Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Reply From Whole Foods


lpellegr

Recommended Posts

lpellegr Collaborator

A while back I avoided a problem by spotting a grain in my lentils from Whole Foods - their 365 brand. I e-mailed them about it, and here's the reply. Note that the bagged beans and rices are produced in a facility that also produces barley. I plan to avoid them but I will always be suspicious of every bagged product now.

Thank you for your comments regarding the 365 Organic Everyday Value Lentils. According to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 we clearly label if any of our products contain Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Soy or Wheat. In addition if the product does not contain the common allergen, but is produced in a facility where a product that does contain the allergen is also produced, we have added an extra statement informing that the allergen does share the same facility. We are still in the process of updating all of our products and any packaging printed after January 1, 2006 does have this labeling.

Unfortunately, gluten is not required to be stated on packaging according to FDA and USDA laws. So, raw ingredients such as rye, oat or barley do not have to be announced in the product or in the facility, except for in the ingredient statement if they are a main ingredient. The manufacturing facility of the 365 Organic Everyday Value Beans and Rices in the plastic bags, including the lentils, at this time are produced in a facility that also produces barley. I apologize for any inconvenience this has brought to you. If our products do not contain any gluten or are produced in a facility that is gluten-free, we will either clearly mark that on the packaging, or add the product to our special diet series shopping lists.

Whole Foods Market understands the inconveniences suffered by customers with food allergies and sensitivities. We try to make it as convenient as possible to make your shopping experience with us an enjoyable one. We have special shopping lists individualized to each specific store that clearly state what products are available to you that are gluten-free. Please visit our website at Open Original Shared Link to find products in your store that are gluten-free. Also, please feel free to email either myself or our Private Label Customer Service at PrivateLabel.CustomerService@WholeFoods.com if you ever have any questions about gluten being in either a product or a facility for a food that you would like to enjoy but are not sure about.

Roberta Gentile | Customer Service and QA Liaison, Private Label

Whole Foods Market | 550 Bowie St | Austin TX 78703

512.542.0771 | (f) 512.482.7771


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Aretaeus Cappadocia posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

    2. - Scott Adams replied to wellthatsfun's topic in Gluten-Free Recipes & Cooking Tips
      1

      heaps of hope!

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Fruits & Veggies

    4. - Scott Adams replied to yellowstone's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Cold/flu or gluten poisoning?

    5. - Scott Adams replied to hjayne19's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Celiac Screening

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,091
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Condon
    Newest Member
    Condon
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Traditional brown rice vinegars are made by fermenting brown rice and water with koji (Kōji 麹). The gluten risk comes from the method of preparing the koji: rice, wheat or barley may be used. Regardless of the starting grain, "koji" typically will be listed as an ingredient, and that term alone does not indicate gluten status. I called Eden Foods regarding their product "Organic Brown Rice Vinegar" (product of Japan) to ask how their product is made. They gave me a clear answer that they >do< use rice and they >do not< use wheat or barley in preparing their koji. FWIW, the product itself does not contain any labeling about gluten, gluten risk, or gluten safety. Based on Eden's statement, I am going to trust that this product is gluten safe and use it.
    • Scott Adams
      Your post nails the practical reality of living well with a celiac diagnosis. The shift from feeling restricted to discovering a new world of cooking—whether through a supportive partner making gluten-free spanakopita and gravy, or learning to cook for yourself—is exactly how many people find their footing. It turns a medical necessity into a chance to build kitchen skills, eat more whole foods, and actually enjoy the process. Your point that the basics—knife skills, food safety, and experimenting with spices—are all you really need is solid, helpful advice. It’s a good reminder that the diagnosis, while a pain, doesn’t have to stop you from eating well or having fun with food.
    • Scott Adams
      You are experiencing a remarkable recovery by addressing core nutrient deficiencies, yet you've uncovered a deeper, lifelong intolerance to fruits and vegetables that appears to be a distinct issue from celiac disease. Your experience points strongly toward a separate condition, likely Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or a non-IgE food intolerance, such as salicylate or histamine intolerance. The instant burning, heart palpitations, and anxiety you describe are classic systemic reactions to food chemicals, not typical celiac reactions. It makes perfect sense that your body rejected these foods from birth; the gagging was likely a neurological reflex to a perceived toxin. Now that your gut has healed, you're feeling the inflammatory response internally instead. The path forward involves targeted elimination: try cooking fruits and vegetables (which often breaks down the problematic proteins/chemicals), focus on low-histamine and low-salicylate options (e.g., peeled pears, zucchini), and consider working with an allergist or dietitian specializing in food chemical intolerances. 
    • Scott Adams
      Your satiation is challenging and a common dilemma for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity: distinguishing between a routine viral illness and a reaction to gluten exposure. The overlap in symptoms—fatigue, malaise, body aches, and general inflammation—makes it nearly impossible to tell them apart in the moment, especially with a hypersensitive system. This ambiguity is a significant source of anxiety. The key differentiator often lies in the symptom pattern and accompanying signs: gluten reactions frequently include distinct digestive upset (bloating, diarrhea), neurological symptoms like "brain fog," or a specific rash (dermatitis herpetiformis), and they persist without the respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sore throat) typical of a cold. Tracking your symptoms meticulously after any exposure and during illnesses can help identify your personal patterns. Ultimately, your experience underscores the reality that for a sensitive body, any immune stressor—be it gluten or a virus—can trigger a severe and similar inflammatory cascade, making vigilant management of your diet all the more critical. Have you had a blood panel done for celiac disease? This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Your situation highlights a difficult but critical crossroads in celiac diagnosis. While your positive blood test (a high TTG-IgA of 66.6) and dramatic improvement on a gluten-free diet strongly point to celiac disease, the gastroenterologist is following the formal protocol which requires an endoscopy/biopsy for official confirmation. This confirmation is important for your lifelong medical record, can rule out other issues, and is often needed for family screening eligibility. The conflicting advice from your doctors creates understandable anxiety. The challenge, of course, is the "gluten challenge"—reintroducing gluten for 4-6 weeks to make the biopsy accurate. Since your symptoms resolved, this will likely make you feel unwell again. You must weigh the short-term hardship against the long-term certainty of a concrete diagnosis. A key discussion to have with your GI doctor is whether, given your clear serology and clinical response, would be getting a diagnosis without the biopsy.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.