Foods (and other things) To Think Twice About

Many people wouldn't think of these foods as perhaps having gluten in them, but many versions of them do. This is just a "tickler" list to get you thinking about the fact that, pretty much, you need to check every food that comes with a label on it.

Foods:

• barbecue sauce (what is it made from?)
• bouillon (what is it made from?)
• burrito (is it a dangerous wheat tortilla or safe, pure corn?)
• butter-scotch (what is it made from?)
• candy (what is it made from)
• catsup (what is it made from?)
• cereal (what grain?)
• cheese (annatto color; starting molds may be introduced on bread crumbs)
• chewing gum (flour as ingredient or may be dusted with it)
• chocolate (pure is okay, otherwise, what is it made from?)
• cottage cheese (may contain food starches)
• farina (usually made from wheat)
• french fries (contamination from cooking oil; vinegar helps it retain to color)
• frozen yogurt (ingredients?)
• granola (what grains does it include?)
• ice cream (often has thickeners which are made from toxic grains)
• ice milk (same as ice cream)
• licorice candy (usually has wheat)
• mayonnaise (look for suspicious ingredients)
• nonalcoholic beer (may still have malt or other sources of gluten)
• sherbet (thickeners and flavorings may be made from toxic grains)
• soup (most soups have flour in them, or noodles, or other suspect ingredients)
• sour cream (may contain food starches)
• soy sauce (wheat used in most brands)
• tamari (most okay, check ingredients)
• tortillas (wheat?)
• tostada (wheat?)
• yogurt (thickeners and flavorings may be suspect)

Other Things Include:

• licking stamps (glue can be wheat-derived)
• sharing a toaster (crumbs from wheat-bread get pressed onto gluten-free bread)
• spreads like butter, jam, peanut butter (crumbs get carried back into the spread with each dip)
• vitamins (particularly: what are the fillers? also the source)
• medicines (remember that "starch" in drugs is not necessarily corn)
• mouth wash (ingredients?)

And here's an interesting link on the FDA page that talks about a few loopholes in the labeling laws that can let suspect ingredients slip through. This particular page is focusing on severe allergic reactions to such ingredients, but the implications are clear for celiacs, and everyone should be aware where the loopholes are, and that manufacturers do push the limits of the law beyond tolerance.

Copyright ©1998 Linda Blanchard All Rights Reserved. Date Added: February 16, 1998. Last Update: May 29, 2005.