For over two years the Council has had under consideration certain products offered for the use of diabetics by the Kellogg Food Company of Battle Creek, Mich. These are:

Pure Gluten Biscuit.
Pure Gluten Meal.
40 per cent. Gluten Biscuit.
40 per cent. Gluten Flour.
40 per cent. Gluten Meal.
20 per cent. Gluten Meal.

The Council found these products ineligible for New and Non­official Remedies because the statements of composition (particularly of starch content) were insufficient and because the exploitation of the products to the laity was objectionable. June 21, 1915, the company promised to place a statement of the starch content on the package of each gluten product, to place on the gluten flour sacks a caution that diabetics use the flour only on the advice of their physicians, and to revise its advertising in accordance with the suggestions of the Council. Nothing further having been heard from the company, in April, 1916, specimens of the product were obtained, through a layman, direct from the Kellogg Food Company. These specimens, together with the advertising matter received at the same time, and also a letter of advice from the company to another layman, were sent to the Council’s referee, whose report follows. As will be seen, the referee finds that the amounts of carbohydrates contained in Pure Gluten Flour, 40 per cent. Gluten Flour and Pure Gluten Meal are greater than the amounts claimed in the company’s published analyses; that in the two first mentioned the amounts of protein are less than the amounts claimed; that exaggerated claims are made on all the labels and in the advertising literature, and that the company prescribes directly to the patient.

The following report was sent to the Kellogg Food Company for consideration. In reply the firm stated that a revision of its advertising was under consideration but would make no statement as to how soon this revision would be carried into effect. As the consideration had already consumed two years, the Council decided to give the profession the facts and authorized publication of the report. At the same time the Kellogg Food Company was advised that its products would be considered further whenever any submitted evidence warranted this.

W. A. Puckner, Secretary.

Referee’s Report

I submit herewith my report on certain foods offered by the Kellogg Food Company for the use of diabetics. I shall discuss these products from the standpoint of the claims made on the label, from the standpoint of the company toward nonmedical treatment as revealed in a letter to a layman, and lastly, on the basis of the claims made for the foods in the company’s literature.

CLAIMS MADE ON THE LABEL

PURE GLUTEN BISCUIT