What About The Chicken With Rice Soup?

[catsmeow]

I do not know what was wrong with me the other day, and now, but I could not answer this question very well when I was asked this by my Mother in law at a restaurant. I stumbled and fumbled about ingredients and cross contamination, but just could not spit out a logical, to the point, short, convincing reason as to why I cannot just order the chicken with rice soup. I felt so defeated on this day. This restaurant had no gluten-free menu, no clue about gluten-free, and I had a hard time explaining to the extended family and the waiter that I could not eat there. I had coffee, but then saw someone elses baked potato and ordered one, it was wrapped in foil and looked safe, and I did not eat the skin. The waiter was kind enough to get new sour cream and butter from the source, instead of the common area where everyone was helping themselves. He also read the ingredients for me. I usually am prepared when we go out, but I wasn't this time. We had been showing the In-laws around town and got hungry. I was out of snacks and ideas.

Please help me out, how do you answer this question in very few words, logical, to the point and convincingly? Thanks.

Question: Why can't you just eat the chicken with rice soup? There shouldn't be anything in it that would make you sick.

[ravenwoodglass]

Many soup companies use wheat as a thickener in all their soups. A quick look at the back of any Campbells or most store brand soups will confirm this. If the restaurant makes their own then the soup base or broth may also have gluten. There are some places where it might be safe but when in doubt you did the right thing by not ordering it.

[Juliebove]

If you make your own chicken and rice soup it should be safe. You know what you put in it. If you get it in a restaurant I can almost guarantee you it will not be safe! They will most likely use a soup base that has wheat in it. I have asked at every restaurant that has had it on the menu and it is never safe. Some restaurants sell Campbell's and it's not safe. And even if they used safe ingredients, it could still contain cross contamination. Most likely it will contain some butter for richness and they could have used that butter on bread.

[Katrala]

I typically tell people that my food can't come into any contact with wheat, rye, or barley and even the smallest crumb can cause damage. I usually say that it's just not worth the risk to me.

I also say that many companies use wheat, rye, and/or barley in many different products for different reasons and if I can't verify that it's not in there, then I don't risk it.

[catsmeow]

Thanks everyone.

I'm at the end of my tether right now. I also have a fragrance allergy and have been reacting for 4 days to the smell of my in-laws laundry detergent and fabric softener....so perfumey!! Finally, today, I actually had to use an inhaler, and am hiding in my bedroom. My husband has them all rewashing their clothes in my fragrance free soap. I'm so sick right now. I have hives on my arms; I thought I was going to go into anaphylactic shock. My lungs were hurting so bad. It's starting to break up now though; I'm coughing up a lot of liquidy stuff. I have joint pain, especially my back and neck, and I am exhausted from reacting. I am sure my In-laws think I am nuts by now, even though my husband has been doing his best to explain it to them. They are at the age of really not understanding this new stuff though. SIGH.....I'll bet they never come back and visit us again. I am in my room and I am just so upset by everything. On top of all of that, they have to eat gluten-free, as my home is totally gluten free. So far, they love everything. I made lemon squares, a double batch yesterday and they are already gone. My MIL wants the recipe. They love the Udi's gluten-free bread. I buy the 2 pound loaves from Jason's deli, so they are normal sized, not Barbie sized slices. I've made crunchy oat chicken, mashed potatoes, a 7 bone roast, lots of eggs with homemade sausage, and more stuff. Like I said, they have loved my food so far. This makes me happy, but the fragrance thing needs fixing. The washing machine is running as I type. I'm hoping things go better after that. I just wish I had not burst out crying. I get mood swings when reacting, and this reaction brought on tears. I am embarrassed right now.

I take Zantac which is a histamine 2 blocker, it works for airborne wheat, but not fragrances, I sure wish it worked on fragrances too....

[bartfull]

I'm so sorry you're sick, and on Christmas too, when you should be enjoying your family!

I understand completely about the fragrance thing. I have a touch of asthma, and certain scents set me off. Those horrible dryer sheets are one of the worst offenders. I used to work as a cashier at a store that sold them, and I would have to hold out a bag and have the customer drop them in. Then I would twist the bag closed and scan them through the bag. On days when I sold a lot of them I would be so wheezed up I would have to sleep in my recliner just so I could breathe.

I wish there were a law that could keep people from dumping a whole bottle of perfume on themselves and inflicting it on folks like us. It's bad enough we have to deal with food problems without having to put up with assaults on our lungs too.

I hope rewashing the clothes does the trick. Don't worry about crying. They can see the hives and hear you wheezing- they'd probably be crying too!

((((HUGS))))

[catsmeow]

  On 12/24/2011 at 10:33 PM, bartfull said:

I'm so sorry you're sick, and on Christmas too, when you should be enjoying your family!

I understand completely about the fragrance thing. I have a touch of asthma, and certain scents set me off. Those horrible dryer sheets are one of the worst offenders. I used to work as a cashier at a store that sold them, and I would have to hold out a bag and have the customer drop them in. Then I would twist the bag closed and scan them through the bag. On days when I sold a lot of them I would be so wheezed up I would have to sleep in my recliner just so I could breathe.

I wish there were a law that could keep people from dumping a whole bottle of perfume on themselves and inflicting it on folks like us. It's bad enough we have to deal with food problems without having to put up with assaults on our lungs too.

I hope rewashing the clothes does the trick. Don't worry about crying. They can see the hives and hear you wheezing- they'd probably be crying too!

((((HUGS))))

You have no idea how much better you made me feel. Thank you. I am wearing a mask, and no longer hiding in my room. The clothes are still washing. The Inlaws are not treating me like I am crazy, in fact they said sorry for bringing the perfumey clothes into our house when they knew I had a perfume allergy. They were hoping they would fly under the radar and it wouldn't be noticed......sigh......they were hoping I wouldn't react. They said they would never do that again...

[psawyer]

  On 12/24/2011 at 9:04 PM, Juliebove said:

Some restaurants sell Campbell's and it's not safe.

OT comment: That depends on where you are. In Canada, Campbell's Chicken with Rice soup is gluten-free, and is so labeled. There are major differences between the Canadian and American products of Campbell's.

[Marilyn R]

I'm pretty stern. I have stopped all but single visitors. (I'm lucky because we have a small house.) I live in a destination area, so this comes up frequently. I feel bad when I suggest the various hotels here and don't offer our home, but I don't get sick by the stuff they would cc me with and can have a good time when family or friends visit. My DP's family laughs about who I allow and don't allow. I'm okay with that.

[catsmeow]

  On 12/25/2011 at 1:55 AM, Marilyn R said:

I'm pretty stern. I have stopped all but single visitors. (I'm lucky because we have a small house.) I live in a destination area, so this comes up frequently. I feel bad when I suggest the various hotels here and don't offer our home, but I don't get sick by the stuff they would cc me with and can have a good time when family or friends visit. My DP's family laughs about who I allow and don't allow. I'm okay with that.

I also live in a destination/touristy area and have been suffering with countless guests in the winter since we moved here a few years ago. It's been very difficult. My husband and I decided today that guests will now have a list of rules they must follow, or they stay at a hotel. They must not bring wheat into the house, must not wear anything with fragrance, to include their underarm deoderant, they must pre-wash their clothes in fragrance free soap, absolutely no hair spray in my house, and they must not expect us to go to all the tourist spots we have been to a hundred times, it gets expensive.

[catsmeow]

  On 12/25/2011 at 1:37 AM, psawyer said:

OT comment: That depends on where you are. In Canada, Campbell's Chicken with Rice soup is gluten-free, and is so labeled. There are major differences between the Canadian and American products of Campbell's.

That is interesting to know. I wish U.S. Campbells would do more gluten-free soups.

[catsmeow]

  On 12/24/2011 at 9:22 PM, Katrala said:

I typically tell people that my food can't come into any contact with wheat, rye, or barley and even the smallest crumb can cause damage. I usually say that it's just not worth the risk to me.

I also say that many companies use wheat, rye, and/or barley in many different products for different reasons and if I can't verify that it's not in there, then I don't risk it.

Great answer! Thank you. I do not know why I could not stand up for myself on this day. I was outnumbered with strong willed know it alls, maybe that's why.

[Juliebove]

  On 12/25/2011 at 1:37 AM, psawyer said:

OT comment: That depends on where you are. In Canada, Campbell's Chicken with Rice soup is gluten-free, and is so labeled. There are major differences between the Canadian and American products of Campbell's.

That's true.

[Marilyn R]

  On 12/25/2011 at 2:25 AM, catsmeow said:

I also live in a destination/touristy area and have been suffering with countless guests in the winter since we moved here a few years ago. It's been very difficult. My husband and I decided today that guests will now have a list of rules they must follow, or they stay at a hotel. They must not bring wheat into the house, must not wear anything with fragrance, to include their underarm deoderant, they must pre-wash their clothes in fragrance free soap, absolutely no hair spray in my house, and they must not expect us to go to all the tourist spots we have been to a hundred times, it gets expensive.

I feel like I need to warn you. The first few times it it tough to set up parameters or refuse guests of friends and family.

Now that you and hubby set up your parameters you should probably put them in writing in a letter format (cheerfully) that spells it out and after discussing those issues on the phone with your visitors, send them a letter. Some people get it with a conversation. Some people absorb infomation better when they read it. Everybody retains it better when they receive the information both orally and in writing. It's not that we're mean or unhospitable, it's just that we're sick of being sick!

[catsmeow]

  On 1/2/2012 at 2:28 AM, Marilyn R said:

I feel like I need to warn you. The first few times it it tough to set up parameters or refuse guests of friends and family.

Now that you and hubby set up your parameters you should probably put them in writing in a letter format (cheerfully) that spells it out and after discussing those issues on the phone with your visitors, send them a letter. Some people get it with a conversation. Some people absorb infomation better when they read it. Everybody retains it better when they receive the information both orally and in writing. It's not that we're mean or unhospitable, it's just that we're sick of being sick!

I've been thinking a lot about this and can see that it will be hard. Thanks for the tips, I needed them.

[lovegrov]

I think you were perfectly safe ordering the baked potato. Soups absolutely have to be avoided until they prove that they are gluten-free. I was amazed to find that several of McAlister's soups are gluten-free.

richard