Gluten App

[Barry W]

I have been diagnosed with celiac disease within the past week. I have been using two gluten-free Scanners that I downloaded from Google Play Store. I would like to know how accurate they are. One has gluten-free in red letters in a white background surrounded by red. The other shows a barcode with a red line in the middle. Thank you for any information you can give me. 

[Scott Adams]

What are the apps? It's a bit hard to comment on them when we don't even know which ones you downloaded. 

In general it's best to learn to read ingredient labels and allergen warnings than to reply on an app. Users here are unlikely to know when and how they update them.

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Barry W!

Can you give us the actual names of the apps?

Personally, I do not rely on apps to avoid gluten and I don't think many of our members on this forum do, at least not those who have been dealing with celiac disease for awhile. The problem with them is their usefulness and reliability depend on input from app users. So, their data bases may be quite incomplete and/or dated.

It's much safer to educate yourself as to how the food companies can disguise gluten with terminology like, "malt extract flavoring", for example and to become a committed ingredient label reader. Especially, take the time to read at least the allergen list on food products. "Naturally gluten free" doesn't necessarily rule out gluten from cross contamination. There is also a difference between "Gluten Free" and "Certified Gluten Free", the latter being subject to stricter standards. There are gray areas like when you read on a label, "Processed in a facility that also handles tree nuts . . . and wheat. In other words, Wheat, barley or rye (the three gluten containing grains) may not be an intentional ingredient but it could have picked up some by being processed on shared machinery. Some of these decisions may depend on how sensitive as an individual you are to gluten. What causes a reaction in others may or may not bother you. After a year or two, you will develop a sixth sense about where gluten may be found in things sold in the grocery store and about what things you need to look more closely into.

This may be of help to you at this point:

 

Edited May 28, 2023 by trents

[Barry W]

  On 5/28/2023 at 7:49 PM, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Barry W!

Can you give us the actual names of the apps?

Personally, I do not rely on apps to avoid gluten and I don't think many of our members on this forum do, at least not those who have been dealing with celiac disease for awhile. The problem with them is their usefulness and reliability depend on input from app users. So, their data bases may be quite incomplete and/or dated.

It's much safer to educate yourself as to how the food companies can disguise gluten with terminology like, "malt extract flavoring", for example and to become a committed ingredient label reader. Especially, take the time to read at least the allergen list on food products. "Naturally gluten free" doesn't necessarily rule out gluten from cross contamination. There is also a difference between "Gluten Free" and "Certified Gluten Free", the latter being subject to stricter standards. There are gray areas like when you read on a label, "Processed in a facility that also handles tree nuts . . . and wheat. In other words, Wheat, barley or rye (the three gluten containing grains) may not be an intentional ingredient but it could have picked up some by being processed on shared machinery. Some of these decisions may depend on how sensitive as an individual you are to gluten. What causes a reaction in others may or may not bother you. After a year or two, you will develop a sixth sense about where gluten may be found in things sold in the grocery store and about what things you need to look more closely into.

This may be of help to you at this point:

 

Expand Quote  

Trents,

Thank you for the reply. 

The apps are titled The Gluten Free Scanner and Gluten Free Scanner.

I looked into the information that shows START HERE. There are more ways to a gluten free diet than food. I didn't know about soap and shampoo. I didnt realize that there are so many ways for cross contamination just at home. 

My wife has been very supportive. We went into the food pantry and gave away half of the food. She has a list of dinners she is making this week.

Thank you again. The information you gave me will help.

Take care,

Barry

[trents]

Barry, I would advise getting a follow-up celiac antibody test in 6 mos. to a year from your original diagnosis to determine if you are being successful in avoiding gluten.

Also, be aware that food companies can and do change their formulations. What was once gluten free may not stay that way forever so it's smart to continue to read labels and not assume that what was gluten free will remain that way in perpetuity.

Also, if your wife continues to eat gluten be aware that kissing someone who has recently consumed gluten may get you glutened.

Edited May 28, 2023 by trents

[Barry W]

  On 5/28/2023 at 9:55 PM, trents said:

Barry, I would advise getting a follow-up celiac antibody test in 6 mos. to a year from your original diagnosis to determine if you are being successful in avoiding gluten.

Also, be aware that food companies can and do change their formulations. What was once gluten free may not stay that way forever so it's smart to continue to read labels and not assume that what was gluten free will remain that way in perpetuity.

Also, if your wife continues to eat gluten be aware that kissing someone who has recently consumed gluten may get you glutened.

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Thank you. My next doctor's visit will be in three months.

[Barry W]

  On 5/28/2023 at 7:45 PM, Scott Adams said:

What are the apps? It's a bit hard to comment on them when we don't even know which ones you downloaded. 

In general it's best to learn to read ingredient labels and allergen warnings than to reply on an app. Users here are unlikely to know when and how they update them.

Expand Quote  

The apps are named Ghe Gluten Free Scanner shows gluten-free surrounded in red and Gluten Free Scanner. shows barcode with red line. Thank you for your reply. 

[Scott Adams]

I've heard of Gluten Free Scanner, but not the other one. In general such apps are only as good as their last database update, so it's hard to know how up to date they are. No matter what it is always a good idea to look at ingredient labels when you shop, as ingredients can change without notice.

[Barry W]

  On 5/30/2023 at 5:35 PM, Scott Adams said:

I've heard of Gluten Free Scanner, but not the other one. In general such apps are only as good as their last database update, so it's hard to know how up to date they are. No matter what it is always a good idea to look at ingredient labels when you shop, as ingredients can change without notice.

Expand Quote  

Thank you for your information. It's much appreciated.