Is Your Local Grocery Store's Produce Department By Their Bakery?

[jackay]

I got to thinking that it would be easy to get cc from buying produce at a store that has their produce department right by their bakery.

Has that been a problem for any of you?

[Salem]

Don't you wash your fruit? I think it very unlikely, as someone would have to sprinkle gluten crumbs over the produce. I can't really think of a situation where this would happen AND where I would be unable to wash it off.

I got to thinking that it would be easy to get cc from buying produce at a store that has their produce department right by their bakery.

Has that been a problem for any of you?

[kareng]

I see people eating the sample cookies and picking produce. I rinse it off.

[jackay]

Don't you wash your fruit? I think it very unlikely, as someone would have to sprinkle gluten crumbs over the produce. I can't really think of a situation where this would happen AND where I would be unable to wash it off.

Yes, I wash my fruits and veggies. I'm concerned about flour floating through the air and getting on everything close by.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yes, I wash my fruits and veggies. I'm concerned about flour floating through the air and getting on everything close by.

As long as you are washing your fruits and veggies you should be fine. Both stores that I shop at have their produce near to the bakery and I do avoid buying cut up ready to eat items just in case. I had been getting mystery glutenings from one but it turned out to be that the employees ate lunch using the giant cutting board as a table in that store. I quit buying cut up produce there at that time but haven't an issue with the stuff I buy whole and rinse off at home.

[jackay]

As long as you are washing your fruits and veggies you should be fine. Both stores that I shop at have their produce near to the bakery and I do avoid buying cut up ready to eat items just in case. I had been getting mystery glutenings from one but it turned out to be that the employees ate lunch using the giant cutting board as a table in that store. I quit buying cut up produce there at that time but haven't an issue with the stuff I buy whole and rinse off at home.

I don't buy cut up fruits or veggies from stores or other people's houses. It's just not safe.

[dilettantesteph]

Let me qualify this by saying that I am very sensitive. I have had problems with some produce. Last winter I was sick for some time before I could figure out that it was one kind of cherry tomato. I grabbed whatever they had, and when I started to pay attention, I found that one of the three I usually got made me sick. I don't know if it was due to coatings, pesticides, employees eating their lunches while packing them or what. I always wash everything very carefully, so whatever it was didn't wash off very well. Also, I e-mailed everyone asking if they used produce coatings. Two companies e-mailed back to say that they didn't use any. The other didn't respond. It was the one that didn't respond that I couldn't eat without getting glutening like symptoms. I hope that you figure out what it getting you. It can be very difficult.

[Loey]

I didn't think about cross contamination coming from produce. I was buying items either at the supermarket (next to the bakery) or a farmer's market (where I don't know how they handle the produce). As a newcomer to this disease I'm still trying to find my triggers and I was going to try and just stick to rice, protein and fresh vegetables and see how that went. I see that I might have brought in something that was contaminated without knowing it. This is a tricky diet because we all have different triggers and are also so sensitive to cross contamination. My husband's been having bread when we go to a restaurant and maybe that's getting to me. I don't allow any food in my house that isn't gluten-free (no non gluten-free leftovers).

I'm in the middle of a terrible flare and am in pain constantly. Right now I'm waiting to hear if my insurance company approved my capsule endoscopy for Monday. Before I moved my GI made all of my testing a priority because I was bedridden for 6 weeks and needed to have results to bring with me. Initially I was feeling better but feel like I'm back at square one. My new GI says that I must be eating something that has gluten in it but I've been extremely careful. I'm planning on eliminating dairy for now as well. I just want to feel better.

I really appreciate the support I've gotten from you and everyone else here. Hopefully I'll be able to help others.

Loey

[dilettantesteph]

I would skip the restaurants at least for now. Or, you could bring your own food and let your husband order. I am very sensitive and had to give up restaurants because I basically got sick every time, no matter how carefully I explained things or how much the restaurant was recommended. I need a gluten free household for my own kitchen to be safe, how can I expect otherwise from a restaurant?