To China To Adopt Our Daughter

[nw0528]

I was just diagnosed with Celiac on Thursday. Obviously this is life-changing, and I'm trying not to get overwhelmed , and I realize it is manageable (as all of you are proof of).

However, we are adopting a daughter from China and will be traveling to China for two weeks next year around this time. Now I was already worried about traveling halfway around the globe and worried about food a bit (as I have had IBS for 25 years and tend to have food issues). I had just planned to pack lots of crackers, snacks, Ramen noodle soup, etc. and eat rice, noodles, and cooked veggies in China. I realize I'll be bringing different snacks now, but it's the food in China I am now very, very worried about. The rice and cooked veggies should be okay (assuming no sauces) but there is no way to know about cross contamination -and really with a language barrier, not able to explain the issue...

I'm really looking for advice from anyone who has traveled to China while having Celiac.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

This will be the trip of a lifetime for us, to meet our daughter, ...

Nicole

[happygirl]

Hi Nicole -

Open Original Shared Link Dining cards for those with Celiac/gluten intolerance. They have a Chinese version that may help during your travels overseas, especially for your big, wonderful trip. The good news is that you have plenty of time to adust and learn the ropes before your sweet girl comes to you.

[MaryJones2]

How exciting. We have several friends who adopted daughters from China. We rented a service apartment for our stay. The major cities in China are cosmopolitan so you shouldn't have any problem finding fresh meats and vegetables at the grocery stores. I packed pasta and snacks but didn't really need to. I found a chain of stores that carries gluten-free food. I'm not sure about rural areas so I don't have any advice. A lot of people like the Triumph cards.

[maile]

Where in China will you be going? the reason I ask is if we know the area then we'll have a better idea of the possibilities given the regional cuisine.

In the south most of the cuisine is based around rice and there is very little wheat in the dishes; in the north wheat is quite common, especially in noodle or dumpling, although rice is still the staple of most families. (in China social security is called "iron rice bowl" )

it may not be quite as bad as you think, recall that the food served here in the west has been adapted to appeal to western tastes and is only representative of chinese cuisine. most gluten products I've seen have been confined to pastries, wheat noodle (clearly labeled), dumplings and buns.

soups etc are generally thickened with corn or tapioca starch as chinese soups are clear soups. Soups with noodle will clearly be labeled as such

most coated foods are also coated in either corn or tapicoa starch, not wheat. If the dish is cooked in a wok and assuming no soy sauce this would work but if it's deep fried, even if it's coated in corn starch (which is the most likely) there won't be dedicated fryers.

"fried rice" could be quite safe, unlike in the west most authentic fried rice does not depend on soy sauce for flavour, msg yes, but not soy.

Soy sauce, most of the brands I've seen chinese markets here have wheat

btw, are you totally on your own or will you have a Chinese host?

[nw0528]

Thank you all for your suggestions and information you have shared. Having just been diagnosed, just standing in the grocery store seems overwhelming, and then when my husband asked about the trip to China next year, I thought Oh No, what am I going to do? So your suggestions are much appreciated.

We won't know what part of China our daughter is from until about 4-6 weeks before we travel. We are thinking we will receive our referral (photos, name, basic info. including where she lives) around this time next year.

Our agency will have some kind of Chinese guide with us. My husband is Chinese, but born in Hong Kong and has never been to mainland China. If our daughter is from the south then my husband will be able to communicate in Cantonese, but if she is not from the southern part, he will not be able to speak Mandarin, so having him be Chinese won't be any additional help for us as far as speaking the language in restaurants, etc.

Thank you again for the suggestions I've received so far!

Nicole

[Fiddle-Faddle]

If our daughter is from the south then my husband will be able to communicate in Cantonese, but if she is not from the southern part, he will not be able to speak Mandarin, so having him be Chinese won't be any additional help for us as far as speaking the language in restaurants, etc.

Thank you again for the suggestions I've received so far!

Nicole

But the written languages are the same, so he will still be able to communicate in writing!

Kikkoman claims that the fermentation process renders their soy sauce gluten-free--not just below "legal" limits, but below detectable limits. I have not tried their soy sauce since reading this, but wonder if most (if not all) soy sauces would therefore be okay.

There will be celiacs who react to even undetectable amounts, I'm sure, but I can't help wondering if those who were diagnosed fairly early (in other words, before a significant amount of intestinal damge was done) might be less sensitive to the supposedly undetectable amounts of gluten.

It's also worth noting that I have not tried Kikkoman myself since going gluten-free, as I don't have obvious reactions to cc, so I wouldn't know if I were damaging myself or not.

This is just an idea for you to chew on and research. Hopefully, by the time you go to China next year (wow--that's a REALLY long labor for a baby!!!), maybe more will be known about soy sauce and gluten.

[missy'smom]

But the written languages are the same, so he will still be able to communicate in writing!

Kikkoman claims that the fermentation process renders their soy sauce gluten-free--not just below "legal" limits, but below detectable limits. I have not tried their soy sauce since reading this, but wonder if most (if not all) soy sauces would therefore be okay.

There will be celiacs who react to even undetectable amounts, I'm sure, but I can't help wondering if those who were diagnosed fairly early (in other words, before a significant amount of intestinal damge was done) might be less sensitive to the supposedly undetectable amounts of gluten.

It's also worth noting that I have not tried Kikkoman myself since going gluten-free, as I don't have obvious reactions to cc, so I wouldn't know if I were damaging myself or not.

This is just an idea for you to chew on and research. Hopefully, by the time you go to China next year (wow--that's a REALLY long labor for a baby!!!), maybe more will be known about soy sauce and gluten.

Kikkoman makes very different formulations of soy sauce for different markets. The soy sauce that is made for the American market and sold in most stores here is very different from the soy sauce that is manufactured for the Japanese customer, whether imported to this country and sold or sold in Japan. Even beyond that they make several different soy sauces for sale in Japan. The one we used to buy that was manufactured for the Japanese consumer and imported, said "wheat". My husband says that wheat is becoming expensive in Japan so manufacturers are switching to rice based flours, ingredients etc. in some cases. But that's Japan. I don't know about China. I just mention that because Kikkoman is a Japanese company.

[nw0528]

Hopefully, by the time you go to China next year (wow--that's a REALLY long labor for a baby!!!), maybe more will be known about soy sauce and gluten.

Thanks for the info. on soy sauces. Regarding our long "pregnancy" our paperwork was officially logged in in China on March 6, 2008 (that's after 6 months of paperwork, social work visits. etc.) and our wait is about 22 months (from log in date) and that is actually SHORT because we are being expedited because my husband is Chinese/born in HK. For people not being expedited for Chinese ancestry, the wait is over 36 months now, and projected to reach 4-5 years! Unbelievable! For us, we have a 2 year old son (bio.) and he keeps us busy (and of course now having to begin the gluten-free life will be quite a project!), so the wait is not as bad as if we were waiting for our first child.

Thanks again for your help!

Nicole

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Kikkoman makes very different formulations of soy sauce for different markets. The soy sauce that is made for the American market and sold in most stores here is very different from the soy sauce that is manufactured for the Japanese customer, whether imported to this country and sold or sold in Japan. Even beyond that they make several different soy sauces for sale in Japan. The one we used to buy that was manufactured for the Japanese consumer and imported, said "wheat". My husband says that wheat is becoming expensive in Japan so manufacturers are switching to rice based flours, ingredients etc. in some cases. But that's Japan. I don't know about China. I just mention that because Kikkoman is a Japanese company.

Hey, I'm interested in ANY info you find on this!

According to Open Original Shared Link

even the soy sauce containing wheat marketed in American supermarkets is gluten-free; they say that the fermentation breaks it down, and that it's safe for both celiacs and those who are wheat-allergic.

If I had really obvious gluten reactions, I'd try it--but I don't, so I would have no idea if I'm reacting or not. Then again, it's been 2 years since I last tried something, so maybe I should give it a go.

Wow, Nicole--that IS a long pregnancy/labor! Why is the wait so long nowadays? At this rate, the children will be in college before they find a home and parents.

[UNCRoberts]

My 19yo D left for Beijing, China last week, for a 6 month study abroad. She was diagnosed w/ Celiac at age 11. She called me this morning very upset, she is having a terrible time finding safe food. The study abroad program had promised her a kitchen, but it's not ready yet, and they can't tell her when it will be. (They've known since November that she was coming, and has special diet needs) After several days of trying to communicate (she speaks some Chinese, and is with Chinese kids in this program) her needs at restaurants, she has been "glutened" so many times that she is sick and she is scared so the past 2 days she has only eaten white rice and bananas. She says that even when native Chinese students try to tell servers, and cooks at restaurants to omit soy sauce, wheat, etc. she still would end up getting sick. Her Chinese roommate says that they just don't/won't understand and think Americans just don't like (are being picky) certain things.

As for the thing about Kikkoman Soy sauce being gluten-free, that can't be true. D has terrible reactions when she has gotten "soy sauce poisoning" as she calls it. She carries true gluten-free soy sauce with her when she eats at Asian restaurants here in the U.S. and usually has no problem. She traveled all around Japan last summer with no problems; she had access to kitchens most places, and she did much of her own cooking.

The way things are going for her right now, I suggest you take plenty of gluten-free food with you to China and/or try to find accommodations with a kitchen. D says that finding food markets is easy, it's just that she has no way to prepare and/or store food at this time. You'd think they could at least get her a refrigerator and a microwave! I'm very worried, she was so sick for so long, and finally in the past few years, she has been healthy, due to always following a strict gluten-free diet.

[lioralourie]

xposted on another thread

We have some suspected gluten intolerant people in our family...or wheat allergy. Not sure! Haven't done the testing but know to stay away from wheat!

Anyway we live in Beijing.

I just started a Yahoo group called BJFoodAllergiesSpecialDiets with lotsa Gluten-free Casein-free folks there. Come on down!

I found another thread and will repost this great info I found there:

[he found] xanthan gum locally and have the Chinese for it. Here's the characters if this helps any of you:

黄原胶

Its about 40 rmb per kilo

also "I have a chinese Translation which describes celiac disease shortly and states what is allowed to eat and what not. If anybody is interested I can send it to you. Just write your email to gjp{at}keba.com and I will send you the pdf file."

I also found this Open Original Shared Link a Restaurant card explaining Gluten intolerance! I've already shared with my group so many things from this forum...thank you all!! Liora

p.s. City shop is great. Near U.S. Embassy. Look 'em up on Cityweekend.com. Gluten free cereals and mixes are available at Jenny Lou's as well. De RunWu has Bragg Liquid aminos instead of soy sauce. World Health store carries some items as well. Store in Shangdu SOHO or order online worldhealthstore.com.cn and they deliver as well. best, Liora

[lioralourie]

by the way, the Kikkoman that's available here in Beijing is manufactured in Singapore and is kosher even though there is no hechsher as in the U.S.. It also has wheat listed on the label.

liora

[sixtytwo]

CONGRATULATIONS on getting a daughter from China, they are just beautiful children and so blessed that someone wants to give them a good life. We have friends that have two Chinese daughters, they got them two years apart------their names are Sarah and Rachel. They wre adopted into a very loving large extended family and will have such a nice life as the whole family is very comfortable financially, too. Hopefully you have enough time now to research the gluten situation in China, so that you can eat okay while you are there. Barbara

[Michelle1234]

Congratulations on your upcoming adoption. I have traveled around the world gluten free. I'm not sure if you are sensitive to MSG but it is hard to get away from in China. Through the use of my gluten digestive enzymes and Kind bars, prepackaged nuts from the US and crispy rice bars from the US to back me up when I wasn't 100% sure that I was being understood I don't recall having a problem with the gluten.

However MSG was another matter. My guide was convinced that the MSG wasn't there because the govt. told her most had been eliminated but it was in everything. I usually have enough Kind bars etc. to get me through about half my meals and figure I can find regular food for the other half. Not in China. I started checking labels in the stores because I quickly found out I could eat in no restaurants. Their peanut M&Ms (packaging looks just like it does in the US) contain MSG. The Lays potato chips contain MSG. I could buy a banana at a convenience store when desperate but not much else. The raw nuts all contained nuts and MSG in the ingredients except for one bag of chocolate covered almonds that I located. I did have some luck with the Hilton breakfast buffet by getting a dining manager who special prepared me a plate of hard boiled eggs, cheese and fruit.

My advice is:

• Buy GlutenEase and Digest Gold digestive enzymes. This works to reduce/eliminate symptoms from minor cross contamination.
  
• Bring as much food as you can. Trust no prepared foods in China.
  
• Eat only fresh food that you have control over the preparation of.
  

You can get a Triumph dining card in Chinese. I had a guide who was my interface with the restaurants to explain the gluten problem. She did a great job. I had her read the card to make sure she understood what I was asking.

Bring dust masks. The air quality in China is horrible. Lung and respiratory infections are common among visitors.

I've been gluten free for years so have gotten pretty good at getting myself fed. This year I've been to Grand Caymans, Ecuador, Peru, Easter Island, Tahiti, Rarotonga, New Zealand, Tasmania Austraila, Australia-main cont., Papua New Guinea, Guam, Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Israel, France, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, France, England, and the Canary Islands. As a result, I do have a basis for comparison. China was the worst place in terms of food contamination and pollution. Be prepared with as much US brought food as you can figure out how to bring.

Honestly, gluten free isn't really that hard once you figure it all out and toughen your hide to be really explicit when ordering at restaurants, each and every time. That is the hardest thing. Also changing out your toaster and other contaminated appliances as well as all your personal care product can be something everyone denies is necessary at first but I think we all get there eventually. :-)

My motto when traveling - your almost always safe at an Indian restaurant. Lots of naturally gluten free dishes to choose from. The exception may be China as they may add MSG to the ingredients to appeal to the local population so for China I would still recommend staying away from anything where you don't directly have control over the preparation.

Enjoy your new baby!