A little help

[mom2boyz]

I have been blissfully diarrhea free for 2 months and I'm not sure if I'm being glutened or not.  I'm suspecting Sprouts meat department cross contamination, I emailed them suspecting their sausage a few days ago and they told me unapologetically that their sausages were not gluten free (despite the store clerk telling me otherwise, and the label not having any wheat as a possible contaminant).  I complained to the USDA, because they should be listing allergens on the packaging.  Now I believe their corned beef is causing me problems. (I should probably stop meat shopping there).  I've cut dairy.  I know Sprouts is a small grocery store, and they possibly share a kitchen with their bakery and deli.  It should have been a no brainer.  However, could it be something else, the excess fat maybe?

[cyclinglady]

I am so sorry that you are sick.  First, maybe you just have a case of food poisoning.  It is not always gluten.  Second, both those items are processed, so there is the possibility of cross contamination.  Sprouts has a tiny meat department and a case to store meat cuts.  The chance of cross contamination can be high.  I buy most of  my meat at Costco.  If any seasonings are added in the cutting area, those are gluten free.  Packaging does say made in a faculty that processes wheat but that is because it is near the bakery and the area they process pasta salad or deli meat roll-ups, but all those rooms are in separate rooms,  it probably share the same ventilation system.   There is wheat in Costco, but I do not worry about getting ground beef, steaks, pork or whatever.  They package it and do not keep it next to “stuffed pork chops” which you would or could find at Sprouts meat case.  In any case, my gut has healed per my latest endoscopy, so what I am doing really works.  

I purchase chicken packaged straight from the factory (e.g. Foster Farms or Zacky).  I buy corned beef and sausages that actually say gluten free on the package and come packaged from a factory.  I can not eat them personally because both contain garlic.   I can not tolerate garlic, but my hubby can.  I can not eat anything with a casing as it will come right back up.  Just a “me” issue and not a celiac one.     So, it could be a new intolerance.  

I hope you figure it out.  At Sprouts, buy everything but the meat with the exception of products coming from a factory.  That is just my personal opinion!  Oh, I love their Gabriel lipstick which is certified gluten-free.  Wait for the 20% off sale!  Stock up on frozen this week.  We like the frozen breaded gluten-free fish which hubby and kid make for fish tacos when I away from home.  

 

[Ennis-TX]

Could be, try a gluten-free certified meat product like SmithyField bacon, Or Jenno O Meats, etc. Prepackaged from a dedicated facility is always a safer bet, most shops vary from store to store...some swear whole foods fresh meats are fine....I know for a fact the main one I go to...they seasoned and breaded fresh cuts on the same butcher area with the same knifes as the others so the fresh packaged meats are a NO. I often shop and get the prepackaged products from a dedicated company when shopping for meats to cook for others (I can not eat meat due to pancreas enzyme issues). Go easy on your gut for a bit, keep a food diary and record the foods, seasonings and how they were cooked.

PS using foil lined dishes helps for clean up and in case of accidental CC you have less to worry about clean up wise, butcher paper makes a great prep surface.

[mom2boyz]

I'd say it's food poisoning, but there were 5 other people eating it with me.  I'd say it was definitely gluten, but my son is also gluten sensitive, and he had no issues.  Maybe it's just the processed food issue.  I eat small amounts of bacon occasionally, but no other processed meats. I was thinking maybe the fat, spices, or food additives.

We get most of our meat at Costco.  Sprouts is an occasional buy, and since their customer service was very unhelpful when I asked.  I think I'll skip their meat department from now on.

Costco labels the meats that are processed on equipment that have allergens, plus you can see in their kitchen, they have windows, it's clean.