Diane

Study of Allergen Advisory Statements

Gluten Free Watchdog, with the coauthorship of our own Dietitian Advisor Trisha Lyons RD. LD., has recently published the study “Allergen Advisory Statements for Wheat: NOT a Useful Predictor of Gluten Content”.

Gluten Free Watchdog statement.

You can read the full text of the article.

In the US, allergen advisory statements (“Made in a facility that also processes wheat” and similar) are voluntary and are not currently defined by any federal regulation.

What this study found is that products that have warning statements such as “May contain wheat” or “Made in a facility with wheat” might be without gluten and just fine to eat. On the other hand, the lack of a statement did not mean that a product was free of gluten.

Heath Toffee Bits

Last time I shopped at Marc’s I was thrilled to find Heath Toffee Bits labeled gluten free. They are in the baking aisle and are a great add-in to muffins or cookies and make a fantastic ice cream topping.

Hershey’s has a list of gluten free products.

West Side Market

Ohio City

The West Side Market is Cleveland’s public oldest market and is home to 100 vendors offering meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, dairy, flowers, ready-to-eat foods, spices and nuts.

Vendors are friendly but be sure to ask if their items are gluten free.

Eileen shared her thoughts on gluten free at the market:

All the meat and vegetable vendors. We like Kaufman poultry and the vegetable vendor at the door off the parking lot make an immediate left and they are on your right. The fruit stand right across from them is very good.
Ohio City Pasta used to have gf pasta but it’s made at the same place as there other pasta.
I like Judy’s Oasis they have dips like hummus.
I love Urban Herbs especially their poultry seasoning.
For lunch I’ve eaten at Nates which is fast and cheap. Great Lakes Brewing is very gf friendly and good. There’s also Flying Fig or something Fig restaurant that is good.
A very very favorite is Momocho Mexican very gluten friendly and fabulous and very busy. I’m not sure it’s open for lunch but make reservations.

Target Halloween Allergen Guide 2016

Found a display in the Halloween candy area of Target with a tear off sheet titled: 2016 Halloween Allergen Guide. Click the link to see the guide at the Target website.

The Guide states: “The allergens listed for the 2016 candy items below have been confirmed by our manufacturers, and listed in their ingredient statement.”

The items are separated into 3 categories: those free of listed allergens (milk, soy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, gluten), those which contain milk and/or soy (but no gluten), and those free of gluten (with no designation of other allergens).

Shopping for (and enjoying) Halloween candy will definitely be easier this year.

Thanks, Target!!!!!!!!

Honey Bunches of Oats – Chocolate – Gluten Free

I was wandering the supermarket and came upon Post Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate flavored which was labeled gluten free.

Only the chocolate flavor is gluten free and the ingredients note “THIS PRODUCT USES GLUTEN FREE OATS”.

The cereal is tasty and not too sweet and has a crunchy texture even after sitting awhile in the milk. And chocolaty milk at the bottom of the bowl is irresistible.