Anyone Buy These Gluten Free Food Lists?

[amberleigh]

Like this one...

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Just wondering...thanks!

[NewB]

Hi,

Just had to answer since no one else will... this is an odd message board. I reccommend the Chebe breads (but use goat milk where needed) as a pizza dough etc....the site also has a couple decent cake mixes (again, watch for that casein)....bigger orders are cheaper to ship...Do you have any alternative type markets where you live ch ....are they willing to look into ordering for you...I don't buy the list, but I check this site for what's available and then look into its source online...........................

[ravenwoodglass]

I personally do not buy lists. Any list is out of date the minute it is printed, manufacturors change ingredients and also some lists, Frito lay is a prime example, have copious amounts of foods that are gluten free by ingredients but so heavily CC'd that they are very risky. It is better IMHO to call for a product you have, know what you need to look for on a label and that any product that has natural and artificial flavors need to be looked into. Also if you ask about a specific product here you may find the answer from othrs that have already researched. Another trick is to put the name of the product in a search engine with the word gluten, if the company has a gluten statement on that product it may be one of the first things to pop up. The ideal way to eat gluten-free is to eat as little processed food as possible, fresh items like chicken, nuts, rice, fruit, veggies etc are the safest way to go.

[Darn210]

I bought the Clan Thompson list - the one where you get the updates every three months. I got the one for my Palm Pilot so that I can take it to the store with me. I had been thinking about it and then the deciding factor was when we went on vacation this summer. The closest grocery store is about a 35 minute drive from where we stay. Needless to say, we get just about everything the first trip and then there is usually one more intermediate trip for the stuff we run out of. I wasn't sure if I was going to find my normal brands. And there wasn't going to be any computer for me to look anything up on.

I do use it - but not as much as I thought I would. Probably because we are just in a huge rut at our house and eat the same thing over and over .

I do like the idea of it, but it has a lot of (store) brands that aren't around here so there are a lot of useless entries for me. At the same time, it doesn't have the store brands that I need.

If you want to check to see if your local store brand is on there, PM me and I'll let you know if they are.

[hathor]

I bought the Clan Thompson lists, then found I don't really use them. I guess I don't buy the brands that they check out or my diet is too far away from the standard American diet. Mostly I read labels and stick with those things that clearly label what are in them. If there is something I'm still unsure of, I try researching on the internet. Frequently I find that things show up in the free Clan Thompson newsletter, a company's web site, or this forum. If that fails, I email the company. (For some reason, I feel like a company will be more careful of anything they put in writing, rather than what some person says on the phone. Sometimes folks are reluctant to admit that they don't know something; email gives them a chance to find out. Plus there is no chance of confusion and it gives me something I can post up for others without distorting what the company said.)

[Guest j_mommy]

I also don't buy the lists...most are out of date right away. Ingredients also change soo much. So if I'm wondering about something I call or email...much more cost effective!

[JennyC]

When my son was first diagnosed I bought the most expensive Clan Thompson list available. I never use it. I learned a couple of things from the lists in the beginning, but nothing that I could not have learned from making a few phone calls. The best way to shop for mainstream foods is to buy from good manufacturers that will disclose gluten on their labels. I will post a link to those companies below.

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[Darn210]

I will have to agree with JennyC that knowing the manufacturers that disclose gluten sources on the label would be the best way to go . . . Unfortunately, when I'm at the store, I can only remember Kraft. When I get around to it, I plan on making my list (with tiny writing, kind of like what you see on a label ) and laminating it so that it can take the wear and tear of riding around in my purse. If it's too big for my purse, then I will leave it in my car.

[blueeyedmanda]

I never bought the lists, I got most of my info from everyone on here. They were very helpful. I also shop at Wegmans that labels it's store brand gluten free. I know Kraft is good with the gluten labeling. Soon it becomes second nature.

[Bill in MD]

I also bought the Clan Thompson (food smartlist) products, both the PC and the Palm versions. I use them, but not as much as I thought I would. I purchased a new Palm device primarily for the purpose of managing my celiac disease, but I find myself going to the store on the way home from work or elsewhere and and don't have it with me (I work in construction and it's not convenient to carry around). By now, I pretty much know what to look for, and use the software to research new things I might want to try.

One feature of the PC version that I use the most is the ingredients checker (the Palm version does not have this yet - I emailed them 6 months ago and they said they were working on it). This is a list of those unrecognizable/unpronouncable things in the lower part of most ingredient lists, over 500 of them at this point, and the gluten-free status of them.

As to whether this (or similar) products is "worth it", that would most likely depend on the user. If you are a frequent list-maker/user, then you'd probably get more out of it than someone who usually just buys from memory. Personally, I detest using the telephone, so I'm happy to rely on someone else tracking it down for me when I can't find the answer online. If you choose to buy, definitely get the subscription with updates; they (Clan Thompson) try to reconfirm the status of all products in the lists at least once a year, and they add/change status of things all the time (more than every three months, in my short experience).

As for the info in these lists being out of date right away... The same could be said, to some degree, with any info found on the internet, including in this forum. If a company changes suppliers and thus the gluten-free status of their products, the PR office and the webmaster are likely the last people to know about it. That's why so many companies choose to not specify one way or the other.

Hope this helps.

[Darn210]

If you choose to buy, definitely get the subscription with updates; they (Clan Thompson) try to reconfirm the status of all products in the lists at least once a year, and they add/change status of things all the time (more than every three months, in my short experience).

As for the info in these lists being out of date right away... The same could be said, to some degree, with any info found on the internet, including in this forum. If a company changes suppliers and thus the gluten-free status of their products, the PR office and the webmaster are likely the last people to know about it. That's why so many companies choose to not specify one way or the other.

And just to add . . . In their data base, Clan Thompson will give the date that a particular item was last verified with the manufacturer.

[misdiagnosed6yrs]

I'm sorry to possibly confuse the subject but I just dont know what to believe. Those of you that are making the point of saying you didnt buy those lists because immediately after you buy them.. they are out of date... right? Well, then why would anyone check this site? Cause if I do a google search and it snds me here.. I get my answer and then what? Is that out of date too?

If fresh fruit, veg, chicken... etc.. were enough to eat for the rest of my life, I'd be ok. But its not and we all know it. A week after eating it, you want anything BUT!

Not a fan of vegs no matter what you dip, melt, or cook it with. I do eat Vegs but I have to remember to. Fruit also gets old.

Anyways my point I guess was already made. It is really frustrating regardless. I hate the fact that I have to go out of my way to not eat certain foods.

6 years of no dairy, meat and IBS items.. now this. I have to eat chicken and turkey because eventually you run out of options. sorry, I'm done ranting

[blueeyedmanda]

I'm sorry to possibly confuse the subject but I just dont know what to believe. Those of you that are making the point of saying you didnt buy those lists because immediately after you buy them.. they are out of date... right? Well, then why would anyone check this site? Cause if I do a google search and it snds me here.. I get my answer and then what? Is that out of date too?

If fresh fruit, veg, chicken... etc.. were enough to eat for the rest of my life, I'd be ok. But its not and we all know it. A week after eating it, you want anything BUT!

Not a fan of vegs no matter what you dip, melt, or cook it with. I do eat Vegs but I have to remember to. Fruit also gets old.

Anyways my point I guess was already made. It is really frustrating regardless. I hate the fact that I have to go out of my way to not eat certain foods.

6 years of no dairy, meat and IBS items.. now this. I have to eat chicken and turkey because eventually you run out of options. sorry, I'm done ranting

I check this site, because there are really neat recipies on here, I am not sure if you had gotten into the baking or making new things but we have some very talented members. I also come on here for the friends I have made. This is a great place. The information that you can go away from here with is almost better than any list. Especially since quite a large number of the board members have other allergies than just the gluten.

Welcome to our board and we hope you stay and find the things you are looking for. It is very overwhelming at first but it will get much better. Do you have lots of gluten free options where you live, stores and such?

[JennyC]

Is some of the information here out of date? Sure some of it may be, especially if you look at older posts. Ingredients change. That is why I buy from companies that list gluten. On my previous reply I gave you a link to a list of those companies. That way no matter how many times they change the ingredients, all you have to do is read the label. When I do not buy from such companies, I call them often, about every few months. There are very few companies like this, so it is not a big deal.

[misdiagnosed6yrs]

I didn't realize anyone replied to me so I apologize if it seemed as though I was ignoring you.

Shopping has been a little easier for me but it takes forever reading the labels. I don't have enough money to buy in bulk, otherwise, I sure would.

I have a feeling that my problem may go beyond celiac. I just don't know how to find out.

This is very frustrating for me and I try so hard to be positive but sometimes it's difficult. I don't care about having to eat gluten-free. Thats not the problem, the problem is that EVERYTHING has gluten in it. You can't escape it. I get so nervous when people come near my personal belongings (food or not) and thats annoying me. I feel like I've actually gone crazy. Been there? I'm sure

Thanks for the replies.

I'm still pushing on, as hard as it is.

[debmidge]

I have purchased over the past 4 years the CSA Products Guide and Clan Thompson. I use them, and would use them more, but most of the foods on their lists aren't sold in my area or the stores aren't in my area. For instance, the Wal-Mart in my area does not really sell food - some canned & frozen items but I've yet to find something in there made by Wal Mart that states "gluten free." Additionally I do not have some of those supermarkets near me, like Hy-Vee or Wegmans. So the information is practically useless. Will I buy it again or renew it: probably not. HOWEVER, it might be worthwhile for someone else so lives somewhere else...

[blueeyedmanda]

I have purchased over the past 4 years the CSA Products Guide and Clan Thompson. I use them, and would use them more, but most of the foods on their lists aren't sold in my area or the stores aren't in my area. For instance, the Wal-Mart in my area does not really sell food - some canned & frozen items but I've yet to find something in there made by Wal Mart that states "gluten free." Additionally I do not have some of those supermarkets near me, like Hy-Vee or Wegmans. So the information is practically useless. Will I buy it again or renew it: probably not. HOWEVER, it might be worthwhile for someone else so lives somewhere else...

When I first moved to Harrisburg, all they had were regular Walmarts..they have since become the supercenters with the grocery area. I know what you mean.