"gluten Free" Pasta @ Restaurant?

[summerteeth]

My fiance, my sister, and I decided we were going to order food out on Saturday. I don't usually do this because I am very weary of getting glutened, but we decided to celebrate because my sister was in town. The restaurant we ordered from boasted "gluten free garlic pasta and gluten free mostacoli in red sauce" (I saw this on my area's celiac support group's website).

So I ordered the mostacoli in red sauce (fiance and sister shared a regular gluten-filled pizza - fiance doesn't get to eat that too often). I ate it Saturday evening and immediately got sleepy. So I went to bed, woke up yesterday (Sunday) and was horribly irritable all day and had the D. I got a headache in the late afternoon and went to bed about an hour earlier than usually. I wake up this morning, and I have the worst brain fog, chills, migraine, and have the ever lovely bloat.

I have been gluten free for just under a year. I have been unintentionally glutened a handful of times in the last year - I know how this goes.

But my question is do I call this restaurant and ask? Or should I just assume this was self-inflicted (I tend to eat pretty clean and don't really buy gluten free goodies - I like fruits, veggies, and plain meats mostly - but a girl has got to splurge once and a while )

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

- Monica

[hannahp57]

i know this may seem obvious... but:

When you called did you confirm that it was indeed a gluten free pasta that you were ordering? if so, then yes i would call because they did something wrong and they should know before it happens to someone else. you could also inquire aboutn the handling, cooking, delivery etc. where cross contamination is VERY likely

[summerteeth]

i know this may seem obvious... but:

When you called did you confirm that it was indeed a gluten free pasta that you were ordering? if so, then yes i would call because they did something wrong and they should know before it happens to someone else. you could also inquire aboutn the handling, cooking, delivery etc. where cross contamination is VERY likely

Yes, when I called I told the lady who answered I had celiac disease and it was very important that I got the gluten free pasta. She told me that I had the option of a salad as a side. I asked her which dressings were gluten free and she was unsure, so I said no side was necessary.

[Jana315]

That is really disappointing, I'm sure. You should call them if you feel comfortable. You know, it could be something as simple as not using fresh water to boil the pasta. People who aren't sensitive themselves have a really hard time understanding cross contamination and how careful you have to be when preparing foods. I hope you feel better soon.

[brigala]

I definitely think it would be best to call them. Approach with the attitude of, "here's a problem, how can I help you serve your customers better?" I mean, if they go to the trouble to stock gluten-free pasta, they obviously WANT to provide for their gluten-free customers. They may not even realize that there are people for whom this isn't just a nutritional choice, but a serious medical issue. I would ask to talk to the manager and not even bother with anybody else. Maybe if you have a local gluten-free support group you could see whether others have had problems or whether this was just a fluke with someone screwing up your order.

-Elizabeth