Pickled Beets

[Celia C]

Now, I knew to throw my pickles and pickle relish away, but I have been hitting the grocery store salad bar ( dirt cheap when you are avoiding gluten!) but always pile on the pickled beets as I am crazy about them.

Are they safe? I am on approx. 30 days going gluten free and can not predict whether I would have a noticeable reaction if I slip up here and there.

I suppose I should go pick up a can and read the label! I know, when in doubt, don't --- but it didn't occur to me for a while.

[cruelshoes]

If the pickles (or relish or pickled beets) are made with malt or flavored vinegar, they would be unsafe. If they are made with distilled vinegar and no other gluten ingredients, they would be safe. There are too many variables to make a blanket statement on whether they would be safe or not. Best to read the label and follow up with the manufacturer.

IMO, salad bars are an extremely risky proposition for a celiac, especially if one is new to the GF diet. There are no labels to read, and the chance of CC is extremely high. All it takes is for someone to innocently switch the crouton spoon with the lettuce spoon and you've got gluten in your salad. Or someone picks up a scoop of those chinese noodles and one drops in to the lettuce and hides itself. I know people eat at salad bars, but I just think it's taking a big chance.

Be careful out there!
_________________
-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]

Hi Celia,

Yup - you need to read the label or call the mfg. No need to throw things out until you check, your pickles and pickle relish may have been OK.

Most times it the vinegar that's in question. Please check out Our discussion on Vinegar & Distilled products. This is part of our GF Diet Boot Camp.

For these types of foods, one can not say that it's always GF or NGF. In their unprocessed state, beets are GF. So it comes down to processing. That's when you need to read the label and see what other ingredients have been added. Each mfg processes their product differently, so a pickled beet from mfg A is GF and the beet from mfg B is could not be GF.

I know it's confusing...but hang in there...you will get things figured out in time.
_________________
Al

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

[Celia C]

Darn! I know salad bars are risky even if you stick with the plain side of the selection, but dropping in on the grocery store on the way home when you're already starving it's prety irresistable. Even though I have also been making my own salads at home. I think as a beginner I should stick to home-eating for awhile!

Will check out the Boot Camp thread!

[nancw]