But It's Not Gluten-Free!

[bartfull]

I just went to a farmer's market type thing right down the street from my shop. There were several vendors with baked goods for sale, quite a few of which were marked gluten-free. I questioned the people and sure enough, they were all baked in the same pans in the same kitchen with gluten foods. Some were made with regular oats. Most were even baked at the same time as the gluten foods, on the same oven rack.

 

A tourist stopped in and said she had just been there and bought a gluten-free muffin. I told her I had questioned the people (she should have too - she was diagnosed 7 years ago and should know better) but she said she was glad I told her so she could give the muffin away.

 

I wonder how many people are going to get sick today because of this.

 

 

[shadowicewolf]

I just went to a farmer's market type thing right down the street from my shop. There were several vendors with baked goods for sale, quite a few of which were marked gluten-free. I questioned the people and sure enough, they were all baked in the same pans in the same kitchen with gluten foods. Some were made with regular oats. Most were even baked at the same time as the gluten foods, on the same oven rack.

 

A tourist stopped in and said she had just been there and bought a gluten-free muffin. I told her I had questioned the people (she should have too - she was diagnosed 7 years ago and should know better) but she said she was glad I told her so she could give the muffin away.

 

I wonder how many people are going to get sick today because of this.

The baker probably had good intentions and probably didn't know.

[notme]

 

 

I wonder how many people are going to get sick today because of this.

one less, because of you  

 

i blame the gluten-free fad diet.  everybody wants to jump on that wagon.  hopefully, the people who need to ask the questions will ask them.  i wish people understood this better  if you gluten me i lose 14 days.  four.  teen.  days.

[Brandiwine]

I hope they learned from your questions that its more serious than they are treating it! I am glad they are making the effort though I would love to be able to buy gluten-free baked goods at my local farmers market!

[IrishHeart]

one less, because of you

 

i blame the gluten-free fad diet.  everybody wants to jump on that wagon.  hopefully, the people who need to ask the questions will ask them.  i wish people understood this better  if you gluten me i lose 14 days.  four.  teen.  days.

 

 

yes, what she said!!!

 

Barty, my sweet friend...you GET IT,   but sadly, many who should be more aware of what they need to to do stay safe, do not.

 

Education is the key. 

[bartfull]

The tourist, a confirmed and experienced celiac, was from Denver. I guess in Denver people are a lot more celiac-aware and if something is marked gluten-free, you can count on it BEING gluten-free. But one of these bakers at the market is the same lady I called a few months ago when a friend picked up a "gluten-free" muffin for me. I wasn't about to eat it until I knew how it was made. I explained CC to this baker in detail and told her (nicely) that if a celiac ate her wares, they would get sick. She's STILL hawking this stuff! Ticks me off to no end. KIDS might buy this stuff!

 

I think there should be a law. If someone made something they declared peanut-free when it really wasn't, they'd get sued at the very least, and probably arrested for endangerment or something. Why do people think celiac isn't to be taken seriously?!

[IrishHeart]

 Why do people think celiac isn't to be taken seriously?!

 

 

That..my friend, is the  $64, 000 question!! beats me. 

[CommonTater]

That reminds me of our last trip to Albertson's. They carry a brand of sandwich meat and cheese that is gluten free in the deli. The girl that generally waits on us wasn't there last Wed. She is as good as gold because her Mother has celiac. A different guy was behind the counter so I made sure to tell him I had to be careful. He had just waited on another lady who bought another brand, not gluten free. I turned for a moment to look at something and when I looked back he was using the same slicer, there was another slicer that had been cleaned beside him. So I did say, excuse me, did you clean that slicer and did you change gloves? The look he gave me made me feel bad so I said, I'm sorry but if I eat that it'll make me terribly sick. He got an attitide and slung the meat in the trash. At this point I said, I'm sorry I've changed my mind, I better just pass and we decided to just leave.

Another lady walked up to me on the way out and said, he had emptied trash before the previous customer and didn't change gloves before cutting her meat. I wanted to know how she knew all this and she said she'd been waiting to get some ham and cheese but changed her mind. No, I didn't tell the manager. I should have but I just couldn't stand knowing I might have caused him to lose his job, now I feel guilty that he might make someone sick.

I get so tired of people making me feel guilty and yes embarrassing me. Some people just don't get it.

The last time I got sick from cross contamination it took me 3 weeks to start to recover!

[Brandiwine]

That reminds me of our last trip to Albertson's. They carry a brand of sandwich meat and cheese that is gluten free in the deli. The girl that generally waits on us wasn't there last Wed. She is as good as gold because her Mother has celiac. A different guy was behind the counter so I made sure to tell him I had to be careful. He had just waited on another lady who bought another brand, not gluten free. I turned for a moment to look at something and when I looked back he was using the same slicer, there was another slicer that had been cleaned beside him. So I did say, excuse me, did you clean that slicer and did you change gloves? The look he gave me made me feel bad so I said, I'm sorry but if I eat that it'll make me terribly sick. He got an attitide and slung the meat in the trash. At this point I said, I'm sorry I've changed my mind, I better just pass and we decided to just leave.

Another lady walked up to me on the way out and said, he had emptied trash before the previous customer and didn't change gloves before cutting her meat. I wanted to know how she knew all this and she said she'd been waiting to get some ham and cheese but changed her mind. No, I didn't tell the manager. I should have but I just couldn't stand knowing I might have caused him to lose his job, now I feel guilty that he might make someone sick.

I get so tired of people making me feel guilty and yes embarrassing me. Some people just don't get it.

The last time I got sick from cross contamination it took me 3 weeks to start to recover!

I would have felt the same way, but it doesn't sound like you were rude and you did explain yourself saying it would make you sick. It's hard knowing you may cause some one else grief by complaining, but he didn't seem to mind causing you to be ill either. It is part of his job to serve you politely. He won't learn otherwise and you shouldn't have to pass on your food, for us safe places are like gold! It would be a shame for you to have to pass every time you see him working the slicers :-/

[shadowicewolf]

The tourist, a confirmed and experienced celiac, was from Denver. I guess in Denver people are a lot more celiac-aware and if something is marked gluten-free, you can count on it BEING gluten-free. But one of these bakers at the market is the same lady I called a few months ago when a friend picked up a "gluten-free" muffin for me. I wasn't about to eat it until I knew how it was made. I explained CC to this baker in detail and told her (nicely) that if a celiac ate her wares, they would get sick. She's STILL hawking this stuff! Ticks me off to no end. KIDS might buy this stuff!

 

I think there should be a law. If someone made something they declared peanut-free when it really wasn't, they'd get sued at the very least, and probably arrested for endangerment or something. Why do people think celiac isn't to be taken seriously?!

Where at in Denver? I've yet to see it.

 

At any rate, the target population is probably those on the fad or those who aren't celiac but just sensitive.

[RaeDawnMarie721]

This is all terrifying, in my opinion. Like someone said regarding the baked goods, a child could buy one of those muffins and end up incredibly sick! And...well, this might seem nasty but I've been working with the public for years now. The customer is always right whether the customer is right or not (which, trust me, you were right). The manager should have been informed. It's not okay to get snippy with or around the customers, and it's not okay to make people sick...and it's REALLY not okay to not change your gloves after changing garbage. YUCK.

[powerofpositivethinking]

i'm one of those people who has always washed my hands...all. the. time.  pre-gluten free, and even more gluten free.  YUCK is right 

it's not okay to make people sick...and it's REALLY not okay to not change your gloves after changing garbage. YUCK.

[frieze]

...and it's REALLY not okay to not change your gloves after changing garbage. YUCK.

 

 

lacking education, many persons in food service treat gloves as self protection only.  when I worked food service, it was well before glove wearing came into common practice....and we were taught as good or better hand hygiene than when I went to nursing school.

[liko73]

good to know this, thanks.

[Renegade]

The last time I got sick from cross contamination it took me 3 weeks to start to recover!

 

This is scary, how the hell can Cross contamination be so bad, you are ingesting a insanely tiny amount of gluten, eating it would be in such a bigger proportion. I don't get how cross contamination can be so bad, specially after healing has been done.

[bartfull]

Renegade, it is because our immune system reads gluten as a foreign invader and attacks, but instead of attacking the gluten, it attacks US. Think about how our bodies respond to one microscopic germ or virus - all of the symptoms of a cold are caused by our immune system trying to get rid of it. In the same way, one microscopic bit of gluten makes our immune system go into full fighting mode.

[mbrookes]

Renegade, as I understand it:

Ingesting gluten is not like taking poison. The more you take the stronger the reaction. Even a tiny bit of gluten sets up a physical reaction that is dependent on the fact that you ate ANY gluten, not on how much you ate. Hope that helps.

[megsybeth]

I think you could suggest to them that they label them "wheat free". For me, this is clearer that they are going for health-conscious people. Peet's Coffee carries a wheat free muffin and when you ask them about it, same thing, shared facility, bumping all around with gluten products. But there is a market that just wants to avoid wheat, so I get that it's not for me. I think the label "gluten free", should be reserved for products made by people who know what it is and why it's important.

[MissyBB]

 

 

i blame the gluten-free fad diet.  everybody wants to jump on that wagon. 

 

I wonder how many people were "saved" by the gluten-free fad though? Here is what I mean........at the pushing of my hubby, we started a Paleo diet in April. It was then, when I was not eating wheat, that I realized how damned GREAT I felt and how many symptoms that had plaguing me went away. And, sure enough, when I re-introduced wheat they allllll came back, but worse! Now that I have been gluten-free for nearly four months I realize how awful I had felt for years and years. I am actually convinced that, at the very least, I have NCGS and I am going to go get the antibody test. 

 

Point is, I wonder how many people this "fad" helped to open their eyes?

 

But, yes, I also understand what you mean......I hate it when fads like this come and go. It demeans the seriousness of diseases like celiac for those who really do suffer. 

 

I have run an organic co-op through the ONFC for years now and I can tell you that the number of people who have come through as a "fad" to eat organic, and then gluten-free have been many......people think it's "cool" to be into the latest and greatest eating fad.