"made On Equipment Shared With Wheat..."

[Merika]

I've noticed products now listing more info on the eight common allergens, I assume in anticipation of new labeling laws.

I bought a Trader Joe's chocolate bar that appears gluten-free. Under the ingredients listing it says "Made on equipment shared with wheat, nuts, etc etc".

Previously, it wouldn't have said this, and I would have eaten the chocolate. What do you all do when you come across this? I try to be very gluten-free, but there's some risk involved in eating anything anywhere unless it's made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.

Would you eat it?

Merika

[KaitiUSA]

Most of the mainstream brands are made in at least facilities that make wheat. I personally eat products made on the same lines. To cut out all those brands I do not think there would be a large selection of foods to choose from. I mean even brands like Amy's are made where wheat is processed. I think it is ok to eat gluten free products that were processed on machines that were washed in between.

[lbsteenwyk]

I think this is a CYA statement. Manufacturers have to follow certain standards to clean their machines between batches. I think there is a risk, but it's probably very small.

[tarnalberry]

I'll eat these products, but I'll be cautious, and keep in mind what type of product it is.

[kvogt]

If you have an IgE mediated food allergy to wheat (i.e. resulting in anaphalaxis) you should not eat anything that is not processed on a dedicated line.

If you have celiac disease (IgA, IgE mediated "intolerance") you go with your gut whether to eat or not.

Personally, I'm not that sensitive... I'd eat it.

[Katydid]

I found your post very interesting....at least we're getting some cross contamination attention too.

My husband has always loved grits and used to eat them in restaurants with no problems. We started fixing Quaker at home and he got along fine. Then one time they seemed to bother him, tried again and still bothered him.

This prompted a call to the company who said they could not guarantee them to be gluten free because of the machinery. The representative said if his box was in the first batch through, they probably were contaminated; but if his box was batched towards the end of the cycle when the machinery was cleansed by the corn itself, he was probably ok.

So he doesn't eat grits.