What Did I Do Wrong This Time?!?!?!?

[Walter S]

Hello All. I had another party yesterday. It was a second birthday for my friend's son. I have a lot of friends with young children and many godchildren, so I attend a lot of parties. Well, I thought for sure I had everything planned out to be safe this time. I brought all of my own food (wrapped) and onl ate what I brought. I had a gluten free bagel before the party (I was there very eraly helping set up for the party and picking things up because the boy's mother and I are very close friends and she is going htrough a divorce so I try to help her as much as possible!) So then during the party I had a plain baked chicken cutlet (which I cooked at home) on gluten free bread. I drank decaf tea (black), which I have been drinking right along, and water. The only other thing I had was a handful of blue organic corn chips which I understood to be gluten free as per the literature I received from my nutritionist. I have been having blue corn chips on accassion for a snack or with a sandwich at lunch. The only thing different is that I got a different brand at the supermarket when I was picking up the food for the party. Could that be the problem? The fact that it was a different brand. I was doing ok most of the day, but after most guests had left I was helping to clean up when the diarrhea struck very bad. I was running in and out of the bathroom and just barely making it. Eventually I had to leave without being able to help finish cleaning up. I felt bad about that, but of course I couldn't help it. Basically anytime I eat away from home (even though I bring my own food) I still get sick. It's frustrating and embarassing. I'm not sure what else to do or what I am doing wrong? The only thing I can think of is that the brand of blue corn chips was different and so next time I will take care of that, but is that likely to be the culprit here? I'm just not sure. Thanks in advance for any input you might offer. I know people have said I should give it time becasue it takes months to heal and feel better, but it doesn't seem like a coincidence that everytime I eat away from home that I get sicker than usual. Perhaps it is just a matter of time, but I wonder if I am doing something wrong and not realizing it.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Different companies have different ingredients and policies. You should always call or write companies to see if they are gluten-free. Good luck and good job on bringing you own food and having fun and I am sorry you got sick, WalkterS.

Kristina Marie

[Carriefaith]

The only thing different is that I got a different brand at the supermarket when I was picking up the food for the party. Could that be the problem? The fact that it was a different brand.

Yes, sometimes gluten-free chips are produced on the same lines as gluten chips. Contacting the company is the only way to really know if they are safe.

[Walter S]

This may be a stupid question, but if I was to contact a company and ask about if their product is made in the same factory with other products that do contain gluten, what exactly do I ask them? How do I word it? Is there someone specific I should ask for? I just am imagining talking to someone at a factory and them sayng "I don't understand? What are you talking about?" So I want to be prepared to know exactly what to say and how to word it so I get the information I need. When I was first beginning to eat gluten-free, I would ask at stores for gluten free products and people would look at me funny and then not be able to help me. I would say, "Do you have any gluten free bread?" They would look confused and then answer and say yeah, I guess so. All of our bread is in Aisle 5" Of course they would not actually have the gluten free bread and I would soon discover that nobody knew what I was looking for.

[Karen B.]

This may be a stupid question, but if I was to contact a company and ask about if their product is made in the same factory with other products that do contain gluten, what exactly do I ask them? How do I word it? Is there someone specific I should ask for? I just am imagining talking to someone at a factory and them sayng "I don't understand? What are you talking about?" So I want to be prepared to know exactly what to say and how to word it so I get the information I need. When I was first beginning to eat gluten-free, I would ask at stores for gluten free products and people would look at me funny and then not be able to help me. I would say, "Do you have any gluten free bread?" They would look confused and then answer and say yeah, I guess so. All of our bread is in Aisle 5" Of course they would not actually have the gluten free bread and I would soon discover that nobody knew what I was looking for.

I've had very good luck with calling companies. The people answering the phones are usually a lot more knowledgeable than the guys at the grocery store (and if they aren't, they are sitting in front of a computer that is). After all, they only have their product line to answer for, the grocery store has everyone's product lines to answer for.

However, when I first was diagnosed, I had a ZonePerfect meal that should have been gluten-free by the label and about 20 minutes after lunch, it literally felt like someone punched me. When I called, they stalled and it took a week of daily calls before they finally admitted that they didn't make the product themselves but it probably had cross contamination. Why they wouldn't say that up front, I don't know.

If they don't seem to know what you are talking about, don't be bashful about asking them who would be more knowledgeable about their product.

[Carriefaith]

I personally don't like calling so I e-mail companies or get information from someone who has called. When I e-mail, I say something like, "Does (product names) contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats)? If not, is it produced on the same line as products that conatain gluten?" I would say that almost every time I get a response, the author of the e-mail seems to know what they are talking about and I often get a blurb on what celiac disease is (I guess to prove that they know what they are talking about).