Schar gluten free cookies?

[Annieoh]

 Has anyone had a reaction after eating  any of the Shär  gluten-free cookies?  I want to make my grandmas old banana Pudding recipe which calls for Nilla wafers. I got the Shär gluten-free chocolate thins as a substitute. They are delicious but an hour  after sampling one I started having major symptoms!  The only thing I ate just before this was a pair and a fig from my neighbors tree.  I should add that I am supersensitive but everything I've read about the company shows they have a pretty spotless record in terms of cross-contamination and dedicated facilities. 

[ravenwoodglass]

That company is good as far as being gluten free goes however they use a lot of soy protein or flour in their items. When first diagnosed I thought I was being glutened by many gluten free foods that were made in dedicated facilities. It took my doing a food and symptom log to realize the common ingredient that was in all those products was soy protein or flour. Could you have an issue with soy?  It isn't uncommon for us to have other intolerances or sensitivities.

[Ennis-TX]

Shar is one of the leading gluten free manufactures, the company is from Europe and if I recall has even stricter gluten testing guidelines then the US. The company primarily uses corn, soy and starches in the  goods so I personally can not try them or vouch for them (allergic). I know many others who do swear by them, My thoughts, I made a pudding using agar agar and one with konjac before and cashew milk with extracts and swerve sugar free confectioners sugar. I served it up with Enjoy life crunchy vanilla gram cookies. over the top for a luncheon and it was well received.

[artistsl]

4 hours ago, ravenwoodglass said:

That company is good as far as being gluten free goes however they use a lot of soy protein or flour in their items. When first diagnosed I thought I was being glutened by many gluten free foods that were made in dedicated facilities. It took my doing a food and symptom log to realize the common ingredient that was in all those products was soy protein or flour. Could you have an issue with soy?  It isn't uncommon for us to have other intolerances or sensitivities.

I get blisters from soy just as I would from gluten. It took an extremely strict elimination diet for me to figure it out.  

[cyclinglady]

I can not tolerate Xanthan Gum which is in almost all gluten-free baked products.  Weird, but true.  It still bothers me, but not my hubby.  So, I can buy commercially prepared bakery items for him but I bake my own for me (and share).  I normally just skip bread, but I bake cakes and cookies using guar gum instead.  

In the beginning I keep thinking I was getting glutened.  My hubby was and still is my canary.  He was just fine, but he had been gluten-free for 12 years and long healed.  By keeping a food diary, I realized it was that particular Gum.  I also realized that a non-processed Foods diet was a better choice for me, especially after a gluten hit.  

So, it might be this Gum or any other additives (e.g. corn, soy) or preservatives.  You did not say how long you have been gluten free.  Maybe more healing is needed.  

We live off Shar products when we are traveling.  Not the “healthiest” choice for a diabetic like me who also has a few food intolerances, but safe from a celiac standpoint.  

[Callista]

9 hours ago, Annieoh said:

 Has anyone had a reaction after eating  any of the Shär  gluten-free cookies?  I want to make my grandmas old banana Pudding recipe which calls for Nilla wafers. I got the Shär gluten-free chocolate thins as a substitute. They are delicious but an hour  after sampling one I started having major symptoms!  The only thing I ate just before this was a pair and a fig from my neighbors tree.  I should add that I am supersensitive but everything I've read about the company shows they have a pretty spotless record in terms of cross-contamination and dedicated facilities. 

Funny that I should run across this post today. I was diagnosed with celiac disease almost 9 years ago, at the age of 45. Cross contamination has not been an issue for me. However, last night I ate 2  of exact cookies you mentioned. I’d never had them before. A few hours later I felt bloated, and this morning I am sick with symptoms that are consistent for me when I eat gluten. I literally left work and came home. Since my diagnosis this has only happened to me 2 other times. I haven’t done any research or cataloging yet, but I won’t be eating those just in case they are the culprit.

[kareng]

Schar is a large international gluten free company.  It is one of the first big all gluten-free companies.  It is always possible to have a gluten mistake, but rather unlikely.  

 

They say that they test every batch for gluten.

[Annieoh]

8 hours ago, Callista said:

Callista, that's really strange! I re-read the ingredients and didn't find anything that I don't consume normally. No problem with soy or corn. Completely dumfounded. However, just because they have a good reputation for being gluten free, I've been knocked down before by such companies. Nothing is perfect I guess.

 

 

[Annieoh]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've been gluten free for just over a year and have been pretty good about staying away from processed foods and bread substitutes. I was just really jonesing for my grandma's banana pudding. Zanthan gum, soy and corn don't bother. So Googling the other two things I ate around the same time I only came up with one tiny web hit pointing to the fig of all things but I'm doubtful. It was an article about foods high in FODMAPs (whatever those are) which included figs and prunes. It suggests they trigger gastrointestinal symptoms. Well yeah! But I eat prunes all the time so I feel like I'm just reaching. Adding this to my food log but I may take a chance and try another piece of cookie one more time in another day or so and cross my fingers before ruling them out completely. I don't believe any company is perfectly infallible even if they do have a great reputation. I'm still super sensitive and have been occasionally triggered by other products that others seem to have no problem with. 

[ravenwoodglass]

It might be a good idea to contact a company directly if someone feels they were glutened by an item from a company that only makes gluten free items. Save the package so you can tell them the lot number and if the company feels it to be helpful they may want you to send the remaining product to them so they can test it.

[Annieoh]

Ok just to set the record straight, I tried one more cookie and then another and now half the package is gone so clearly these cookies are not to blame for the reaction I had that day. Still don't know what got me but it wasn't these!

[squirmingitch]

I see banana pudding in your future! ENJOY!

I'm glad you came back to report what happened with the cookies.

[ravenwoodglass]

8 hours ago, Annieoh said:

Ok just to set the record straight, I tried one more cookie and then another and now half the package is gone so clearly these cookies are not to blame for the reaction I had that day. Still don't know what got me but it wasn't these!

You may want to keep a food and symptom journal. Our reactions can be delayed and that can make it hard to pinpoint what 'got' us. A journal can help you see a pattern and help us figure it out. Enjoy that pudding.