Response on December 3, 2009 to an Internet inquiry:

Thank you for contacting Ghirardelli Chocolate. In June 2008, the
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company started production of a new milk chocolate
bar, Milk Chocolate Luxe with Crisps, which has a product containing
barley malt as an ingredient. As a result, the line on which our
chocolate bars and squares are produced, will now share a common line
with barley gluten. The chocolate chips (60% Bittersweet, Semi-Sweet,
and Milk Chocolate) line and powder line (hot chocolates and baking
cocoas) will remain free of gluten ingredients.

Ghirardelli takes the following measures to reduce cross contamination
on our production lines: lines are cleaned between the changing from one
product to the next. The first two batches of any product made are
disposed of and not packaged.

Sincerely, 


Shawna Ortez | Senior Consumer Affairs Coordinator
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company | 1111 - 139th Avenue, San Leandro, CA
94577 T. 800.877.9338 | F. 510.297.2649|