Pop Chips Gluten Free? Bad Reaction.

[Kippen]

Hi,all--

Celiac husband ate PopChips (listed as gluten-free on package)for lunch and had a brutal celiac reaction. With the chips he ate leftover homemade gluten-free pizza crust with Canadian bacon, cheese, and mushrooms and a Mexican coke. We do not think he had a reaction to the pizza since he had it the night before with no reaction. So we think it is the chips. Has anyone had any problems with PopChips? Could he be sensitive to another ingredient in the PopChips?

And here is another question - husband cannot eat after about 4pm otherwise he feels icky. Stomach just feels off. He states that as long as he just eats vegetables (maybe with some sliced turkey, etc. on salad) and fruit all day, he is fine. Has anyone else had this problem? Thoughts?

Thanks so much for any advice or thoughts, we are feeling a bit overwhelmed.

[Lisa]

I'm not familiar with that brand. If he is just beginning the diet, all foods can be bothersome until some healing takes place, gluten free or not.

It took me about six months to become healthier, for me to experience a specific reaction to gluten in something I ate.

I would suggest a simple diet of natural/whole foods for a while and add additions one at a time. And limit dairy products for about a month, then try it again.

Also, until he is healthier, that mid day bloating is not uncommon.

[ciamarie]

I had a bad reaction to Pop Chips too, though I was very new to eating gluten-free at the time. I noticed they were very salty, so it may be the salt and the low iodine diet on thyca (for those of us with DH) says to avoid salty foods since they may use iodized salt.

However, I think it's possible in my case that it's more of an MSG reaction. Whether they're actually allowed to have undeclared MSG in salt, I think they're not. However, I also reacted to Ruffles potato chips a week ago, and found this disclaimer on their web site at the bottom of Open Original Shared Link (which included Ruffles):

The above products do not contain MSG; however, they are produced on the same line as our products that do contain MSG. Although the lines are washed between batches, a slight residue may remain on the line. Individuals who are extremely sensitive may be affected.

[Kippen]

I'm not familiar with that brand. If he is just beginning the diet, all foods can be bothersome until some healing takes place, gluten free or not.

It took me about six months to become healthier, for me to experience a specific reaction to gluten in something I ate.

I would suggest a simple diet of natural/whole foods for a while and add additions one at a time. And limit dairy products for about a month, then try it again.

Also, until he is healthier, that mid day bloating is not uncommon.

Thanks for the info, Lisa. You have a point about natural/whole foods. I think we need to pay more attention to that. As long as he sticks with unprocessed foods, he seems ok. But then again, we can have an evening dinner of baked salmon, brown rice, salad, and he feels icky that evening/through the night.

So, here is what is strange: Husband was diagnosed with Celiac two years ago and we immediately began getting rid of everything gluten in his diet. He felt great. Able to eat anytime of day. No intestinal/stomach issues, headaches, etc. But about five months ago he started to say that he could not eat after late afternoon because he felt icky. And icky seems to mean his stomach is "off" and he feel like he has to poo all night. (He is not comfortable talking about his issues so I am dragging it out of him bit by bit.) His diet has not changed but he is beginning to sound like he did pre-Celiac diagnosis -- unable to eat after late afternoon. It seems that something is changing in his body -- maybe other allergies? Intolerances? I think it might be time for more testing. If so, which doctor does one go to? Should it be Celiac specialists?

[Kippen]

I had a bad reaction to Pop Chips too, though I was very new to eating gluten-free at the time. I noticed they were very salty, so it may be the salt and the low iodine diet on thyca (for those of us with DH) says to avoid salty foods since they may use iodized salt.

However, I think it's possible in my case that it's more of an MSG reaction. Whether they're actually allowed to have undeclared MSG in salt, I think they're not. However, I also reacted to Ruffles potato chips a week ago, and found this disclaimer on their web site at the bottom of Open Original Shared Link (which included Ruffles):

Oh, interesting, Ciamarie. I never thought about MSG as a possible issue for him. Is your reaction to MSG similar to a gluten reaction? What is DH? Did you go in for additional allergy testing?

[Lisa]

Or as you questioned, he could be developing other intolerance as many people here have experiences.

I would try to "clean" up his diet for a while, double check on the gluten exposure and see if that helps. If not, try to eliminate soy or another suspected intolerance.

And msg should be avoided just because it's nasty, not because of gluten.

Others will be around who have multiple intolerance who can be a great help to you.

Welcome, BTW!

[ciamarie]

DH is dermatitis herpetiformis, which is basically celiac disease of the skin. Those of us with DH generally have fewer intestinal problems, but lean more toward the neurological issues. At least from what I've gathered in the couple of months I've been researching that topic.

As for MSG, I've known that I can't tolerate that for years. My reactions are different, though in some cases it's a little bit delayed (as in hours instead of minutes). It may depend on the quantity. Generally with gluten I'll feel tired, have 'brain fog', sometimes right knee pain and maybe other stuff I can't think of at the moment. With MSG I'll have sort of a 'numb' feeling on my face and I'll feel almost like I'm 'high'. Until that 'high' wears off, then I'll have a bad headache. Also it increases the ringing in my ears, is what I've noticed recently. And the DH will act up, both behind my knees and in my ears.

Some might say it's too much iodine in the salt, but just yesterday I'd taken liquid organic iodine drops, as well as eaten whole eggs (the yolks are supposed to be high in iodine) and not had a bad reaction. However, I'm still trying to figure it out, and using the process of elimination since my theory is only a couple of weeks old.

[killernj13]

I have had them and never had a reaction.

May I ask what a Mexican Coke is?

[Lisa]

May I ask what a Mexican Coke is?

Mexican Coke uses sugar, rather than High Fructose Corn Syrup. I have not tried it, but I heard it's GREAT!

[Darn210]

Double check all your labels!! This sounds just like what happened to my daughter. Her symptoms started coming back until she was almost as bad as she was just prior to diagnosis. I thought it was an additional food intolerance and started looking for a pattern. I think I may have eliminated dairy at that point. Went back to the GI who was no help

As luck would have it, my daughter had pointed out a couple of foods that upset her stomach when she ate them. We had agreed to take them out of her diet for a while(mind you these were spicier type foods so it didn't really raise any red flags). She noticed one of them in the pantry (all the food in the pantry is gluten free) and pointed it out to me that it should be in the gluten cabinet. I reminded her that just because she wasn't eating it anymore didn't mean that it had gluten in it and needed to be in the gluten cabinet . . . but if it made her feel better, I would move it to get it out of her sight.

Lo and behold, I just happened to read the ingredients as I was moving it to the gluten cabinet and there on the label was BARLEY!!! At some point, the company had changed their packaging and I was buying the wrong BBQ chips. She didn't actually eat these chips too often so it took a while . . . a couple of months? But it finally sent her over the edge.

So keep your mind open to other intolerances and eating a whole foods diet . . . but I suggest if it's acting like it did before, take a close look at the labels and see if somebody has changed a formula and gluten has sneaked back into his diet.

I will say during this process, her stomach was "off" after many different foods. I chased a lot of ghosts trying to figure it out. After we got rid of the chips and put in some significant (months) recovery time, we are back to where we are suppose to be.

[Kippen]

Double check all your labels!! This sounds just like what happened to my daughter. Her symptoms started coming back until she was almost as bad as she was just prior to diagnosis. I thought it was an additional food intolerance and started looking for a pattern. I think I may have eliminated dairy at that point. Went back to the GI who was no help

As luck would have it, my daughter had pointed out a couple of foods that upset her stomach when she ate them. We had agreed to take them out of her diet for a while(mind you these were spicier type foods so it didn't really raise any red flags). She noticed one of them in the pantry (all the food in the pantry is gluten free) and pointed it out to me that it should be in the gluten cabinet. I reminded her that just because she wasn't eating it anymore didn't mean that it had gluten in it and needed to be in the gluten cabinet . . . but if it made her feel better, I would move it to get it out of her sight.

Lo and behold, I just happened to read the ingredients as I was moving it to the gluten cabinet and there on the label was BARLEY!!! At some point, the company had changed their packaging and I was buying the wrong BBQ chips. She didn't actually eat these chips too often so it took a while . . . a couple of months? But it finally sent her over the edge.

So keep your mind open to other intolerances and eating a whole foods diet . . . but I suggest if it's acting like it did before, take a close look at the labels and see if somebody has changed a formula and gluten has sneaked back into his diet.

I will say during this process, her stomach was "off" after many different foods. I chased a lot of ghosts trying to figure it out. After we got rid of the chips and put in some significant (months) recovery time, we are back to where we are suppose to be.

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts and advice. I think husband needs to make appt with a Celiac specialist - once we find one, that is. And look for other allergies/intolerances. After reading your posts and other ones on different celiac topics, I am surprised that the only info husband received at time of diagnosis was stay off of gluten and info on general food items containing gluten. Wish we had known to keep a look out for other issues that might arise. But now we know.

[thain66]

Hi,all--

Celiac husband ate PopChips (listed as gluten-free on package)for lunch and had a brutal celiac reaction. With the chips he ate leftover homemade gluten-free pizza crust with Canadian bacon, cheese, and mushrooms and a Mexican coke. We do not think he had a reaction to the pizza since he had it the night before with no reaction. So we think it is the chips. Has anyone had any problems with PopChips? Could he be sensitive to another ingredient in the PopChips?

And here is another question - husband cannot eat after about 4pm otherwise he feels icky. Stomach just feels off. He states that as long as he just eats vegetables (maybe with some sliced turkey, etc. on salad) and fruit all day, he is fine. Has anyone else had this problem? Thoughts?

Thanks so much for any advice or thoughts, we are feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I can attest to having a very bad reaction after eating PopChips. At first I thought it was something else I ate, after the first bout of stomach issues, but then it happened again. There has to be something in those PopChips that causes such a reaction. I've tried researching what is in them but there is definitely a correlation. After the second bout I got rid of them and have been fine since.

It's always good to know you are not alone!

[bisja]

I just wanted to add to this post, that I have been so sick for the last week and I know the only thing I ate different was these Pop Chips, it seems like a gluten reaction to me but I can not say for sure but I know I will never try them again, I have not felt this sick in a long time.

[JSeth]

I know this topic is super old, and PopChips have gotten their gluten free certification in the meantime.. but I wanted to add something.

Many celiac sufferers also have a sensitivity to dairy, and there are dairy ingredients in flavors of PopChips where you wouldn't expect to see them. I'm currently sick as a dog from eating their barbecue flavored chips. Why BBQ chips require dairy ingredients is beyond me, but there you have it.