Is It Really Gluten Free?

[LuvMoosic4life]

I have been visiting the organic isle in Tops quite a bit now and have been noticing new gluten free products every so often. The thing that bothers me is many products will clearly label "gluten free" in big letters on the front, but then when you read the ingredients list, at the end it states "produced in a facility that also produces products containg wheat, soy, nuts...ect.....

do these factories have specific section for producing gluten free products? and I wonder if these products are really gluten free. I dont buy them b/c I am unsure. I just stick to products produced in a 100% gluten free environment.

[Guest j_mommy]

I do eat them! Personal choice, if they bother me I won't eat them again. I also call company's and find out what the manufactoring process is(ie: seperate line ect).

Company's put that on as a curtousy....how many company's are doing the same thing but not printing it on their packages? More than you think.

[psawyer]

As previously stated by j_mommy, any statement about shared facilities or shared equipment is totally voluntary. If you see it, it is probably true. If you don't see it, it may still be true.

Unless your home is completely free of all products containing gluten, it is a "shared facility" and your dishes and cutlery are likely "shared equipment."

You must make your own decision. In general, I eat these products.

[GlutenGalAZ]

I purchase foods that has that type of label note. If I don't feel well after eating it then I don't eat that food anymore and am more careful with other foods that company makes.

Some companies run their gluten free foods first then process other foods that contain wheat, nuts etc. Other companies clean their processing lines when they are going to do gluten free foods.

But yes, like previously said -- it is a personal choice if you feel comfortable or not with this type of labeling.

[gfp]

It probably depends on each company and also product.

A lot of chance might be involved, if they share lines then if you get one of the first 'gluten-free' products after running gluten or the last ...

As this is voluntary I tend to think of it as a good sign and if that company has other products not made in shared faciltities I tend to trust it a bit more than another company that doesn't say.

What are the other products etc.? If its flour then it is airborne... if its soy sauce then its not so less likely to jump across lines.