Guest guest Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 This item is not on Trader Joe’s gluten-free list (http://www.traderjoes.com/attachments/NoGluten.pdf). Sometimes reading the ingredients is not enough. That’s why I always check new products with the manufacturer. It would be interesting to find out what the offending ingredient was so you can improve your gluten-detecting skills for the future. Does the product have the “produced in a facility that also produces wheat” statement? If you want to pursue this, I recommend e-mailing the Trader Joe’s customer service (http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html). They usually will answer questions like that if they can. Pam WARNING - for all my Gluten-Free friends: Do NOT eat the Trader Joe's Taco Seasoned Beef, Bean & Cheese dip with Salsa & Sour Cream (found in the frozen section). Even though none of the ingredients *should* have made me sick, I *WAS* sick, nonetheless. I am suspecting cross contamination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 No, it had no such statement. I tried explaining to the staff at TJ’s, but they didn’t quite seem to get it. They pointed out that the item was not labeled as gluten free. I told them that I knew this, but that people with our condition are so used to not having products labeled GF (their mustard, for instance, while not designated GF, is). All I wanted was for them to post a disclaimer near the product so that no one else making a decision based solely on the list of ingredients ever got sick. I’m not too sure if they got it. As for the ingredients, they are all ingredients I have had before, in other products, so I am sure the culprit was CC. (Also, based on the fact that I didn’t have a huge reaction, I would say it is definitely CC, as any gluten ingredient tends to cause a FAR more severe reaction. (Remember that I am that proverbial Canary in a Coal Mine)… From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pam Newbury Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 8:06 PM Subject: [ ] Glutened at Trader Joe's This item is not on Trader Joe’s gluten-free list (http://www.traderjoes.com/attachments/NoGluten.pdf). Sometimes reading the ingredients is not enough. That’s why I always check new products with the manufacturer. It would be interesting to find out what the offending ingredient was so you can improve your gluten-detecting skills for the future. Does the product have the “produced in a facility that also produces wheat” statement? If you want to pursue this, I recommend e-mailing the Trader Joe’s customer service (http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html). They usually will answer questions like that if they can. Pam WARNING - for all my Gluten-Free friends: Do NOT eat the Trader Joe's Taco Seasoned Beef, Bean & Cheese dip with Salsa & Sour Cream (found in the frozen section). Even though none of the ingredients *should* have made me sick, I *WAS* sick, nonetheless. I am suspecting cross contamination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I'm sorry you got sick. But I have to say I can sympathize with the store employees who didn't get what you were asking them to do because I don't get it, either. Unless you've verified with the manufacturer that there is a gluten ingredient, I don't understand how you can be sure it is this particular item that made you sick and be absolutely sure that it was gluten that did it. Sometimes something else can give you "celiac like" symptoms, sometimes it's a food sensitivity, sometimes it's a virus (and I know a nasty stomach virus has been going around recently). The food item you are talking about sounds like it could make anyone sick - maybe the seasoning was too strong, or the beans were extra-gas producing... and maybe for someone with celiac who hasn't completely healed, those items are extra harsh on your system, but it doesn't mean it has anything to do with gluten. I think it's particularly unhelpful to ask the store to put up a sign saying it is not safe when you really can't be sure the item or gluten contamination is what made you ill. I don't want stores to start warning me away from anything that doesn't specifically say "gluten free" on it. And I would think it odd if they did as you asked - that would mean taking one anecdotal story and creating a whole story policy around it. A better approach might be to simply ask them if TJs has a tracking system for complaints regarding food allergens/food safety and ask that your complaint be made a part of it (if they don't have a system in place, it would be a reasonable thing to ask them to start). I hope you are feeling better. WARNING - for all my Gluten-Free friends: Do NOT eat the Trader Joe's Taco Seasoned Beef, Bean & Cheese dip with Salsa & Sour Cream (found in the frozen section). Even though none of the ingredients *should* have made me sick, I *WAS* sick, nonetheless. I am suspecting cross contamination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 You can send a sample of the product to CSA for gluten testing. Call the staff at 877-272-4272. Libonati ____________________________ Gluten Free Works, Inc.Gluten Free Works PublishingGFW PublishingTel: 215.591.4565Fax: 215.591.4566www.glutenfreeworks.com "Recognizing Celiac Disease"The Complete Guide to Recognizing, Diagnosing and Managing Celiac DiseaseMore than 300 signs, symptoms, associated disorders and complications related to Celiac Diseasewww.recognizingceliacdisease.com____________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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