Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Word Of Caution At Pf Changs

CaraLouise

By CaraLouise
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

CaraLouise Explorer
CaraLouise
Posted

Hello friends! I recently dined out at the PF Changs in Allen, TX. I ordered the Buddha's Feast and I ate most of it before I found out I was served one not gluten free! I have been served a stir-fried one before and I knew that was not gluten free, however this one had tofu. Now I have been served one with tofu, but last night I did not eat any since I particularly don't like it. The manager noticed that I had pushed it to the side and rushed over to apologize to say that it should never have tofu. None of the items at PF Changs with tofu should be gluten free. I was shocked!!!! I was thinking well at least I didn't eat it, but look at all the cross-contamination. The manager did pay for my parties meal and give free dessert (which I partook of), I mean if I am going to be sick I might as well have chocolate beforehand. Needless to say I have not been feeling good for two days, from something I had eaten. Anyway, I just wanted to give everyone a head's up because this was something that I was completely unaware of!!!!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kledford Rookie
kledford
Posted

I don't understand why PF Changs has to use tofu with gluten/wheat in it...if they try so hard to offer gluten-free items why not switch over toGF soy sauce and gluten-free tofu and not worry about having to stock 2 items or worry if someone gets it by accident....it would also allow more items for people that already have a limited selection....just my opinion!

wheeleezdryver Community Regular
wheeleezdryver
Posted

I don't understand why PF Changs has to use tofu with gluten/wheat in it...if they try so hard to offer gluten-free items why not switch over toGF soy sauce and gluten-free tofu and not worry about having to stock 2 items or worry if someone gets it by accident....it would also allow more items for people that already have a limited selection....just my opinion!

Totally agree with you on that!!

I've only been to PF Chang's once (mainly b/c it's on the other side of the city & when I'm there, I don't usually have time to stop at a restraunt, even if it's to pick up take out (for the particular area our PF Chang's is in, being as it's downtown, it would mean parking my car elsewhere & walking)... and that time, we were ordering it to go/ take out, my husband and I ordered ALL our stuff off the gluten- free menu, and when they brought it out, told me there was soy sauce... luckily I had the presence of mind to ask if it was the gluten- free soy sauce (I mean, gee whiz, everything we ordered was gluten- free-- and labelled thus!), he wasn't sure, but didn't think it was, so went back and got me some that was from their gluten- free stash!

So, yeah, I totally agree... I don't see why both their tofu and their soy sauce couldn't be totally gluten free...

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

We don't have PF Changs here, but I will offer a comment that may be relevant. There have been some reports here of sushi bars that made gluten-free soy sauce their only soy sauce. Apparently ordinary customers didn't like it as well as the wheat-loaded version.

TB4me2000 Newbie
TB4me2000
Posted

The gluten-free soy sauce I've had isn't nearly as good as I remember "normal" soy sauce being. If I didn't have to go gluten-free, I don't think I'd be happy with it.

Also, not sure what PF Changs does to their tofu to make it not gluten-free, but none of their gluten-free dishes contain tofu (that I noticed on the menu, anyway), so if you see tofu on your gluten-free plate, there's probably something wrong.

brendygirl Community Regular
brendygirl
Posted

I've had exceptionally wonderful gluten free dining at P.F. Chang's for years, all over the U.S., from Hawaii to Florida, Louisiana to D.C. since 2005!

What makes me feel so at ease is that they bring it on a special plate, signifying to the staff that it is gluten-free. From what I recall the plate is round with writiing around the edge of it. I am highly sensitive to the slightest cc and have never been sick from their food.

In fact, I've had so much luck there, that I recommend to other restaurants (especially after one manager ran to my table and grabbed my spaghetti away before I could eat it) that they use a visibly different plate to draw attention to specially prepared, non-allergen meals.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I have been going to Pei Wei. They are the faster food version of PF Changs. They only have a few gluten-free items but they are good. They bring them out to your table special. No one who works there or PF Changs acts like they don't know what you are talking about. My hub likes to go. I can get a glass of wine, he gets a beer.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

We don't have PF Changs here, but I will offer a comment that may be relevant. There have been some reports here of sushi bars that made gluten-free soy sauce their only soy sauce. Apparently ordinary customers didn't like it as well as the wheat-loaded version.

I never liked La Choy as well as other soy sauces. If that's what the sushi bar switched to I can see the issue. I do like San J tamari as well as others.

Sorry to hear about P.F. Chang's and thanks for the warning.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Peter is right. A local Japanese restaurant went to all gluten-free soy sauce once without telling folks, and the owner immediately started getting complaints that their food didn't taste the same and wasn't as good. This was from regular customers who has no idea the soy sauce had been changed. The owner and the chef both think San J gluten-free tamari is a good, quality product, but it still isn't the same.

richard

CaraLouise Explorer
CaraLouise
Posted
  • Author

I know, the problem is when they bring it out on the special plate and it is still wrong! Still I love both PF Changs and Pei Wei, although I wish PF Changs had spring rolls and Pei Wei chicken lettuce wraps. What an interesting conversation about the soy sauces too!

I've had exceptionally wonderful gluten free dining at P.F. Chang's for years, all over the U.S., from Hawaii to Florida, Louisiana to D.C. since 2005!

What makes me feel so at ease is that they bring it on a special plate, signifying to the staff that it is gluten-free. From what I recall the plate is round with writiing around the edge of it. I am highly sensitive to the slightest cc and have never been sick from their food.

In fact, I've had so much luck there, that I recommend to other restaurants (especially after one manager ran to my table and grabbed my spaghetti away before I could eat it) that they use a visibly different plate to draw attention to specially prepared, non-allergen meals.

Ev7777 Apprentice
Ev7777
Posted

Thank you for the inf. I'll have to be especially vigilant since I take my nephew there a lot. If they were to mess up his order, I'd never notice since he would probably not say a word and just eat it (he's 8 years old). Then the poor thing would have to suffer the consequences later. Luckily I know exactly what his favorite dessert looks like, (gluten-free FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE DOME) because he orders it every single time we go!

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

I like the San- J wheat free tamari much better than regular soy sauce.

But now I don't like soy sauce on sushi at all. I guess I'm evolving.

American food manufacturing seems to be de - evolving. Why would anyone put wheat into tofu, anyway ? Are they having some sort of contest to see the most absurd place they can hide gluten where it wouldn't be expected ? Do they get assigned several tons a year to infiltrate into normal food ?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.