Glutened By Alexia Julienne Fries - Or My Own Pan?

[April in KC]

Hi all,

Yesterday, I was glutened by eating Alexia fries!!! I got a big headache within 1/2 an hour of eating, then I was overcome by sleepiness and napped for a couple of hours, then woke with back pain and GI symptoms, then developed a couple of DH bumps on one elbow (they should have come up on the other elbow, but maybe since it was just a trace amount, they didn't?). Today I had some pretty bad stomach pain and GI symptoms, but at least the headache and fatigue were much better.

My middle son (3 years) shared the fries with me (he had a smaller amount), and he seemed to be glutened, too. He took a hard nap when I took mine (I barely got him put down in time...I could feel it coming on...luckily DH arrived home as I was going lights out...scarey); woke up very VERY crabby screaming that his stomach hurt and, get this, his EYES felt like they were "pouring out blood" (graphic lil' guy, huh?).

The fries were the only thing we had. It had to be a.) the fries, b.) the pan, or c.) the Heinz Ketchup we also had. We quickly eliminated C, because we had both already eaten from this same bottle before with no symptoms. Tonight, we ate from it again at dinner with no symptoms. B, the pan, is a possibility, I guess...it's a cookie sheet I bought just prior to gluten-free...it was used a couple of times for gluten-containing cookies. Usually, I line it with parchment paper, but I skipped that step yesterday. Has anyone been glutened by their own (clean) dishes? However, it's choice A that I'm leaning towards. It seems like I've had some minor symptoms (headache only) after eating these fries before....I just didn't want them to be a problem.

Anyone else have problems with Alexia? I know they are labeled both as "gluten free" and as being mfr'd in a facility that also processes dairy and wheat. For me, this was clearly a wheat reaction, as my dairy reaction is similar, but without GI pain.

I am finding that I am really sensitive to CC...first the problems with Lays chips, now this.

Ugh! We'll see if I get mouth sores...I hope not!

I'm drinking water...any other tips?

April

[missy'smom]

I'm betting on the pan. Those baking sheets end up with stuff on them that just can't be washed off, in my experience. I'd get a new one just to be safe. They're not expensive. Just be aware that myself and others have gotten a glutenlike reaction to using a new teflon coated pan or appliance the first use. I think it's some kind of autoimmune reaction to the teflon(not gluten). No problems after that. Maybe to avoid this you could wash it, heat it up as if you were using it and cool it down and wash it again and then use it for real.

Everyone's different, you may be sensitive to the Alexia or it may be a combo of the pan and fries. I eat them often without problem.

[Anonymousgurl]

I think I was glutened by Alexia's hashbrowns! I drefrosted some frozen hashbrowns (Alexia's) with just water in a clean pan, and I experienced some of the same symptoms that I experience when glutened, 3 hours later. 3 hours is my typical reaction time. Go figure!

[jerseyangel]

This may have changed--I haven't checked, but I bought a bag of Alexia Fries last year and it had a cross contamination warning on the bag. At that time, some did and some didn't.

I never ended up eating them--I tend to react to things made on shared equipment.

[loraleena]

Last I knew they had contamination issues. The last time I had some I felt funky afterwards. Try cascadian farms fries.

[aikiducky]

The thing about contamination warnings is, one time you might get a batch that is made later and doesn't have any contamination, and another time you might get a batch that was made right after a gluten containing product, so one time you might be fine and the next, get sick. I bet that's what happened with the fries...

Pauliina

[April in KC]

Thanks, all, for the opinions, thoughts and recommendations. The thoughts about the variable nature of x-contam reactions rings true from my experiences with potato chips. I'm going to get a new pan AND look into Cascadian Farms fries...hopefully no dairy or peanut x-contam with those!

April