don’t understand contamination. Well done getting them to amend the post!

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