[3groovygirls]

We were at my husbands company picnic where of course nothing was gluten free. They did have Cheetos so I gave them to my daughter. For the next 2 days she had diarrhea and was up at night. UGH. I called and Cheetos said they couldn't garuntee no cross contamination for EXTREMELY sensitive individuals! Um, that means they're not gluten FREE then right?? That bugs me! Don't advertise it as gluten free if it is processed on equipment that uses wheat!

I guess it's getting so "trendy" right now to not eat gluten manufacturers forget there are people that REALLY can't tolerate it at all.

Anyone else get accidentally glutened by Cheetos?

[climbmtwhitney]

3groovygirls, on Nov 15 2008, 12:54 PM, said:

Anyone else get accidentally glutened by Cheetos?

Hi.

Can't be sure (we never can, huh?), but Frito-lay Fritos, and potato chips had to go. I believe myself and daughter were getting sick from them. Then again maybe I just ate too many. Ha! Seriously, though, we replaced them with Kettle Brand chips and won't eat any Frito-lay products anymore. It's so frustrating that we never know these things with 100% certainty, huh? Hope you're feeling better!

Sonya

[DarkIvy]

Ugh. I'm glad I trusted my gut instinct about those things. My boyfriend loves them, and I got REALLY mad at him for eating them at my computer the other day. I know they're supposed to be gluten free, but they terrify me.

I hope your daughter feels better!!

[Lisa]

3groovygirls, on Nov 15 2008, 03:54 PM, said:

We were at my husbands company picnic where of course nothing was gluten free. They did have Cheetos so I gave them to my daughter. For the next 2 days she had diarrhea and was up at night. UGH. I called and Cheetos said they couldn't garuntee no cross contamination for EXTREMELY sensitive individuals! Um, that means they're not gluten FREE then right?? That bugs me! Don't advertise it as gluten free if it is processed on equipment that uses wheat!

I guess it's getting so "trendy" right now to not eat gluten manufacturers forget there are people that REALLY can't tolerate it at all.

Anyone else get accidentally glutened by Cheetos?

Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Monoitrate, Riboflavin, and Frolic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: corn, soybean, or sunflower oil), Whey, Salt, Cheddar Cheese, (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes). Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin, Disodium Phosphate, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Nonfat Milk), Artificial Flavor, Monosodium Glutmate, Lactic Acid, Artificial Colors (Including Yellow 6), and Citric Acid. Contains Milk Ingredients

I understand your frustration and it's justified. Cheetos do not contain any gluten ingredients, but that does not mean that they can't pick up some cross contamination during the manufacturing process. Some people do get symptoms from Frito/Lays Products.

Lays Staxx are produced on a dedicated line, so there is no potential cross contamination.

I don't think that Cheeto's is advertised gluten free and if they did, it would say "no gluten ingredients". There is a difference. I have not seen Cheeto's lately, so I may be wrong.

Hope your daughter feels better soon.

[kbtoyssni]

Where did you see Cheetos advertised as gluten-free? I've never seen the company making that claim. I've always thought it was one of those products that the ingredients were gluten-free but no guarantees when it comes to CC. It's a product you have to make your own choice about. That said, I do eat them on occasion, but I'm also not very sensitive.

[sugarsue]

3groovygirls, on Nov 15 2008, 03:54 PM, said:

We were at my husbands company picnic where of course nothing was gluten free. They did have Cheetos so I gave them to my daughter. For the next 2 days she had diarrhea and was up at night. UGH. I called and Cheetos said they couldn't garuntee no cross contamination for EXTREMELY sensitive individuals! Um, that means they're not gluten FREE then right?? That bugs me! Don't advertise it as gluten free if it is processed on equipment that uses wheat!

I guess it's getting so "trendy" right now to not eat gluten manufacturers forget there are people that REALLY can't tolerate it at all.

Anyone else get accidentally glutened by Cheetos?

HUGS! I have been thinking this week that my dd is getting glutened by Lay's regular Potato Chips. I'm going to switch to another kind, maybe those staxx that someone mentioned.

susan

[3groovygirls]

I think we'll just stick with the Kettle products now or the Lays Stax you all recommended! Thanks!

You know, I thought it said "gluten free" on the bag, but maybe I was mistaken...maybe I read the ingredients and THOUGHT it was gluten free - EITHER way if you go to their website it lists Cheetos as a gluten free food!! So maybe that's not "advertising" it but it says it is! Then if you call it says it can't garuntee no cross contamination.

[Lisa]

3groovygirls, on Nov 16 2008, 01:44 PM, said:

I think we'll just stick with the Kettle products now or the Lays Stax you all recommended! Thanks!

You know, I thought it said "gluten free" on the bag, but maybe I was mistaken...maybe I read the ingredients and THOUGHT it was gluten free - EITHER way if you go to their website it lists Cheetos as a gluten free food!! So maybe that's not "advertising" it but it says it is! Then if you call it says it can't garuntee no cross contamination.

The Frito/Lays Website notes that Lays Staxx are gluten free, because they are produced on dedicated lines for only that product. Their other products listed as not having gluten ingredients, but are at risk for possible cross contamination with other products. There is a large difference in this simple play of words. Make sense?

This is not to say that you can eat Lays Products without issue. Some here do and some don't.

It's a hard world out there for us Celiacs. Hope this helps.

[JennyC]

Also if your daughter ate Cheetos out of a bowl shared with the rest of the party, the Cheetos may have been cross contaminated at the party. We buy Walmart brand Cheetos. They say gluten free on the bag.

[Juliebove]

We buy Tings because they are dairy free. Daughter loves them and they are gluten free.

[larry mac]

Cheetos, and as far as I know, other Frito Lay products, don't claim to be gluten-free. Either on the bags or on the website. It's never easy when your kids get sick. Is it possible she had a reaction to something else she ate that day? Or the day before or after? She probably didn't just eat Cheetos that whole day.

Unfortunately, some people must be extra careful and eat an extremely limited diet. Obviously more than just a gluten-free one. It's my opinion that some people who have issues with Frito Lay products also have other intolerance issues in addition to a gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease.

I eat Cheetos often, fried and baked plain varieties. Also plain Fritos, plain Lays potato chips, and Ruffles. I eat Tostitos every singly day on my nachos.

I've never had any reaction to any of the above.

best regards, lm

[shayesmom]

Juliebove, on Nov 16 2008, 07:43 PM, said:

We buy Tings because they are dairy free. Daughter loves them and they are gluten free.

I second that one! My dd absolutely LOVES Tings and so does the rest of the family. Plus, they aren't as messy as Cheetos and I have to support companies who use 5 or less ingredients to make a product. lol! Easy to read labels earn extra points in my book!

[strawberrygm]

Speaking of Cheetos, have you tried the new Natural Cheetos? The white ones? My dd has been eating them and they dont seem to be bothering her. Maybe they are safer than the traditional yellow cheese ones??-

[cruelshoes]

larry mac, on Nov 16 2008, 05:00 PM, said:

Cheetos, and as far as I know, other Frito Lay products, don't claim to be gluten-free.

Here is a link to the Frito Lay list of products that do not contain gluten. They do not claim to test them for gluten, nor do they use the term "gluten free." Lines are washed between batches, and each person would need to make their own decision on whether or not they are comforable with that.

I have read accounts of Frito Lay products sickening people. While I don't disbelieve that it occurs, it has never been our family's experience. We have eaten them on probably too many occasions with no negative results. Gluten concerns aside, they are a highly processed food containing delicious MSG and many other hard to pronounce ingredients , many of which could cause individuals problems.

[Mtndog]

For some reason Cheetos REALLY bother me I do OK with Fritos and other gluten-free lay's products. I think it's the "cheese" or all the artificial ingredients.