Subway

[Oneiros]

Is subway off limits for us? I am newly gluten-free and not diagnosed. Have had two wraps (supposedly gluten-free) from subway and felt okay. But yesterday I had another and got sick. I suspect cross contamination. The only way I figured it could happen (since they are very transparent about how they prepare food) - After cutting and pulling open the regular buns, they always grab the cheese or salads. Would this transfer gluten? Which is then picked up when grabbing cheese/salad for my wrap. Since they always use new gloves each time I figure that's the only way its possible.

[wayneglutzky]

I can't speak from person experience (I've only been out to once since being diagnosed and that was at Chipotle.) However, I've been talking with a fellow Celiac who has very bad experiences with Subway.

I think it really depends on the Subway you visit.

[cap6]

Is subway off limits for us? I am newly gluten-free and not diagnosed. Have had two wraps (supposedly gluten-free) from subway and felt okay. But yesterday I had another and got sick. I suspect cross contamination. The only way I figured it could happen (since they are very transparent about how they prepare food) - After cutting and pulling open the regular buns, they always grab the cheese or salads. Would this transfer gluten? Which is then picked up when grabbing cheese/salad for my wrap. Since they always use new gloves each time I figure that's the only way its possible.

I, personally, wouldn't touch them. I understand that they are trying but, to me, there is way too much risk for cross contamination. They may use a clean counter but they are all grabbing from the same bins. Same lettuce, tomato, etc. Too much risk.

[kareng]

What are the " wraps" made out of? I worry that the fillings are cc'd, too. I didn't know they had any tortilla like thing that is gluten-free.

[Adalaide]

I used to work at a Subway. There is absolutely no way that they can prepare food for you safely unless they are getting every single meat, cheese, topping, everything you want from a fresh bin that isn't on the line. Even then, you have to weigh the risk. The foods on the line though are littered with breadcrumbs, it simply can't be avoided since it is the nature of what they're doing. Not slamming them, it's just how it is. I would never eat there unless I found one willing to work with foods from bins that aren't on the line which would mean going in at non-peak hours.

[flowerqueen]

From what you have said, it sounds like cross contamination. They need a strict procedure and separate salad etc., for it to be safe, and prepared in another area from the glutenated foods. I wouldn't risk eating there under such circumstances. Could you write to their head office to make them aware of it? It sounds like their staff need educating and training.

Is subway off limits for us? I am newly gluten-free and not diagnosed. Have had two wraps (supposedly gluten-free) from subway and felt okay. But yesterday I had another and got sick. I suspect cross contamination. The only way I figured it could happen (since they are very transparent about how they prepare food) - After cutting and pulling open the regular buns, they always grab the cheese or salads. Would this transfer gluten? Which is then picked up when grabbing cheese/salad for my wrap. Since they always use new gloves each time I figure that's the only way its possible.

[Oneiros]

Hmmm OK thanks guys, that's exactly what I was thinking.

kareng, they don't advertise anything as gluten free but when I asked about the wraps they said yes they are gluten-free. No point though since there is so much risk for cross contamination. Now that I think about it, the wraps seemed to be stored in the oven underneath the regular buns, so crumbs could easily fall onto them there too.

The more I think about this cross contamination issue, the more restaurants are eliminated. How can we ever be sure that our food is gluten-free? The best approach seems to be not to eat out at all since it's just not worth the risk of getting sick.

[Monklady123]

Interesting about the gluten-free wraps. I've googled Subway and on the ingredients list for the wraps it says "bleached enriched white flour". It also says "less than 2% of vital wheat gluten"... So I wonder if your particular Subway made a mistake when they said their wraps were gluten free, thinking that "less than 2%" of gluten means that it is essentially gluten free, forgetting that "white flour" is indeed wheat. [see that other thread about silly things people say to us ]

Just my thought about it, because my Subway has no bread product that they claim is gluten free.

Although...I've just noticed in your OP that you've eaten them before with no problems. Odd.

[Adalaide]

I worked at Subway during the outbreak of the whole Atkins craze, if they aren't offering new wraps, they aren't gluten free. I know their website doesn't list any gluten free offerings so it would have to be something your local franchise was offering.

[Oneiros]

Interesting about the gluten-free wraps. I've googled Subway and on the ingredients list for the wraps it says "bleached enriched white flour". It also says "less than 2% of vital wheat gluten"... So I wonder if your particular Subway made a mistake when they said their wraps were gluten free, thinking that "less than 2%" of gluten means that it is essentially gluten free, forgetting that "white flour" is indeed wheat. [see that other thread about silly things people say to us ]

Just my thought about it, because my Subway has no bread product that they claim is gluten free.

Although...I've just noticed in your OP that you've eaten them before with no problems. Odd.

The plot thickens. I'm beginning to think that I didn't get sick from the first ones because I was just starting on a gluten free diet, maybe the reduced amount of gluten at that stage was relief enough? But now that my diet is almost 100% gluten free I need to be more careful? I really don't know how this works, and after negative blood test results I'm not sure what to believe.