SEE UPDATE 04/04/2014: https://gfreebythesea.me/2014/04/04/a-storm-in-a-tetley-teacup/
For the past week or so I have not been feeling quite right. As the last couple of weeks have progressed I have realised I have definitely been glutened. Lethargic, dodgy stomach and now the clincher – joint pain in my right wrist. I had no idea what it could have been until a well time tweet from GF_Photographer happened to mention that Tetley Green Tea may contain gluten. Gluten in tea, surely not!!? However, I’d been drinking the stuff for the past two weeks at work and everything seemed to make sense.
I got to work the next day and the first thing I did was check the box. As clear as day on the side were the words “May contain gluten”
I posted the picture to Twitter and managed to have most of my coeliac followers checking their tea boxes in no time at all. Carly soon came up with the #TeaGate hashtag. I always check the label, and never assume – but tea?! It never even occurred to me to check. Several of us contacted our tea manufacturers for clarification. Myself and Kirsty received this standard reply from Tetley:
“It has come to light that some green teas imported from China may contain very small traces of wheat gluten due to unintentional cross-contamination. We are confident that there is a very small risk of our green teas containing traces of wheat gluten but as a precautionary measure we have re-labelled our green teas sold in the EU. This is because EU regulation requires that traces of cereals, such as wheat, contained in the product as sold, i.e. the tea bag, shall be labelled on packaging if they are above the threshold of 20mg/kg (=0.002%).
In a sample of green teas that we have tested, some meet this threshold. To inform and protect our customers we have added an allergen statement on green tea packaging. Wheat gluten traces in tea bags are diluted in the brewed tea, so we calculate that in a small amount of cases then the level of wheat gluten in the tea you are drinking is much below 20ppm (the EU threshold for labelling).”
In discussion Lykara mentioned that she had been told by the Tetley helpline around a month ago that the gluten was “in the glue used to seal the teabags shut”. I asked Tetley to clarify this point as it conflicted with their statement above, and I also asked them to clarify the products affected. I received a fuller reply today:
“Thank you for contacting us and giving me the opportunity to give the correct details!
I’m not sure that it was the Tetley helpline that advised about the tea bag “glue”, we don’t have a big staff and our training is quite rigorous however, I’ll be picking this up with a re-training exercise to ensure the correct information is passed on to our helpline callers.
So, to put the record straight, at Tetley we seal our tea bags with heat and pressure. At no point do we use glue or adhesives of any kind.
As you are aware, it has come to light that some green teas imported from China may contain traces of wheat gluten. This problem is not exclusive to Tetley and there are many people across the global tea industry working on this issue. I don’t have a conclusive report of what happened but it seems that during the usual process of picking and drying the green tea there has been an accidental cross-contamination with wheat. This might be that the physical area used has previously stored wheat, it might be that the equipment (sacks, dryers, heaters) have also been used for wheat, at this stage we don’t know but we are working with our suppliers to eliminate all possibilities one step at a time through the picking and drying process. When we are confident that this has been achieved and this “cleared” tea is working through our supply chain, we will remove the allergen warning. At this stage we have a mixture of teas and we feel that the warning should stay, just in case. This warning is on all Tetley Green tea products sold in the UK.
We do understand that for people with health concerns this is frustrating and potentially worrying, we’re happy to pass on what information we have as we get it. Every pack of Tetley has our FREEHONE number, our FREEPOST address and our ‘Contact Us’ web form. If you have any follow up questions or need clarification on anything – please call me 0800 387 227 or use the link below to email. “
So there we have it. Good to hear Tetley have been working on it, and let’s hope they can make progress on this soon. The line “This problem is not exclusive to Tetley” will of course raise some concerns. While it is surprising and disappointing that tea can contain gluten, I must give some credit to Tetley for their response and package labelling. If you have come across any other teas that have this problem please leave comment below.
To end on a positive note, Laura contacted Twinings and received this response:
“In response I can advise that ALL of our teas and infusions are suitable for coeliacs. They do not contain gluten, wheat or any derivatives thereof.”
This information is also available here on the Twinings website.
See also:
http://www.givemeglutenfree.com/tea-coffee-whats-safe-to-drink-with-coeliac-disease/ http://www.howardtheceleriac.com/comics/628 SEE UPDATE 04/04/2014: https://gfreebythesea.me/2014/04/04/a-storm-in-a-tetley-teacup/
Gluten Free By The Sea 
Yes, very interesting that it’s not a problem exclusive to Tetley, and you do wonder whether any boxes of green tea (of any brand) went out onto the shelf and were sold before the problem was realised and labelling addressed – and if so, how many may have been sold without a warning. This story looks as if it has a bit more in it. Could be worth contacting other tea companies…
Thanks for commenting Alex. Good points and I will look to follow this up with other manufacturers.
Wow this is a great cause for concern and big thanks for raising this and sharing your reply ..I certainly will be more aware and not look at what seems the obvious any more.
Thanks for sharing your reply, and definitely cause for concern.
Good to see that Tetley are working on it, right across the production chain – I’d be interested to hear any more updates they have.
Can I ask your permission to quote some of your post on my website and dissertation? All references and links will go back to you of course.
Thanks.
Hi Sam, thanks for the comment and no problem at all with quoting this.
Excellent, thanks Kevin, will make an update as soon as I’m home tomorrow, and thanks for the mentions and installing the app – hope it is useful!
Had a call from Sainsbury’s today, they have confirmed their own brand decaf green tea that I drink is gluten free. Apparently it originates from India, rather than China where there are seemingly issues.
wow….didn’t think much else could shock me until I read this!! It’s a good job I despise green tea……
I brought some BUILDERS tea back from the uk in July…and threw away the box so I forget who makes it…..but I often have stomach upsets after it….I NEVER imagined it might be contaminated….wow! Thanks for that.
As the complete opposite to you…I tend to bloat after being glutened. I can sit and watch my stomach grow and feel the internal pain begin like I just swallowed hot coal. A few things changed since being gf…the most interesting being MOSQUITOES are just not that interested in me any more. Last time, in a room full of people, they would hone in on me and bite me head to toe and the bites would be swollen, burning and itchy for two weeks. Since being GF if I do get bitten (not often now) the bites are generally gone within ten minutes! It’s astounding.
I also changed shape, my migraines stopped, my acidic stomach and reflux (and subsequent lack of sleep due to acid dribbling all night) all stopped, my mood swings have virtually stopped, I’m happier, more peaceful inside myself and can think straight too.
I wish I had found out earlier….I could have had more children…..my one and only almost killed me because of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Now my BP is at an all time low and my glucose levels are normal…..I’m just too old to have another child now….and have a fibroid which is risky (& a rough medical history with fibroids since being 20), it has really changed my life…….I wish gluten could be banned from anything but bread, it would help the health of the entire world!
But then again we’re living in a world that seems to exist to kill us….ciggies, alcohol, drugs, pollution, wars……..etc……..so gluten is a small, small thing comparatively speaking isn’t it?
Great comment Emma, pleased to hear you are feeling so much better now you are gluten free. Very interesting comments about the mosquitoes!!
Tetley green tea is a stress buster.
This site:
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/Gluten-Free-Beverages/f/Is-Tea-Gluten-Free.htm
(Updated May 28, 2014) says:
“Tetley teas. The company states that, “to the best of our knowledge,” none of its teas contain any gluten ingredients or are at risk for gluten cross-contamination. Tetley does not make flavored teas.”
So, does it contain gluten or doesn’t it? Tetley don’t seem to know.
Tetley have issued an update recently on this subject, though I’ve been checking and the boxes in my supermarket are still carrying the “may contain wheat” messages: https://gfreebythesea.me/2014/04/04/a-storm-in-a-tetley-teacup/
The site I originally cited in September 2014 was updated on May 9, 2016 and it still says that Tetley teas are gluten-free.