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. Scott Adams
      0

      Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Swirl Brownies

    2. Mari
      - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Related issues

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate...
    3. MogwaiStripe
      - MogwaiStripe replied to annamarie6655's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Airborne Gluten?

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Midwestern's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      16

      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes. HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc. Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to annamarie6655's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Airborne Gluten?

      Hello, @annamarie6655, Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten! Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten. I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store. The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions. I find the histamine release...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,248
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tc clark
    Newest Member
    Tc clark
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Mari
      Related issues

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years  ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate this low tTG and still have celiac disease. Normal tTG can happen when a person had been reacting for many years. Another way is that the person has not been eating enough gluten to raise the antibody level. Another reason is that the tTG does not show up on a blood but may show up on a fecal test. Almost all Celiacs inherit at least one of the 2 main Celiac genes. I had genetic tests for the Celiac genes at Enterolab.com. I inherited one main Celiac gene from one parent and the report said that the DQ gene I inherited from my other parent, DQ6, could cause a person to have more problems or symptoms with that combination. One of my grandmother's had fairly typical symptoms of Celiacs but the other grandmother had severe food intolerances. I seem to show some problems inherited from both grandmothers. Human physiology is very complex and researchers are just beginning to understand how different body systems interact.  If you have taken an autosomal DNA test you can download your raw data file and upload it to Prometheuw.com for a small fee and search for Celiac Disease. If you don't find any Cekiac genes or information about Celiac disease  you may not have autoimmune gluten intolerance because more than 99% of Celiacs have one or both of these genes.  PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW EHAT i HAVE DONE TO HELP WITH SYMPTOMS.  
    • MogwaiStripe
      Airborne Gluten?

      By MogwaiStripe · Posted

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks without getting my head and shoulders inside their cages, and so the particles from their food would be all over my hair and top of my shirt. Then I had to drive home, so even if I didn't get glutened right then, the particles would be in my car just waiting for me to get in the car so they could get blown into my face again. I gave up that volunteer gig and stopped getting glutened so often and at such regular intervals.
    • knitty kitty
      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine.  Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes.  HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc.  Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a toggle switch on the gene which in turn activates autoimmune diseases carried on the gene.  The reference to the study is in my blog somewhere.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll down to the drop down menu "Activities" and click on blogs.  
    • knitty kitty
      Airborne Gluten?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @annamarie6655, Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten!   Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten.  I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store.   The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions.   I find the histamine release in response to airborne gluten will stuff up my sinuses and bother my eyes.  High histamine levels do cause anxiety and migraines.  The muscle spasms can be caused by high histamine, too.  The digestive system may not manifest symptoms without a higher level of gluten exposure.   Our bodies make an enzyme, DAO (diamine oxidase), to break down histamine.   Pyridoxine B 6, Cobalamine B12, Vitamin C, copper, zinc, and iron are needed to make DAO.  DAO supplements are available over the counter.  Taking a B Complex supplement and additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) helps reduce the amount of histamine being released.  Mast cells without sufficient Thiamine have an itchy trigger finger and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine helps mast cells refrain from releasing their histamine.    I find taking additional TTFD thiamine helps immensely with neurological symptoms as TTFD can easily cross the blood brain barrier without a carrier.  High histamine in the brain can cause the muscle spasms, anxiety and migraines.  Vitamin C really helps with clearing histamine, too.   The Digiorno pizza mystery reaction could have been caused by a reaction to the cheese.  Some people develop lactose intolerance.  Others react to Casein, the protein in dairy, the same as if to gluten because Casein resembles the molecular structure of gluten.  An enzyme used in some dairy products, microbial transglutaminase, causes a gluten reaction because it is the same as the tissue transglutaminase our bodies make except microbes make it.  Those tTg IgA blood tests to diagnose celiac disease measure tissue transglutaminase our bodies release as part of the autoimmune response to gluten.   You're doing great!  A Sherlock Holmes award to you for figuring out the connection between airborne gluten and animal feed!!!  
    • Scott Adams
      Guinness, can you drink it?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This article may be helpful:  
×
×
  • 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.