Shared Facilities

[beth01]

I was wondering what you do with shared facilities/lines? Do you enjoy products that have shared facilities and not shared lines? If a product doesn't state that it's run on shared lines or a shared facility, do you call the company? I am just wondering how others handle these products. Sometimes I wonder if I'm being diligent enough or not. I think someone needs to write a " Celiac for Dummies" book.

[SMRI]

There is a Celiac for Dummies book out .   Open Original Shared Link on I had some candy that was processed in a shared facility.  People here said that they clean equipment just fine and it shouldn't be a problem.  Well, it was a problem so I don't do shared facility food any more.

[kareng]

Shared facilities is different than a shared manufacturing line or equipment. Unless it's a completely gluten-free restauraunt - a restaurant is a sacred facility. A grocery is a shared facility.

[bartfull]

I don't worry about shared facilities unless it's something like a bakery (or a friend's house) where there is flour dust in the air. But even that isn't always correct. I DO eat at a restaurant - a pizzaria of all places! - that makes both kinds of pizza. BUT, they have a family member with celiac so they know enough to make the gluten-free pizza in a different room with a closed door.

 

Shared lines are a different thing. If a product states that it is made on a shared line I usually put it back. But once again, it depends on what the product is. Ice cream for example. Cookies and cream has gluten, but I'm pretty sure it is easy to clean the vat the ice cream is made in.

 

The thing to remember is that shared facility and shared line statements are voluntary. Unless we call the company on every single product we eat, we are all likely to be eating stuff made in shared facilities every day. I've been lucky enough to have only been glutened once in three and a half years and that was from cookie crumbs at my own store. There is no more food allowed in my store now. Problem solved.

[mbrookes]

Most homes of Celiacs are shared facilities. My husband keeps a loaf of bread in a closed breadbox. Shared facilities right there. Shared lines? He makes a sandwich on the counter and then cleans it up carefully. Shared lines right there. I think it may depend on how sensitive you are and how carefully the lines are cleaned. Each person has to make his own decision.

[SMRI]

Most homes of Celiacs are shared facilities. My husband keeps a loaf of bread in a closed breadbox. Shared facilities right there. Shared lines? He makes a sandwich on the counter and then cleans it up carefully. Shared lines right there. I think it may depend on how sensitive you are and how carefully the lines are cleaned. Each person has to make his own decision.

 

That's not really the same thing though.  Really, wiping off a counter isn't anywhere near close to cleaning wheat off a production line.

[beth01]

Thank you guys for your responses. I generally just put the shared whatever back on the shelf and walk away. Some of it I really don't want to walk away from lol. I guess this is where it's a learning process person to person.