Canadian celiacs: Do you trust bulk barn?

[Pepper88]

Hi there, I am fairly new to the GFD (for over a month now, and am starting to feel more functional than I ever have in last 4 years) and was wondering if y'all trust bulk barn? They have "may contains" labels but I don't know if they get contaminated during the bin management process (I also know that irresponsible customers could use incorrect scoopers as well)

[apprehensiveengineer]

NO.

Bulk food bins are not safe for celiacs ever! Some reasons:

1. bins are not dedicated, and unlikely to be cleaned thoroughly between product changes

2. scoops get mixed up

3. wheat flour aerosolizes and gets everywhere. This happens when customers scoop out flour, but also when the bins are refilled by the staff.

Unfortunately, you need to pony up and buy flours, nuts, seeds and granolas that are in sealed packages and labelled gluten-free. If you are looking for inexpensive flours, stick with rice, corn, and bean-based flours. If you are super thrifty, you can even make these yourself using a coffee grinder (or similar appliance).

[Pepper88]

Damn, okay. Thanks. I'll need to find a more reliable nut supplier then...

Ohh, I never thought of that. I'll definitely try that for rice flour. 

[apprehensiveengineer]

@pepper88

In my experience it works best if you use a partially pre-cooked brand (eg. minute rice)! Otherwise the rice flour doesn't absorb the liquids properly during cooking, and you get some weird/sad runny baked good.

[Pepper88]

On 6/5/2018 at 10:31 PM, apprehensiveengineer said:

@pepper88

In my experience it works best if you use a partially pre-cooked brand (eg. minute rice)! Otherwise the rice flour doesn't absorb the liquids properly during cooking, and you get some weird/sad runny baked good.

OK good to know. Thanks for the tip