Found this article & I think it's incorrect re: quinoa

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

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/glutenceliac.htm

In the chart at the bottom, the writer lists quinoa as unacceptable on the GF diet.

Quinoa is a GF food, is it not?
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2543 Location: Washington State

There are many problems with that article. It lists Jello-o pudding as unsafe. This is not right. Kraft lists their gluten, so one needs to read the label to see if it is safe. It lists amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa and Millet as unacceptable for the GF diet which is totally wrong. All of these are safe (pure of course, not contaminated with gluten grains). It also lists kethup and mustard as unsafe for the celiac diet, which is generally utntrue.

The author of that page is using some very outdated and/or incorrect information.
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-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
10-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters (12 and 2) have neg. bloodwork

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

mrsppmrxky · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 1471 Location: GF Kitchen

Those are the kinds of info that I get so frustrated with!! No anger at the OP for posting.

This just shows that it is hard for 'newbies' to get a handle on the correct information when they find lists like this.

The dr. gave us 4 pages of info and 2 said one thing and the other 2 said the opposite of the first 2. ......... Believe me, it was enough to bring me to tears.

MrP has multiple food issues, but Millet and Quinoa don't bother him. Neither does the buckwheat. In fact they seem to be good for his stomach.

Maybe we should try to write the original author of that list. LOL
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cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2543 Location: Washington State

I sent her the note below. Let';s see if she responds.

From: Colleen
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 11:33 AM
To: 'mshomon@thyroid-info.com'
Subject: Errors in your article "Is Subclinical Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease Sabotaging Your Health?"

I happened upon your article located at : http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/glutenceliac.htm “Is Subclinical Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease Sabotaging Your Health?” It contains several factual errors in the area of safe and forbidden foods. In bringing these to your attention, my intention is not to criticize, but to make sure that correct information is available to people who may suspect that they have CD.

First, Jell-o Pudding is listed as unsafe. This statement is untrue. Jell-o is owned by Kraft Foods, which has a policy of disclosing all gluten ingredients on the packaging of their products. Most Jell-o products are safe for celiacs. You can see Kraft’s ingredient disclosure policy here: http://www.kraftfoods.com/health/articles/gluten_free_0623031.pdf

Secondly, you list several gluten free grains as being unsafe. These include: amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa and Millet. All of these grains, in their pure forms, are gluten free. One does need to exercise care when purchasing them in a prepared product (ie – a buckwheat soba noodle that also contains wheat), but in and of themselves, they are safe.

Finally, you also list distilled vinegar as being unsafe. This is now recognized by celiac experts to be untrue. See the articles posted here: http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=415&p_catid=&sid=91hH9H1k0A2YDT@-55107238007.8e. and http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=187&p_catid=&sid=91hH9H1k0A2YDT@-55107238007.8e The distillation process denatures the gluten molecule, and the resulting product is gluten free. Malt vinegar is unsafe, as is vinegar that is flavored with a gluten ingredient. But this is the exception, not the rule.

This is a difficult diet to adjust to, and there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet. When I was first diagnosed with Celiac in August of 2005, I was paralyzed with fear about what to eat. I was near death from malnutrition and did not want to eat anything questionable. Now that I have been GF for nearly 2 years, I am enjoying good health for the first time in my life.

Thanks for writing your article on CD. Please consider correcting these inaccuracies so newly diagnosed individuals are not confused.
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
10-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters (12 and 2) have neg. bloodwork

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

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

Very nice Colleen!! I haven't read the original article yet.

Did ya give her a link back to this place so we can help her out? Smile

_________________
Al

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

isto · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

A very well-written letter, Colleen! Bravo!

isto · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject:

I noticed she also said that teff was a no-no, which is not true. She also said all sodas ar ok, which is not true.

Fidissimus · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 1564 Location: Portland, OR.

Colleen you rock!
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

Amooliakin · Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 368 Location: NYC

EXCELLENT letter! Thanks for setting them straight. And I learned something too. We got a rice cake that had various grains in it including Millet and I grabbed it away from my daughter because I thought it was unsafe. But now I know Millet is OK!

Thanks!
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Amy - Mom to two kids, one with Celiac, and assorted pets...

Fidissimus · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 1564 Location: Portland, OR.

Did you ever get a response?
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2543 Location: Washington State

Celia C · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 47

Wow. I'm pretty new at learning about this gluten free stuff, and it bothers me that a website that looks so --- 'reputable' -- would carelessly post all that dis-info.

I've been in a bit of a blur myself about ketchup, worchester sauce, and bacon. I kept only my organic ketchup, quit using worchester sauce, and still eat bacon -- but now I see it's not all black & white -- I gotta stick with the "when in doubt, DON'T."

I'm glad you told them, anyway. Sometimes a letter like that should be cc'd to a few local newspapers, which also would help spread the word about the issue to people who are oblivious. If you'd told me I might have a gluten problem I'd have looked at you cross-eyed until this last winter when I could finally tell something serious was going on in my body.

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

Colleen's letter is wonderfully done. It's a terrific piece of restraint and honest sharing of information.

I can't really fault the Atlanta Journal-Constitution because newspapers aren't experts at anything, and when they choose to publish information from a so-called expert, they are putting a lot of trust in that person.

I hope someone in the Atlanta area with celiac saw that and perhaps followed up as you did.

I know one thing: I trust the people on this board so very much.

Thanks to all!
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Freed from Gluten, July 2006