How Do You Handle "processed On The Same Line As" Food Products?

[jmjsmomma]

I found a brand of Uncle Ben's flavored rice that did not have wheat listed in the "allergy alert". I called Uncle Ben's and a very help rep told me that the product did not have gluten, but that it was processed on the same lines as products that DO contain gluten". He did say that the lines were thoroughly cleaned after each product but that they could make no guarantees about cross-contamination. Okay, I know we've all been there done this...but as a newbie I am curious how you have all chosen to handle this. My 5 yo son has been gluten-free 7 weeks tomorrow after confirmed celiacs with endoscopy/panel. He does not have a repeat celiac panel done till April. Would you let him have these gluten-free products "on the same line as gluten" or do you choose to skip out entirely on these products? Do I take a chance and see what his bloodwork looks like next month? I haven't even let him have Cheeto's for the same reason, but the boy is missing his rice!!

I know that it is a personal decision, but I was curious what the norm is out there since I'm still somewhat floundering in gluten-free land. Thanks so much for advice/opinions.

[sugarsue]

Hi! My 6 yr old is an undiagnosed celiac but diagnosed gluten intolerant and is very sensitive to gluten. If the lines are washed between, I will try the product. But, she has gotten sick. It's kind of hit or miss with her so I am getting more resistance to trying. There are some products that she does fine with so it's hard to make the decision to rule it all out. Regarding the rice, I have heard others who will rinse the rice first and this seems to help. I'm sure you will get more helpful responses! Good luck!

[Gfresh404]

I usually stay away from these products. I don't trust their definition of "thoroughly cleaned." Would you trust the person washing the lines? I have also found that some products made on the same lines as wheat/gluten are also hit or miss. I had 3 or 4 bags of Lay's chips, also made on shared lines, and was fine, but the fifth bag hit me like a piece of wheat bread. The only company I really trust to wash their lines thoroughly is Amy's. If possible I would look for another brand of rice made on a dedicated line, a food health store like Whole Foods should have it. Plus if you think about it, it would be so easy for a gluten protein to attach itself to a piece of rice. Just my personal experience, good luck.

I found a brand of Uncle Ben's flavored rice that did not have wheat listed in the "allergy alert". I called Uncle Ben's and a very help rep told me that the product did not have gluten, but that it was processed on the same lines as products that DO contain gluten". He did say that the lines were thoroughly cleaned after each product but that they could make no guarantees about cross-contamination. Okay, I know we've all been there done this...but as a newbie I am curious how you have all chosen to handle this. My 5 yo son has been gluten-free 7 weeks tomorrow after confirmed celiacs with endoscopy/panel. He does not have a repeat celiac panel done till April. Would you let him have these gluten-free products "on the same line as gluten" or do you choose to skip out entirely on these products? Do I take a chance and see what his bloodwork looks like next month? I haven't even let him have Cheeto's for the same reason, but the boy is missing his rice!!

I know that it is a personal decision, but I was curious what the norm is out there since I'm still somewhat floundering in gluten-free land. Thanks so much for advice/opinions.

[CeliacMom2008]

I can't answer the actual question because I change my mind too frequently, but I can give some help on the rice. We use plain wild rice blends and then I cook them water with a bouillon cube or with broth (beef or chicken). We like mushrooms so I add some chopped up canned mushrooms and let it cook per package directions. I think it's as good as what I remember Uncle Ben's tasting like and it has to be cheaper (but I don't know that for sure).

[dilettantesteph]

Lots of celiacs eat those no problem. My son and I both get sick if we do. We had to learn the hard way to check for that information.

[jerseyangel]

I need to steer clear of them. I buy very few processed products.

It's individual, though.

[irish daveyboy]

I don't want to sound 'flippant' , but I think it is a matter of personal choice!

.

I'm sure, there are people on this forum who will totally reject products

that are made on 'Shared' lines, without a thought

because so many have said that's what 'I' do,

and then go to an Asian Market and buy flours for baking (because it's cheaper),

without any consideration for how it was made or packed.

.

My opinion rightly or wrongly, is flours from an Asian Markets are shipped

in Bulk to an Import Agent, who has a lock-up in Chinatown and employs people to pack by hand a variety of flours, (not just in the same building, but the same room)

with airborne dust from tapioca, rice, maize, corn, potato and wheat flours intermingling.

.

No FDA control here, no HCCAP filters in use - cleaning down between packings (that's a laugh)

.

There's a saying 'Suck it and see' meaning try it once, if you have problems, don't use it again.

.

I personally wouldn't go with what 'others said' just because it is the done thing !!

.

that's my view anyway, matter of personal choice.

.

Best Regards,

David

.

P.S. not all tummy upsets are due to eating something from shared lines.

I'm totally gluten-free bake all my own bread, cakes etc, make all my own meals and still sometimes have a 'dodgy' tummy.

.

It would be handy to blame it on something else without question, but I can't, these things DO happen!!

.

[Takala]

For myself, if I were cooking it, I'd stick to Auntie Takala's home seasoned rice.

If I were serving it to somebody else, (adult) who had to be gluten free, I'd give them plain rice and let them do with it what they wanted, individual reactions vary so much.

Sometimes I eat products produced on lines that are "also used to manufacture tree nuts or peanuts," or "milk," or whatever, and I'll eat that because those things don't bother me. But I try to avoid "processed on lines that also do wheat" as much as possible.

Primary example is that yesterday, I ate some manufactured cookies made on shared lines. Now, I almost never eat cookies anyway, unless I have made them, maybe a few times a year, but these were really good, and on sale, so we had purchased several bags. They are from one of the companies that has a good reputation. And I've had this oh so slight discomfort. I don't know if bag #3 is a dud or if it was something else. I'll never know. At least I know that the cookies will magically disappear anyway because the spouse is eating them so this is not a long term temptation.

The problem is that I am not as sensitive as most, (or have learned to ignore it... because I don't take much in the way of medications) and I don't react the same way, and therefore, it is easier for me to get cross contaminated and it's therefore more difficult to pinpoint the culprit when I do. If my diet is predominantly basic plain foods, and I add in one manufactured item and my eyes start to cross the next day, then it's easier to suspect the one manufactured item. Eat a whole bunch of different processed foods and it's much more difficult to figure out what the one was which was cross contaminated.

Many of the rest of you might end up in the restroom while instead I'm having a combination of neuro symptoms and somewhere on my body some joint will start flaring or I'll stiffen up. But I can also flare a bit from overexertion, which typically wears off in several hours or overnight after a rest period. But was it the food....

There's also the risk factor- I'd be willing to guinea pig something on myself more than I'd be willing to make somebody else feel bad.

I was doing a lot of writing this past summer and I absolutely could not afford to be brain fogged some days because of how I had to concentrate and had to be coordinated- those were the days I was super disciplined because editing something while one's eyes won't focus is miserable.

If I were going to risk being cross contaminated I want it to be over something worth it. The cookies- worth it to see how I reacted. Rice? Eh, not really.

[jmjsmomma]

Thank you all for your help. I decided against the rice. I took some advice here and just made rice cooked with chicken broth and threw in some broccoli. He adored it I'm not much of a cook but am trying so I appreciate the input!

[larry mac]

I eat plain boil-n-bag rice, various brands, without problems. Also cheetos. If I had to choose, I'd pick the cheetos.

I don't worry about the "shared lines thing". So far, it's worked out for me. Then again, I'm not the mother of a five year old celiac.

best regards, lm