Lillyth

I am new to Celiac and am looking for any websites for manufacturers with gluten free products. I would like to look at them to see what products they have that are gluten free. I would like to be able to do some shopping at regular grocery stores and this would make it easier. Thanks!

DANG! I was all set to cut and paste all the bookmarks from my computer to this thread, then I realized I am on my laptop (work computer) and I don't have time to boot up my home computer as I have to leave in a few minutes.

I have TONS of links and info & feedback which I will post later on tonight.

By the by - ms_sillyak_screwed - check out Namaste Foods. (I will post the link later). Their facility is 100% free of any gluten, dairy, soy, corn, etc. They only make foods that are free of ALL major alergens. They rock! I just had some of thier mac & cheese last night. While it was not the Kraft-Cheeze-N-Mac my guilty-pleasre-seeking heart was looking for, I did in fact comment to my husband that if couldn't tolerate dairy, it would have been SUPER yummy.

(It didn't occur to me to join this forum & ask for companys, so when I first realized I needed to cut the gluten out of my diet, I did ALL the research myself. Literally 2-4 hours every night for weeks. I now have a well organized boomark folder of gluten free *stuff*, all broken down into subcategories & comments. It would just ROCK my world to have all that work go to help ya'll too!)

I'll post all that stuff later tonight.

Lil

Is ketchup gluten free?

I did a site search & all I found about it were in recipes. Some specified gluten-free ketchup, others just said ketchup.

I seem to hear conflicting report on the whole viniger thing.

What's a girl to believe?!

Lil

P.S. This is a time sensitive reply, as we are having burgers tonight (with my brand new gluten-free hambuger buns!)

P.P.S. If ketchup/viniger is NOT safe, where do I find gluten-free ketchup?

I KNOW WE'RE ONLY TO DO CC PRODUCTS--AND AT THE RISK OF GETTING 'YELLED AT' BUY THE LOVERS OF BERTS BEES PRODUCTS....

What the heck does "CC" stand for? I kept seeing it earlier in the thread, but I don't undersatnd...

What do other people do for this? I was wondering if chiropractic treatment might be a good idea. Thanks, Beverly

Dude... My chiro totally fixed my tmj...

I swear by it!

By the by, my chiros totally belive I have celiac, whereas my medical docs don't. Nuff said?

MORE from TCBY...

(Please reference my original email to TCBY above).

Their response:

Dear Mrs. Keogh,

Thank you again for your comments regarding the potential of gluten bein present in our products at TCBY. As I mentioned, I forwarded your concerns to our Research and Development Department, and they have provided a more explanatory response:

"The natural flavors in our product could contain components derived from wheat, oats, barley, or rye. These components, however, have been naturally processed to be relatively free of gluten. The trace amount of gluten that may remain is far too low to cause a reaction and should not be a concern to celiacs."

I hope this helps. If you have any further comments or concerns about TCBY, please let me know.

Thank you for contacting Mrs. Fields Famous Brands on-line.

Robert Schicker

Customer Service Representative

MY reponse to their response:

Dear Robert,

While I thank you for your response, words such as “could”, “relatively”, and “should not” are major cause for concern with someone of my condition. It sounds like you and your company are not aware that a celiac’s body reacts to the presence of gluten as though it were a poison.

Would you consume a product that claimed it “could” contain components of arsenic, even though the product “should be” “relatively” free of this deadly poison? I think not.

Until such time as you and your company choose to take my health concerns and the health concerns of people with my medical condition quite seriously, I prefer not to take my chances with something that “should not”, or possibly “could” cause me severe & prolonged health problems. And quite the same as I would advise anyone in a wheelchair not to patronize any establishment without a wheelchair ramp, I will continue to advise anyone with my health condition to refrain from patronizing your store, as our health concerns are clearly not that important to you.

Sincerely,

Lillyth Keogh

P.S. I also find it rather amusing that my original email, responding to your company’s reaction (cut and paste below):

“Having just reviewed a response from your company to an inquiry as to which of your flavors are gluten-free ("According to our Research and Development Department, the natural and artificial flavors in our product could possibly come from wheat, oats, barley, or rye. However, the gluten wouldn't be at a high enough level to cause a reaction."), I have decided never to patronize your company, and further, to tell everyone I know never to patronize your company.

If you cannot be bothered to ensure the safety and wellfare of potential customers, I cannot be bothered to shop at your stores.”

You simply sent back the exact same wording I had a problem with in the first place. I, for one, really DO NOT feel listened to as a customer, or even as a potential customer. If you cannot guarantee our safety consuming your products, why not just say so – at least THAT I could respect…

"The theatre, he said, was useful because it ridiculed prejudice, and under the guise of entertainment it taught virtue."

~Gustave Flaubert

My hubby thinks I was a bit over the top - what do ya'll think?

I say, if it works, keep with it. If you just have elevated antigliadin antibodies, you STILL have gluten intolerance. As Karen said, it is the tip of the iceberg. I had no idea that I had elevated antigliadin antibodies -- until I walked like I had MS and I kept falling. Had every test known to man and G-d performed on me until they realized that the gluten was destroying my cerebellum. I know that I'm a little "over the top" about gluten now, but I had no idea that it could do this to you. If being gluten free helps you -- stay with it. I agree, too that your levels could have gone down - if you don't expose your body to the poison, the levels are going to go down. Take care of yourself . . . . Lynne

The other thing that I thought about -- did they do a biopsy on the rash? If they didn't, even though it doesn't LOOK like the normal DH, how do they know it isn't?????

They wouldn't even do a biopsy. That was why I went in the first place. But that's Kaiser for ya - anythng to save money...

But I will be seeing my normal doc next month & I will be sure to raise high holy h--l to get the biopsy done. If I make it more expensive for them not to - meaning emotionally & energetically expensive...

I will let you all know how that goes...

Lil

If you've been gluten-free, your tests will come back negative. I've been wheat-free and mostly gluten-free for 10 years, and my doctor still thought I should have the whole celiac panel. At least she took me seriously, but she obviously didn't know what she was doing. I know nothing about DH - sorry I can't help you there.

It sounds like you already know you have a problem with gluten - your symptoms sound pretty convincing. Do you need a diagnosis for peace of mind? I thought I did, but figured out there was no way I was going to get it, so I just need to take care of myself.

The main reason I want the DX is for tax reasons (I am a Realtor, which means I am an "independent contractor", therefore I itemize everything already.) As you all now, gluten-free foods are expensive, and living in a major city with a son who goes to private school, well, you get the financial idea. I know I can (as an independent contractor) write off anything as long as I have a prescription for it. (Which was the whole idea behind the DX in the first place).

Funny thing is I tried to tell the doc I saw (not my usual one) that my being gluten-free would effect the blood tests, which was why I wanted the test for DH in the first place. Surprisingly, (can you detect the sarcasm), the test came back negative.

I have regular conversations with my chiropractor (who sees me WAY more than my medical doc), and he says that just cutting out the wheat (not even ALL gluten), my body was 10x stronger within a week. (He also poked my tummy when I pointed out the distention, and he kept poking it, saying "what a trip", I've never felt anything like that" - meaning a taught tummy a good 6 inches out from my ribs). His basic thought is why go through the testing hassle when I know I have this medical condition - not to mention my IMMEDIATE body reaction to going off gluten. (Not that I necessarily feel that great immediately, but that my body is so much stronger when he tests it).

I have much more to say, but I am tired now - I will respond more tomorrow.

Thnaks for all the responses & for listening (reading)

Lil

I will pass this info along to my rep, who is pretty high up in the company. I left a message for her last night, and told her she could have more than the usual 24 hours to get back to me (she always returns calls within 24 hours). (Especially since I called on a Saturday, and I didn't hink it was fair to ask for a response on a day MK was probably closed - the business office anyway).

Thank you for the info - I will prep her with this info & tell her that that sort of response is NOT good enough.

I'll let you know what I hear back.

Lil

I heard back from my MK rep this morning before I could call her. I got back basically the same info we saw above. I called her back & let her know that I am now torn - I love their products, but if I can't be sure they are gluten free I cannot contine to buy them. I also let her know that there are a bunch of pissed-off celiacs out there who won't buy their products because of this. I thought she would want to know (so she can let the compnay know that they are excluding a bunch of potential consumers).

I will let you all know how this progresses...

Lil

Someone, anyone?!?!

I looked on the site for info but couldn't find any.

Anyone, Bueller, Bueller?

bump

Dang.

I guess I'll be making a few phone call this week...

Thanks for the wake-up call...

If they give this to their consultants, what are they going to tell US???????

I will pass this info along to my rep, who is pretty high up in the company. I left a message for her last night, and told her she could have more than the usual 24 hours to get back to me (she always returns calls within 24 hours). (Especially since I called on a Saturday, and I didn't hink it was fair to ask for a response on a day MK was probably closed - the business office anyway).

Thank you for the info - I will prep her with this info & tell her that that sort of response is NOT good enough.

I'll let you know what I hear back.

Lil

I thought I had read on here somewhere that around holidays the Reese's cups and products do have gluten in them, but other times of the year they don't. I'd give somebody else the eggs that are staring at you and go out and get yourself some pb cups with a readable label and indulge without fear!

Uh-oh. I guess it's worth a phone call to Hershey's then to sort this out...

Besides I don't like the big ones as much as I like the mini's. (I sure hope they are gluten free, ciz I've had, like, ten of them in the past few days)...

Question for those of you who use the Food for Life brown rice tortilla. How do you store them? They were in the freezer of the health food store so of course I tossed them in my freezer. Are they always found in the freezer section? The reason I'm asking is because they did kind of fall apart, and I wondered if it had to do with the freezing.

I just bought some yesterday.

I will be trying them next week - I will do my steaming-them-on-a-spatter-screen-thing - I'll let you know how that works out.

I bought frosted flakes (their store brand) a month or two ago from Whole Foods. I often eat a whole box a day due to being lazy. I noticed that I was having more and more intestinal problems. The last time I went back to whole foods to load up as I usually do every two weeks, I noticed a 3 inch by 5 inch card saying that their frosted flakes are not gluten free anymore. They now contain barley malt. I read the ingredients and barley malt wasn't listed. Apparently they don't care if they poison someone with celiac disease! I don't think that the FDA would think that a 3x5 card is a suitable substitute for a change in ingredients. I called my son who also has celiac disease and he had just bought 20 boxes. He took them back and complained to the manager. I have to assume that Whole Foods would like to be honest about their ingredients unless the had alot of boxes to get rid of first. In that case it's OK to poison us. They probably saved about $20,000 by poisoning us.

That's awful! And to think WF is a place I trust(ed) to tell me what products are safe.

Guess not...

Open Original Shared Link

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page they have a list of gluten-free products. (Which is great, because I grew up consuming their products as I lived very close to them).

Consume away!

I go with B

Is it okay if I say sell-ee-ack?

I just like the way it sounds better.

Though I will be sure to pronouce it correctly when speaking to health professionals

How do you pronouce "celiac"?

Is it"

A) Sell-ee-ack

or

See-lee-ack

or

C) Something else entirely?

I'm near San Jose. I'm with you on the not knowing what to eat. I'm going to Disneyland in about a week and a half and am terrified even though I hear it's one of the better places to eat if you have special dietary needs, lol.

I'd be interested to know how that went for you - I had an AWFUL time trying to eat there...

Have you ever seen this? - Guidelines to Eating gluten-free at Disneyland

Open Original Shared Link

It says some of the places there carry Kinnikinnik bread. Crazy!

Damn...

Sure wish I'd seen taht BEFORE my trip. I mostly starved while I was there...

Oh, and I'm in San Francisco.

By the by - if any of you in the Bay Area are looking for a good Japanese restaurant, try Minako Restaurant on Mission (between, I think 17th & 18th - or somewhere areound there). The owner is a good friend of mine, and it is a total family operation - her mom makes everything. She also says people bring thier own wheat-free tamari sauce in all the time. I've found that eating out in ethnic restaurants can be a hassle if you can't communicate with the staff (a real problem with "authentic" places). But rest assured, they speak fluent english & Japanese & the food IS authentic.

Yes, a thousand times, yes! And like karen, they are my major weakness to.

YAY!!!!

My son came home from the Easter Egg Hunt this year with more candy than he got even at Halloween - quite a lot of which are the mini PB Cups.

I think I will be helping him eat them.

Quite a lot...

i have to say i wasn't visited by the easter bunny of any sort, but my friend did give me some teabags he didn't like, and they arn't staring at me. We all had an easter lunch too, and there was this gluten filled chocolate cake they bought staring at me, and then they ate it.."oooh this is so sweet i dont no if i can eat it all"...and one of them left a little bit on their plate...and grrr who leaves chocolate cake if u can eat it!!! especially when it's staring at me. I was offered croissants too and this disgusting black kinda liquid bread stuff you have with icecream..and someone said to me can't u just eat a little bit so you know what it tastes like..and after politiely saying no i forget how many times to all the gluten food...someone said to me just have a little bit what harm can it do..and i pointed at the black liquid bread and said.."that". (Open Original Shared Link) I wasn't offered anymore food.

Just looking at that stuff makes me want to puke. Expecially when it turned out it's made of Rye (which always gave me the worst reactions). Disgusting. How can anyone eat that?

On a side note, my grandmother did this to me on my birthday. Got a champagne cake (expecially for me), not realizing that they use flour (I ask - how can anyone NOT realize they use flour in cake?), then proceeded to urge me to have some, just a bite, why don't you try it, etc. I finally gave up the "politeness" and just said "NO!" (Maybe even a bit too loudly & forcefully - but hey, she stopped asking)...

Like we need to email or call them for that.....hm....makes me want to spend my money with someone else!

It looks to me like it may be an "auto-response", meaning that it is an automatically generated email response to your question, while they look it up in the meantime & get back to you.

At least I hope that's what it is, because if not, that means I have to stop using their products & let them know why (and I really don't want to do that because I really like their products, but I will if that was not an auto-response).

Is Vanilla extract gluten free?

I bought pure vanilla extract because i thought i could have it. The ingredients seem o.k

But i'm not so sure now.

Does it contain grain alcohol? If so - toss it. I just did that to mine. (I would say be prepared to weep, as when I did this I didn't know there were gluten-free alternatives - but there are! Yay!)

I think so- they're just bigger Reese's pb cups. i ate them and was oK (I think).

Does this mean the Reeses PB Cups are gluten free? (Oh please say yes, please say yes!)

I used to wrap the flour ones in a wet paper towel and nuke 'em. I guess that won't work??? Thanks for the tip!!

Do you have a splatter screen? (One of those things you place in top of something you're cooking so the steam can still get out but what your cooking doesn't end up all over the top of your stove). They look like Open Original Shared Link.

If you do, what I used to do is boil some water in a frying pan, place the tortilla on top of the splatter screen, place the spatter screen on top of the frying pan, then cover it with my wok lid. Steam for 30-60 seconds each side. Careful though - they're hot! (Use a spatula).

I use Mary Kay for almost everything, though I aven't checked what's in it. I will be calling my Mary Kay gal tomorrow to find out - I'll report back.

And yes, carmex ROCKS!!!!!!