Where Is The Hidden Gluten?

[Guest MyKidsMom]

After sticking to a relatively few boring staples I have decided to try some old favorites that I believe to be safe. There are 3 recipes that make me sick and I am not sure why. Can you help me figure it out? The common ingredients are Heinz Ketchup, C & H brown sugar & apple cider vinegar that does not state it has any natural flavoring. What brand of vinegar does everyone else use? The also have hamburger beef in them, but I eat beef elsewhere and it does not bother me, although per blood test I am supposed to have an allergy to it. I am puzzled!

[darlindeb25 5]

Well Mom, I can't tolerate tomatoes, could be the ketchup--I also have problems with hamburger beef--it's too greasy for me. Sometimes you have to stick to a bland diet for sometime so that your tummy can heal. I have been gluten-free now for 4 1/2 years. In the summer of 2004 I found I couldn't tolerate soy products, then in Dec of that same year I found I could no longer tolerate corn--was this pass summer that I found tomatoes to be another intolerance. My sister is a celiac too and she has been gluten-free for 5 yrs next month--she doesnt have any of these other intolerances. I have decided I have to be extreme in everything. When I get a migraine, it has to last 4 days, I can't have just gluten intolerances, have to have others--I have neuropathy because of the celiacs and I cant have it just in my feet, it's in my whole body. We are all different--keep trying, you will find what's right for you. Trial and error! Deb

[Timber4est 0]

One of the first things my nutritionist told me was NO mayo, mustard and ketchup. She said that more times than not the last ingredient listed is "natural flavors" and in those flavors are hidden gluten.

We purchase Heinz in our house, and I did go to their website, this is what they have to say about their products.

Where can I find gluten-free products?

Heinz Ketchup does not contain any gluten (the distilled vinegar used is from corn sources). Also, Wine Vinegar, Distilled White Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar are gluten-free. Please note that Heinz Organic Ketchup and Apple Cider Flavored Vinegar are not gluten-free.

Heinz Hot & Spicy Ketchup Kick'rs is gluten-free as well. As for our other Heinz products, we are not able to guarantee that all ingredients would be gluten-free, since the source of an ingredient may change from time to time. We understand how difficult it can be finding foods that meet the requirements of a restricted diet, and we continue to look for ways to meet the dietary needs of our consumers.

As for beef patties. When the Mad Cow scare hit, just one state over from us and a few heads of cattle here local to us, I purchased a meat grinder to make my own patties. Something my family does not know is that the friday night grill is not fully beef. I purchase real lean beef (anything with round in the name) and blend it 50/50 with turkey.

The other night I had not purchased enough turkey breast, so I added 50% round beef, 25% turkey breast and 25% rice. This the family did notice but said it wasn't so bad.

If you have a kitchen aid mixer, you can purchase the meat grinder attachment, but I have a countertop grinder that I crank by hand. It is real easy to use and you can use it for many other things.

[hez 2]

The ingredients you listed appear to be safe. Could it be a cross contamination issue? Is the sugar old or new? Could the lid of the ketchup come in contact with gluten? Maybe your body is still healing. For me foods that were gluten-free would sometimes send me to the bathroom early on.

Hez