Ok, I know Hormel is gone as much gluten free as they can, and I applaude them for that, they labe their products very well, and if it was made in a facility where wheat products are manufactured, they LABEL it that way...so we dont get sick! BRAVO! All companies should do that!
Hershey is one of the companies I have learned that doesn't give a RATS ASS whether we get sick or not. I have been to several celiac boards trying to determine the truth to something I read on facebook the other day about a girl that got horribly sick from eating about half a hershey bar.. so searched and all the sites i could find said that hershey was very rude to them about it and one of them said that they were told, "Well, yeah, we do put some flour on our conveyer belts, and some flour on the product itself, especially the chocolate chips, because they would stick to themselves otherwise. but it's not enough to make anyone sick. " Like they would know!! I need to do more research, as HERSHEY neglects to label ANYTHING! Also Hershey I hear on the boards is going to be transferring some of their manufacturing to Mexico..yeah, that sounds like a move UP. MECH. Anyway.
There is gluten in so many things anymore. Chex has some GF cereal.. That's good. but CAPTIN CRUNCH is not. They (Quaker) Went as far as to tell me the only GLUTEN FREE food they DO have is the RICE CAKEs... they taste like cardboard..flavored cardboard. BLECH.
Went to the mayo clinic web page to see what they say about Celiacs, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/MY01140 if you are interested in reading the entire article.
Here are the things you CAN have for grains BUT It's important to make sure that they are not processed or mixed with gluten-containing grains, additives or preservatives. Many grains and starches can be part of a gluten-free diet:
- Amaranth
- Arrowroot
- Buckwheat
- Corn and cornmeal
- Flax
- Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
- Hominy (corn)
- Millet
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Soy
- Tapioca
- Teff
These are things that will make you VERY VERY ILL Always avoid Avoid all food and drinks containing:
- Barley (malt, malt flavoring and malt vinegar are usually made from barley)
- Rye
- Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
- Wheat
Avoiding wheat can be challenging because wheat products go by numerous names. Consider the many types of wheat flour on supermarket shelves — bromated, enriched, phosphated, plain and self-rising. Here are other wheat products to avoid:
- Bulgur
- Durum flour
- Farina
- Graham flour
- Kamut
- Semolina
- Spelt
Avoid unless labeled 'gluten-free' In general, avoid the following foods unless they're labeled as gluten-free or made with corn, rice, soy or other gluten-free grain:
- Beer
- Breads
- Cakes and pies
- Candies
- Cereals
- Cookies and crackers
- Croutons
- French fries
- Gravies
- Imitation meat or seafood
- Matzo
- Pastas
- Processed luncheon meats
- Salad dressings
- Sauces, including soy sauce
- Seasoned rice mixes
- Seasoned snack foods, such as potato and tortilla chips
- Self-basting poultry
- Soups and soup bases
- Vegetables in sauce
Certain grains, such as oats, can be contaminated with wheat during growing and processing stages of production. For this reason, doctors and dietitians generally recommend avoiding oats unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.
You should also be alert for other products that you eat or that could come in contact with your mouth that may contain gluten. These include:
- Food additives, such as malt flavoring, modified food starch and others
- Medications and vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent
- Play dough
Watch for cross-contamination Cross-contamination occurs when gluten-free foods come into contact with foods that contain gluten. It can happen during the manufacturing process, for example, if the same equipment is used to make a variety of products. Some food labels include a "may contain" statement if this is the case. But be aware that this type of statement is voluntary. You still need to check the actual ingredient list. If you're not sure whether a food contains gluten, don't buy it or check with the manufacturer first to ask what it contains.
Cross-contamination can also occur at home if foods are prepared on common surfaces or with utensils that weren't thoroughly cleaned after being used to prepare gluten-containing foods. Using a common toaster for gluten-free bread and regular bread is a major source of contamination, for example. Consider what steps you need to take to prevent cross-contamination at home, school or work.
I'm not sure what we as a celiac community need to do to get the COMPANIES at large to start putting ON the labels "Made in a facility that makes wheat products" or "May contain trace ammounts of wheat". They think trace amounts of wheat are nothing to us, but eaten EVERY DAY, like a cereal, it can make us VERY ill. I had diareah every day for a week and was very weak, (not using a play on words..lol) and used up an entire box of immodium, but the most "QUAKER" cared was to say, "we're sorry you were ill, we are sending you a package with a coupon in the mail and a gift, we hope you like it and hope you are feeling better. The oats may have some wheat on them from being hauled in the same truck we haul the wheat in and it is used in the same facility. The percentage of wheat per box is point blah blah blah so we don't have to disclose it." When I received it, it was a 5 dollar coupon for the only thing I can buy from them, rice cakes, blech, and a capn crunch blow up soccer ball, now dubbed, the poopin ball. I emailed them back and said, "A. You need to disclose the contamination on the label. B.Thanks, my 10 year old nephew will enjoy this gift. I may someday eat enough rice puffs to maybe use the coupon, and have a nice day. Joanie the 34 year old woman you sent a blow up soccer ball to?!" What the heck did they think! And he won't even probably play with it because we called it the poopin ball. They never did email me back. Chicken shits.
And so.. yesterday was a migraine night..slept over 12 hours and tonight...who knows. Probably not if I go to bed now! LOL!!! Kinda a rebound one tho. :S Nausea with this one..icky.
To those of you who don't have gluten intolerance, read a package label when you go to make something, anything that says, Gluten, or msg or something to that effect is something that is poison to one in 133 people.. makes it sound really far out.. but i know a LOT of people it affects.. my sister Laurel, my cousin Joanne, my cousin Debbie, I think one of her kids too, and at least 3 other people here in a town of 1,350 ppl, and growing celiac size. Epidemic I swear.
Anyway..good night out there. Take care and EAT carefully!
