Confused as usual

[aklap]

Yup it sure sounds like you're sensitive to it.

There - you at least have 1 piece of the puzzle Good for you!!!!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Country923]

Could anyone help me again? I just love my coffee and I am so confused about what is the best coffee or should I say, what coffee does not have glutin in it or any traces of it?

Nansea

[sheryl84]

Help! OK, I don't get the following things, can anyone help? Caramel colour is off limits, but soda is OK. Huh? Then there's the artificial flavours/colours. Would like specifics as to what I'm supposed to look for there, and how do I go about finding out from companies and/or labels what's forbidden and what's not. Finally, why is processed cheese a no-no? I don't get that one at all. Thanks for the info on citric acid; didn't know that could be a problem. I think that's it for now. Will probably be back later for something I forgot.

[aklap]

Hi Sheryl,

Here's the deal with caramel color regardless of what it's in. It really should be consider off limits unless you know it's safe. I got this from celiac.coms' Safe & Forbidden Food Ingredient List:

The problem with caramel color is it may or may not contain gluten depending on how it is manufactured. In the USA caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statute says: "the color additive caramel is the dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates: Dextrose (corn sugar), invert sugar, lactose (milk sugar), malt syrup (usually from barley malt), molasses (from cane), starch hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), sucrose (cane or beet)." Also, acids, alkalis and salts are listed as additives which may be employed to assist the caramelization process.

You don't know how it made - so you must call the manufacture to find out (or check Delphi's Lists or the Mainstream Food List to verify a product is GF). It just so happens that most sodas caramel color is GF.

By the looks of your spelling of "colour", I'm going to guess you are not from the US. As the statement above reads - those guidlines are for the US. It maybe completely different where you live.

As far as proceded cheese goes - it suspect it depends there too. I have not looked to closely at that to know. Is there a specific brand you use?

To find the companies you can search on the internet using any search engine. I use google.

I would suggest printing out the Safe & Forbidden Food Ingred. List and take it with you to the store. That way you can check every label. Some things - like caremel color - you won't know unless it's verified. That's where the Delphi & Mainstream food lists are nice - some one has checked already. DISCLAIMER: You really need to verify for yourself tho. Companies can change their products quite quickly - so those list can get out of date. I am quite lax about re-verifing those lists - I really need to be better about it.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[sheryl84]

Thanks for the info. Actually, I'm born & raised in MO, just picked up spelling "British" somewhere along the line.
I guess I'm wondering about American cheese slices, Velveeta, and all those powdered cheeses that are on otherwise GF chips, etc.