Hannaford Peanut Butter?

[Guest BERNESES]

Has anyone ever had a problem with Hannaford brand peanut butter (creamy). Nothing on the ingredient list suggests gluten but I am so sick and it's the one thing I have been eating for several days in a row now. I normally use Jif but I got cheap because the label was OK- peanuts, sugar, fully hydrogenated vegetable oils (rapeseed, cottonseed, and soybean, salt and corn syrup. I can't find it on any gluten-free lists. What am I missing here? Help! I haven't been this sick in a LONG time. Beverloy

[tarnalberry]

You may want to call the company - it may not be a gluten problem at all. Aflotoxin in peanut butter is a concern if the plant is not up to par as well as testing for it.

[lovegrov]

Unless there's some sort of contamination problem, peanut butter simply doesn't have gluten.

richard

[specialdiets]

I agree that I haven't yet encountered a peanut butter that contained gluten. But there is always chances for cross contamination.

The comment on aflatoxin may be relevant.

Here is what I found:

Aflatoxin

Definition:

Aflatoxins are toxins produced by a mold that grows in nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Function:

Although aflatoxins are known to cause cancer in animals, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) allows them at low levels because they are considered "unavoidable contaminants" of these foods.

The FDA believes the occasional consumption of small amounts of aflatoxin pose little risk over a lifetime. It is not practical to attempt to remove aflatoxin from food products in order to make them safer.

Although I did read that most peanut butters are checked for this problem. I would definitely contact the company if I thought that the PB made me sick and report it, as well as confirm its status.

Sunni

[Guest BERNESES]

Thanks everyone- i called the comapny and it IS gluten-free. I think what happened was related to house/dogsitting. The dog treats were FULL of gluten (what dog do you know that grazes in a wheat field? ) and I was washing my hands but apparently it wasn't enough. I've also been cooking with someone else's utensils and even though I washed everything when I got here, I'm sure there was residue. Certainly learned an important lesson. Thanks for the info about aflatoxin. Good to know. Beverly