I give “gluten free” a pass because it’s not always obvious. Some people do have very severe reactions and some products do, unsuspectingly, contain gluten in the form of filler content or for some other mechanical use. Sausage is specifically known to use wheat product as filler and binder. Same for deli meats and veggie burgers. Some places will even throw breadcrumbs into their ground beef for burgers to fake it’s tenderness, so it crumbles like a meatloaf would.
Then there’s seasonings. Potato chips are made from potatoes, right? But not all chips are potato chips. You’d hope a gluten-issue person would be able to identify pita chips or bagged crackers from the chips selection would have gluten, but it turns out, despite being a corn chip, Dorito dust can affect gluten sensitivities. Soy sauce and malt vinegar are issues, and seasoning mixes use flour to help distribution
Oh, and processing aids. That’s another kettle of fish. Same with things that are added and then taken out, or vice versa, as long as they are the same amounts, they don’t have to be on the label unless it’s an allergen. (Australia)
I’m always wary of places that cook or bake their own food, especially home businesses. They don’t have the money to pay an accredited food lab to do their labels and testing for them. I’ve done my share of food label auditing, and I’ve seen some pretty shocking things.
I give “gluten free” a pass because it’s not always obvious. Some people do have very severe reactions and some products do, unsuspectingly, contain gluten in the form of filler content or for some other mechanical use. Sausage is specifically known to use wheat product as filler and binder. Same for deli meats and veggie burgers. Some places will even throw breadcrumbs into their ground beef for burgers to fake it’s tenderness, so it crumbles like a meatloaf would.
Then there’s seasonings. Potato chips are made from potatoes, right? But not all chips are potato chips. You’d hope a gluten-issue person would be able to identify pita chips or bagged crackers from the chips selection would have gluten, but it turns out, despite being a corn chip, Dorito dust can affect gluten sensitivities. Soy sauce and malt vinegar are issues, and seasoning mixes use flour to help distribution
Oh, and processing aids. That’s another kettle of fish. Same with things that are added and then taken out, or vice versa, as long as they are the same amounts, they don’t have to be on the label unless it’s an allergen. (Australia)
I’m always wary of places that cook or bake their own food, especially home businesses. They don’t have the money to pay an accredited food lab to do their labels and testing for them. I’ve done my share of food label auditing, and I’ve seen some pretty shocking things.
That is actually illegal in my country.
Germany. There is a reason German sausages are good. Part of it are stringent regulations.
Whereabouts are you?