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Whole Foods Warning

drea

By drea
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

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drea Rookie
drea
Posted

Whole Foods is usally the only place I feel safe eating at. I usually eat lunch or dinner there after going to doctor appointments since it is right down the street from the office. They label the ingredients in their prepared foods, so I thought it was safe. However, I became ill after eating there yesterday. I ate the boneless buffalo chicken thighs, which the label didn't list anything unsafe. I called them today and asked if there was wheat in the chicken and explained my situation. Turns out there is flour in them. I am very angry and plan on taking this problem to the head person of Whole Foods. The Whole Foods I go to is in Marlton, NJ. I just wanted to tell everyone of my experience and to be careful at Whole Foods.

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terri Contributor
terri
Posted

I am sorry you got sick. I don't believe it is a good idea to ever eat prepared food at any Supermarket or airport or wherever as you don't know the conditions under which it was prepared. It is different than ordering in a restaurant where you tell them to be careful and avoid cross contamination. That is why Whole Foods has a list and a pamplet of their gluten free food and why some items that read gluten free are not on the list. Anytime they prepare or sell food that was subject to cross contamination, they leave it off their list. That is why their freshly prepared foods don't appear on their gluten-free list but many of their frozen foods do. I wouldn't be so quick to report one of the few grocery stores that goes out of its' way to help the Celiac community.

Hope you feel better soon.

jknnej Collaborator
jknnej
Posted

Yeah, I agree. I would love to eat the prepared foods at our Whole Foods, but we don't really know how it was prepared, so it's not safe.

It sucks b/c it would be really easy and convenient to eat there, but it's at your own risk if you do....

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

the only prepared thing I get at Whole Foods is their "naked" rotisserie chicken. But even that has made me ill on occassion (probably drippage from glutened seasonings used on the other flavors of chicken)...

skbird Contributor
skbird
Posted

I usually get a sushi roll and then go get a little salad dressing cup of the Braggs liquid aminos (in the salad bar) and chuck out the soy sauce that comes with it. I've not had a problem - done this three times now at two different Whole FOods. I also have gotten salad at the salad bar (I know, risky) and no problems.

Sounds like a bummer of an experience. I could see sending a nicely worded comment letter about your experience, but I don't think it would benefit to let them have it - encouragement is what stores like Whole Foods needs.

Stephanie

  • 2 weeks later...
lpellegr Collaborator
lpellegr
Posted

I have also noticed that the little brochure of gluten-free foods that Whole Foods has available is not 100% accurate! Use it as a guide, but make sure to read labels.

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