Safeway Shelving Gluten W/gluten-free Flours?

[caek-is-a-lie]

I was at my local Safeway this evening and noticed that they put the gluten free flours (in paper sacs) on the same shelves as the whole wheat "organic" flours (in paper sacs.) Is this safe??? What if both bags have holes and they mix? That would be deadly to me (well, not literally but pretty close!) Has anyone had experience with this? Should I contact the store and complain? From my point of view, this is horrifying. I've only bought gluten-free items from Fred Meyer, who have a dedicated gluten-free section.

[home-based-mom]

I have never seen flours displayed any other way than together. IMO, it is so very NOT safe. I asked the manager at my local Ralph's and was told that the Bob's Red Mill display was set up by a BRM rep. My local Henry's (bought out by Wild Oats which was bought out by Whole Paycheck Foods but still called Henry's ) even displays all the flours together. Same for the pastas. Talk about not getting it!

[*lee-lee*]

that just doesn't sound like a great idea, in my opinion. i wouldn't hesitate to speak with a manager.

[caek-is-a-lie]

Well, I know that the shelves are set up by reset crews that work for companies that are subcontracted by the chains (my partner does this for a living,) however, every Safeway in my town has a completely different setup. Some grocery stores in my town do a dedicated gluten-free section far away from the regular baking goods. Others mix it together. I would never buy gluten-free flour from the same section as wheat and it just seems like such a bad idea. My local Safeway (the one I can walk to) doesn't do a whole heck of a lot in the way of gluten-free foods. Just a couple of cake mixes and 2 types of baking flour. That's it. No cookies, pasta, nuthin. It's pathetic. No wonder they don't get it.

[Tim-n-VA]

I've not seen the regular flour with the gluten free at the Safeway here. However they do stock the wheat gluten, etc. with the gluten free. Not that it excuses it but I'm sure they are thinking they are grouping all of the specialty baking items together for customer convenience.

[zansu]

My store JUST did this. Last time I was there the stuff was in a gluten-free section, today it is on the regular baking row. I found a manager and told him he might as well shelve it with rat poison and I certainly won't buy the product when it sits next to flour. He acknowledged that the flour bags leak flour dust and said he could see my point, but corporate does this. He'll let them know my complaint. So if we all tell them it's not safe, maybe they'll get the idea.

I care less when the fully sealed bags are next to one another, but next to the regular leaky bags? that's just stupid.

[Tallforagirl]

Get some perspective. The flour is not going to come crawling out of the pack and insinuate itself into your gluten-free flour bag. If you think the outside of the bag has gluten flour on it, brush it or carefully wipe it off... then wash your hands, in case it crawls up your arm into your mouth.

[caek-is-a-lie]

Well, tallforagirl, the leaky gluten bags were right next to the leaky gluten-free bags. If both leak, and some of us are super sensitive to gluten, it does sound dangerous, doesn't it? Sure if they're in nicely sealed plastic surrounded by a nice cardboard box, it might be ok, but these were both leaky paper sacs. Bad news imho. I certainly won't be shopping there for gluten-free food...ever.

[celiac-mommy]

If you're in Portland OR, have you tried Fred Meyer? They have a separate gluten-free section in the health food area, all the flours are there (in most cases, otherwise all the BRM flours are together). From what I have found, they are cheaper than Safeway too. If you are near the WA boarder, you should try the new Freddy's right off hwy-14, they have a pretty big gluten-free section. Or head up 205 to the SR 500 exit and go to Lingonberry's market--all gluten-free!!!

[caek-is-a-lie]

Thanks! I'm in Beaverton and I have tried the Fred Meyer's in town. I love their gluten-free sections and they actually have employees who have tried the foods and can make recommendations. The FM in SE Portland even had chocolate Glutino cookies and chocolate peppermint soy nog for xmas. Oooooh so yummy! Freds blows Safeway out of the water when it comes to gluten-free foods. I wish I lived closer to one. When we were snowed in, the only store I could get to on foot was Safeway. Bleh At least they had some good frozen chicken.

[celiac-mommy]

I work near Beaverton, we moved from there about 4 years ago. If you're ever headin north and you haven't been to Lingonberries, I would plan to stop if you can. gluten-free mecca

[caek-is-a-lie]

Or head up 205 to the SR 500 exit and go to Lingonberry's market--all gluten-free!!!

Oh wow thanks for the tip! That looks like heaven to me. I can't wait to take a trip up there. And I love the list of celiac-friendly restaurants on their website. Very handy! Do you have any that you recommend closer to Beaverton? My coworkers always go out to lunch for birthdays and I want to find one this year that I can eat at before my birthday in June. I figure I'll have to do some R&D and try some out before I pick one next year. (I'm such a newbie to gluten-free eating )

[celiac-mommy]

Oh wow thanks for the tip! That looks like heaven to me. I can't wait to take a trip up there. And I love the list of celiac-friendly restaurants on their website. Very handy! Do you have any that you recommend closer to Beaverton? My coworkers always go out to lunch for birthdays and I want to find one this year that I can eat at before my birthday in June. I figure I'll have to do some R&D and try some out before I pick one next year. (I'm such a newbie to gluten-free eating )

Do you guys do your lunches in Beaverton or anywhere? Andina's in Portland has amazing food! Otherwise, the only place in Beaverton we've eaten gluten-free is Red Robin, but we moved to Vancouver a year before dd's diagnosis. We don't eat out a whole lot. When she is older, we will probably venture out a little more. More of the upscale restaurants cater to you better than the burger joints-which is more her pallet anyway. She did like what she tried at Andina's though. Also the Corbett fish house has the best catfish I've ever tried. Almost the entire menu there is gluten-free. As far as grocery stores/variety, the new New Seasons in Cedar Hills has a good selection of gluten-free foods, more expensive overall to do your grocery shopping there, but they do have quite a bit more options than Freddy's.