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

Do You Worry About Restaurants That Claim Gluten Free Meals ? M)

carecare

Recommended Posts

carecare Enthusiast
carecare
Posted

We had a busy day and I decided to take my son to his first restaurant since going gluten free at the end of July. We went to Happy Joes where they make a gluten free pizza. It was actually really good. Unfortunately, I was the one who got sick that night...and spent the evening in the bathroom. Two days later my son had some mouth sores but he also ate the rice crispies that were not labeled gluten free. I thought I had gotten rid of all the gluten foods in the house. The one and only item I forgot to give away was the rice crispies. I did have a box of the ones labeled gluten free but for some reason I neglected to rid the house of the regular rice crispies. That evening he had a couple mouth sores.

Now I am not sure his sores came from the cereal or the pizza place 2 days prior. I am going to call and ask the pizza place what precautions they take in order to make the gluten free claim. I can imagine the chance of cross contamination is very high in a pizza place that deals with regular flour.

CC

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Hawthorn Rookie
Hawthorn
Posted

I worry, enough that I've never eaten/drank out since realising the gluten problem. That said, I am stupidly sensitive. The food may be gluten free, but are the hands that are touching stuff. That would pose a problem to me sadly, since I loved eating out.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

Although I do not eat out often, when I do I ALWAYS call in advance to speak to the chef about my needs. If I am not satisifed with the answers I do not eat there. I do not think I would ever feel safe eating at a fast food place or chain, though, as they do not have chefs. The higher-end places use far less flour, etc. because sauces are reduced rather than thickened with flour. But since you have kids these places are not as feasible. Going to a place where pizza (even gluten-free pizza) is served would not work for me just because the likelihood of CC is much higher. I made that mistake just once - friends begged me to go to Boston Pizza for gluten-free pizza. Normally I do not even like BP but that was when I was newly diagnosed, desperate and new to CC so foolishly I went. Well, I discovered later that they used the same pans and prep area they used for regular pizza. I did not get sick (I never did get sick from eating gluten) but the end result would be the same to my poor little villi. :(

StephanieL Enthusiast
StephanieL
Posted

We have a pretty extensive list of actual food allergies on top of Celiac. My DS (who is 4) has never eaten out. Ever. I am not sure I will ever feel comfortable with it.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Now I am not sure his sores came from the cereal or the pizza place 2 days prior. I am going to call and ask the pizza place what precautions they take in order to make the gluten free claim. I can imagine the chance of cross contamination is very high in a pizza place that deals with regular flour.

CC

When I eat out I try to ask those questions before hand. There is no question that your son got glutened from the non-gluten-free Rice Krispies. Whether he also got it from the restaurant is hard to guess. It's possible though. Good gluten-free pizza places will use premade crust, prep the crust in a differnt room from where the regular crusts are made, have ingredients set aside that are used only to top the gluten-free pizza and bake on foil or dedicated pans. If their answers to your questions are reassuring then I would give them another chance. But do ask all those same questions you put in email AGAIN in the restaurant so that your server is more aware that they need to be extra careful.

Ellers Newbie
Ellers
Posted

I'm very wary. A lot of places have no idea about cross-contamination so while the actual ingredients might be gluten-free, the prep area or utensils might not be.

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

I agree about eating at a pizza place. Before my daughter went gluten free I took her to a pizza place and I just ordered a salad. (I was gluten free then). My lymph nodes were so swollen after that and I could tell I was glutened.

I really only eat out when I travel, or on a date with my husband. We have safe restaurants that we stick to. Our new fast food restaurant on the road is Outback (hence...$$$$ never eating out except when we have to for that reason too)

I also agree with L2T's approach about calling the restaurant ahead of time and feeling like you are heard before you go. Plus, it's just hard now for me to trust people who don't really understand what it means to be gluten free, and that we are not just some part of a fad diet.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


maximoo Enthusiast
maximoo
Posted

Chilis has a gluten-free menu & i've taken my celiac kids there quite a few times . However my kids do not have gastro symptoms so if they were cc'd I wld never know it. When they go for a blood test in Nov. I 'll see how well we are doing trying to live gluten-free. We haven't been to a gluten-free pizza place yet. Chcik Fila grilled chkn breast & waffle fries are pretty safe as is Pollo tropical grilled chicken/rice. However I know c c can exist anywhere I'm sure gastro sensitive ppl are as vigilent as possible.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,141
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    KP009
    Newest Member
    KP009
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

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



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By trents · Posted

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      Tamale ingredients

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
    • Sarah Grace
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By Sarah Grace · Posted

      Dear Kitty Since March I have been following your recommendations regarding vitamins to assist with various issues that I have been experiencing.  To recap, I am aged 68 and was late diagnosed with Celiac about 12 years ago.  I had been experiencing terrible early morning headaches which I had self diagnosed as hypoglycaemia.  I also mentioned that I had issues with insomnia, vertigo and brain fog.   It's now one year since I started on the Benfotiamine 600 mg/day.  I am still experiencing the hypoglycaemia and it's not really possible to say for sure whether the Benfotiamine is helpful.  In March this year, I added B-Complex Thiamine Hydrochloride and Magnesium L-Threonate on a daily basis, and I am now confident to report that the insomnia and vertigo and brain fog have all improved!!  So, very many thanks for your very helpful advice. I am now less confident that the early morning headaches are caused by hypoglycaemia, as even foods with a zero a GI rating (cheese, nuts, etc) can cause really server headaches, which sometimes require migraine medication in order to get rid off.  If you are able to suggest any other treatment I would definitely give it a try, as these headaches are a terrible burden.  Doctors in the UK have very limited knowledge concerning dietary issues, and I do not know how to get reliable advice from them. Best regards,
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
×
×
  • 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.