Tracing The Cause Of Sudden Symptoms

[sleer]

I've had some symptoms that I had attributed to gluten reoccur over the last several days. I've been gluten free for about a year and have had some accidental misteps but for the most part I've always been able to trace it back. It's very important to me that I trace it back to something for piece of mind purposes and so that I do not make the same mistake again.

This time, however, I am having an awful time finding the source. My best guess is a ceasar salad I ate a restaurant. I told the waitress that I had an allergy to gluten. I requested she ask about the dressing (which she said she did). I requested no croutons and there weren't any.

There were, however, these crispy capers and now I'm wondering. Although, I would think it would just be capers in some oil and be okay -- I am wondering. I have contacted the establishment to ask and have not heard back from them yet. If anyone has any thoughts on how crispy capers woudl be made and if that could be the source I'd appreciate it.

[Lisa]

I have never had crispy capers, although they sound wonderful. Perhaps they were deep fried in contaminated oil. It sounds probable.

Here is a recipe that calls for cornstarch. Flour could have been substituted in your case, of contaminated oil:

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[cougie23]

Hi sleer,

I googled ceasar dressing...While the original recipe for making ceasar dressing does NOT involve gluten apperently there ARE several dressings out there that are NOT glutten free! Also is there a possibility that you are developing a soy or casien intolerance? the sites I looked into sugested this..seeing that there is dairy in ceaser

and sometimes soy! personally its the white pepper that gets me...gives me a severe headache!You should look into the possibility of other allergies because you never know with us ... what you wern't allergic to last year/last month can now bother you...it's crazy!!! ...Hope this helps!

I agree with Lisa about the oil being contaninated... allot of resteraunts use the same oil for EVERYTHING! We ALLWAYS have to ask about oil sharing contamination (w/shrimp) when my 12 yr.old eats french frys at resterants!(if its been contaminated...we know because his lips and eyelids immediatly swell up!!!) If anything breaded or tempera was fried ...you'll get gluten!

[Adalaide]

I'd guess it's the capers. Sure, it could be the dressing, or you could be developing another intolerance but I always assume the easiest explanation is probably also correct. That would be agreeing with Lisa that they fried the capers in a deep fryer they use for all sorts of breaded goodies. They do sound heavenly, I may fry some up myself for my next salad.

[ravenwoodglass]

May not apply to that restaurant but one of the ones I worked at used to use the same bowl for all the Ceasar salads made at lunch or dinner hour. Everything for the individual serving including croutons was tossed in then dressing added and all was swirled around then dumped in the serving bowl. The next salad would be then made without rinsing the mixing bowl. Big risk of CC if the place you ate does the same thing.

[Lisa]

I always assume the easiest explanation is probably also correct.

That's always a great place to start! Good advise.

[cougie23]

May not apply to that restaurant but one of the ones I worked at used to use the same bowl for all the Ceasar salads made at lunch or dinner hour. Everything for the individual serving including croutons was tossed in then dressing added and all was swirled around then dumped in the serving bowl. The next salad would be then made without rinsing the mixing bowl. Big risk of CC if the place you ate does the same thing.

Cruton crumbs..good point, hadn't considered that!

Thats why I like this site...different eyes looking at different angles attacking one problem...makes for interesting conversations as well ,this multiveiw comunity! LOL!

[HGMama]

I also had a caesar salad out for lunch and got horribly sick from it. I assumed it was the dressing. Im learning to NOT trust anything or anyone unless I prepared it myself.