Is packaged corned beef GF?

Rags · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Texas

I know there isn't any corn in corned beef. It got its name from large kernels of salt plugged into a beef brisket to preserve it.

Now, the brisket is soaked in brine, which gives it its red tint.

However, many corned beefs come with some sort of spice packet that you add to the water as you boil it.

Does gluten hide within?
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2437

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8602 Location: WI, USA

Interesting question...

Are there any ingredients on the spice packet? If so, could you post them, I am curious.

The best thing to do is call the mfg of the corned beef and ask them. There should be a number on the label somewhere. Tell customer service rep that you want to find out if their corned beef and spice packet contains an allergen. Then you tell them you need to know if it contains gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats).
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Al

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

NickisDragon · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 331 Location: S.E. Michigan

The spices used in corned beef are pickling spices, (cinnamon, allspice,mustard seed,coriander,bay leaf,ginger,chili,cloves,black pepper,mace,and cardamom), so they're usually okay. It's still best to check with the manufacturer--just in case they got creative and added a "secret recipe packet"
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The Love we withhold is the pain that we carry.
Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

isto · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject:

I bought some for St. Patrick's Day at Walmart. The brand is Grobels and it says MSG & Gluten Free on the package.

Rags · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Texas

Outstanding, folks!

Thank you for the helpful info!!!

I am one-fourth Irish through my maternal grandmother.

This is going to my first GF St. Patrick's Day.
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006

Kathie · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 754 Location: Florida

Rags · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Texas

I don't know where else to mention it -- perhaps in the matzoh thread -- but I'm assuming communion wafers at Catholic churches are not GF.

Last time I was in church, I said to myself, no. And the altar rail is no place to ask!
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8602 Location: WI, USA

Rags,

Standard hosts in a Catholic church [well, any church] are not GF. Catholics believe that the hosts MUST have gluten in them.

There are some Sisters that are making Low Gluten Hosts for GF Catholics.

http://catholickey.org/index.php3?article_id=2858&gif=news.gif&issue=20040409&mode=view

Take a look way at the bottom of the the forums page, you'll see a Religious forum, you'll find some stuff in there about GF communion. BE WARNED, some have found some of the things said in there a tad offensive.
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Al

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

Rags · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Texas

Amazing. .01 gluten content.

Still too much, though.

100 percent avoidance does not mean 99.99 percent.
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2437

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8602 Location: WI, USA