Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Hoodwinked By Trader Joe's?

C-Girl

Recommended Posts

C-Girl Contributor
C-Girl
Posted

I'm new to this forum, getting quite a surprise diagnosis of celiac disease (I thought I'd picked up an intestinal virus while travelling!) and am really struggling with the often misleading labels for gluten free products. My latest mistake was believing the "no gluten ingredients used" label on Trader Joe's quinoa and black bean tortilla chips. Boy were they good, but after eating them it's been two days of misery. There is NO information anywhere on the bag about whether they were made on shared equipment or in a facility that also uses wheat products. But, right there on the front of the bag is their happy little lower-case g symbol. I don't believe them at all anymore.

 

Yet, Trader Joe's has other products labeled explicitly as gluten free. Which ones can I trust?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

We don't have Trader Joe's up here but I've they are trust worthy.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

It might just be the quinoa.  I can't tolerate it or oats, even if they are certified as "gluten free".   :(

 

Trader Joe's uses "g" symbol to say that the product doesn't contain gluten in the ingredients, but it's not certified.  It can be made on shared equipment.  Stick with just the plain corn chips.  We haven't been "glutened" by them.  

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

It could be the quinoa, but a lot of Trader Joe's products are made on shared lines/facilities and they have the "g" label on the shelf. I think I reacted to their tomato soup a few weeks ago. It was on their gluten-free list and didn't say anything on the container about allergen warnings. 

 

The only things that I use from Trader Joe's these days:

Agave Nectar

Green Tea

Almond Butter

Maple Syrup

Almond/soy milk

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Cheese

Salt

 

No reactions to these. 

TGK112 Contributor
TGK112
Posted

When I was first diagnosed ( also a surprise) about 15 months ago - I was excited to see that Trader Joe's had so many gluten free items. However - I quickly became very disappointed in them, realizing that the little "g" icon all over their products often comes with a disclaimer on the back saying " made on shared equipment with wheat". I brought this discrepancy to two different store managers' attention - but they were not very helpful. I also wrote Trader Joe's corporate to express my disappointment in them - and they just came back with a BS response. I am looking forward to the FDA labeling laws to go into effect - so I can shop there again with a bit more confidence. I really miss Trader Joe's products and am surprised that they have not stepped it up more when it comes to gluten free.

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

When I was first diagnosed ( also a surprise) about 15 months ago - I was excited to see that Trader Joe's had so many gluten free items. However - I quickly became very disappointed in them, realizing that the little "g" icon all over their products often comes with a disclaimer on the back saying " made on shared equipment with wheat". I brought this discrepancy to two different store managers' attention - but they were not very helpful. I also wrote Trader Joe's corporate to express my disappointment in them - and they just came back with a BS response. I am looking forward to the FDA labeling laws to go into effect - so I can shop there again with a bit more confidence. I really miss Trader Joe's products and am surprised that they have not stepped it up more when it comes to gluten free.

I was very disappointed, too. I asked people in the store who had no idea what they were talking about. I wrote to them, as well, and probably got the same response that you did. I've reacted to their brown rice wraps, tomato soup, and nuts (possibly quinoa, too). For now, I'm sticking with their naturally gluten free foods, but I'm VERY interested in seeing how they will respond to the FDA labeling. 

Nikki2777 Community Regular
Nikki2777
Posted

Could also be the beans in the chips.  Probably a lot of beans!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GlutenStinks15 Explorer
GlutenStinks15
Posted

Wow, I love those chips and so far have never had a reaction, but I could be less sensitive.

 

I give Trader Joe's a lot of credit for being way ahead of a lot of other companies. They try pretty hard, and are pretty good about labeling when something is made on shared equipment. As other stated, maybe it was another ingredient?

 

Being Celiac, we ALWAYS have to double and triple check regardless of what a label says. I too learned that the hard way.

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted

It's my understanding that the issue with TJ's is as follows: They contract with

regular brands, like Stonyfield or Hood or whoever, at a discount, and they slap

their own labels on the product. Therefore, there is a disconnect between the

labeling and your ability to investigate further. A bag of chips might have the little

'g' on it, but you can't call the company to find out what that really means because

TJ's doesn't disclose who is actually making the product. I believe that's why Udi's

is one of the few branded items you'll see in the store, they probably weren't

willing to let TJ's put their own label on it. So for those less sensitive or only looking

for a decent deal on tasty pickles, TJ's is great. For those of us more sensitive, it's

better to stay away from ambiguous labeling like 'No gluten ingredients'.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,669
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    CDR40
    Newest Member
    CDR40
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.