Anyone eat at the Whole Foods hot bar?

[Sammy_B]

I travel for work and for a while Whole Foods was my salvation. They list all ingredients on their prepared foods and I was in heaven. well, i found out that WF's does not guarantee there food is gluten free and my most recent stool test still showed a high anitbody titer to gliadin, so Im not sure if thats the result of eating at WF's all the time. Does anyone here eat their food w/o problems? Unfortunately i dont get blatant symptoms when i eat gluten so i never really know when im getting it in my system.

[nancw]

I'd have to say no. There is likely a huge amount of cross-contamination all the way from the food prep area to the actual hot bar. I wouldn't chance it - ANY buffet-style food - ever.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

[ostrich]

I second Nance. Even if the foods are prepared completely GF, how do you know the guy in line ahead of you didn't dip a NGF pasta spoon into the GF salad bucket? If you only have Whole Foods for meal options I would buy things individually (cheese, meat, bread, chips, etc) and build your own meal.
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Ostrich :>--O==={

Time falls away, but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

[cruelshoes]

I would never chance eating at a buffet. The chances of getting cross contamination are astronomical - even if some of the food started out GF.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[Kathie]

I don't eat at the buffet, (at any buffet, anywhere, ever) however I have in the past purchased a frozen meal at WF's that is microwaveable from the freezer section and nuked it at the store. I stick to things that stay wrapped to heat because the microwave of course is gluten coated, I also place a paper napkin under the product while heating and throw it away when done, but I have had no problem with removing the wrap and then eating the product inside. I avoid the toaster oven because you have to take things out of the protective wrap. I react to gluten within 30 minutes and have had no problem with this method.
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CD by Biopsy 3/25/88

[caseygirl]

Several months ago, when I was newly GF (well a few months in), I tried to eat at the hot bar at WF. I definitely reacted big time, for at least 2-3 days after. I agree with everyone else. I tried eating a salad from their salad bar too and I reacted a little (nothing big but it was noticeable to me for the evening). Unfortunately, I wouldn't chance it.

[rpf1007]

I agree too- Anything buffet style is not worth the risk.
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Rachel