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I have found that in addition to gluten, I am sensitive to inulin/chicory root fiber. I wondered why I had gastrointestinal symptoms after drinking a Chobani yogurt drink - much like being glutened. Happened at least twice before I figured out that it was that chicory root fiber additive. I do not react to ordinary dairy, yogurt, etc.  For the holidays, I will only be baking gluten-free treats. I got rid of all gluten-containing flours, mixes and pastas in my kitchen. Much easier to avoid cross-contamination that way!

It's great to hear that your gluten-free journey has been going well overall, and it's smart to be a detective when a reaction occurs. Distinguishing between a gluten cross-contamination issue and a reaction to high fiber can be tricky, as symptoms can sometimes overlap. The sudden, intense, food poisoning-like hour you experienced does sound more consistent with a specific intolerance or contamination, as a high-fiber reaction typically involves more digestive discomfort like bloating or gas that lasts longer. Since the protein bar was the only new variable, it’s a strong suspect; it's worth checking if it contains ingredients like sugar alcohols (e.g., maltitol, sorbitol) or certain fibers (inulin/chicory root) that are notorious for causing acute digestive upset, even in gluten-free products. For your holiday baking, your plan is solid: bake the gluten-free items first, use entirely separate utensils and pans (not just washed), and consider color-coding tools to avoid mix-ups. Additionally, store your gluten-free flours and ingredients well away from any airborne wheat flour, which can stay in the air for hours and settle on surfaces. Keep listening to your body and introducing new packaged foods one at a time—it’s the best way to navigate and pinpoint triggers on your journey.

Let us know how things turn out--good luck!

thank you Scott! This is very helpful. I have a message out to my doctor and i think this guide will help me interpret the results! its very thorough. 

I agree with @trents, and encourage you to follow up with your doctor about getting a celiac disease blood test done. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.