Am I Gluten Free? Newbie

[SGWhiskers]

I had my positive biopsy 2 weeks ago. Severe intestinal damage. I have milk and egg allergies, so I am very familiar with reading labels, though I never worried much about cross contamination. Assuming my label reading skills are OK, would you call me gluten free?

1) All meds confirmed no gluten products, but manufactures say cross contamination is possible.

2) Vitamins (multi +D, Calcium, Magnesium) from Nature Made. Says gluten free.

3)Toothpaste and hand/dish soaps are gluten-free.

4)Still have to check hair products and makeup.

5) Current diet: fresh fruits, veggies, frozen veggies, meat, juice, Silk brand Soy milk, Bob's Redmill Gluten free products, Rice Chex.

6) Processed products such as canned baked beans, BallParks, trail mix, hershey's bar, Tea, mustard, katsup, none of the forbidden foods are on the ingredients list, but none are specifically gluten-free. (Does anyone know if "mustard powder" as an ingredient is OK?

5) DH and I cook/prepare gluten foods for him still (will continue).

6) Nonstick pots and pans have gotten good scrubbings. Can opener has gone through the dishwasher regularly. Cutting boards are the thin plastic type and fairly new. They go in the dishwasher after every use. Plastic/metal cooking utensils go through the dishwasher after every use. So do the pots. Don't use wooden utensils. BBQ on tinfoil.

8) We don't prewash/rinse most dishes before they go in the dishwasher.

7) I assume every surface is glutened and only put my food on clean plates or maybe a fresh paper towel.

8) I wash my hands before preparing/eating food, and usually 2-3 times during preparation just to be sure.

10) I wash my hands right before leaving the kitchen because I'm a nail biter.

I know I'm off to a good start, but do you think I can call myself gluten free yet? Thanks for your opinions and hints. This has been a great site to browse while trying to get gluten free.

SGWhiskers

[mftnchn]

Sounds like you have made a pretty good start. How about symptoms?

I use very few of the foods you mentioned so can't help with hidden ingredients...hopefully others can.

I'd have a concern with your cooking with gluten with regard to flour. It gets in the air and can leave a film on everything.

[mstrain]

I haven't cheked in a while, but most rice cerals from the mainstream companies (Kelloggs, General Mills, etc) contain barley malt which contains gluten.

Anything with "natural flavor" is suspect.

I haven't found a decent trail mix that is gluten-free (when I say decent, I love chocolate in mine!!) You need to be careful with dried fruit and chocolate - even nuts are sometimes coated with something that has gluten! Also, the factory lines may not be clean. I've become very sick after eating trail mix. I now make my own.

Mustard powder is fine.

I must say, though, you are off to a great start!