Paper Products?

[Fbmb]

Ok, this is going to sound ridiculous (I think it sounds ridiculous). I am a member of a celiac disease group on Facebook, and a man wrote in, asking if his daughter (who has celiac disease) has to use certain brands of toilet paper and feminine hygiene products because some TP and maxi pads/tampons contain gluten....

First of all, is that even true? We use all kinds of different brands of TP and paper towels (whatever is reasonably priced), paper plates, etc. I have never, ever heard that I need to be careful about paper products or maxi pads containing gluten. 

I know that gluten proteins are too large to go through the skin. I guess my question is do these products contain gluten at all? I use paper towels in my kitchen, so this is obviously an important thing to know. 

I'm guessing this another case of "everything contains gluten" and I shouldn't give it another thought, but I wanted to ask you guys. I didn't have the energy to read 157 comments on this post and I don't exactly consider a lot of those people to be knowledgeable, based on other things I've seen from them....

[Ennis-TX]

Umm most paper towels and TP are made from pure paper pulp from tree farms. They literally grow only trees quickly for the purpose of making paper products instead of harvesting forest in the USA. Exceptions to said paper products might be things made with recycled paper products or "biodegradable" utensils and paper ware from the new fad groups using wheat.

As for feminine products I can not comment.

[Fbmb]

14 minutes ago, Ennis_TX said:

Umm most paper towels and TP are made from pure paper pulp from tree farms. They literally grow only trees quickly for the purpose of making paper products instead of harvesting forest in the USA. Exceptions to said paper products might be things made with recycled paper products or "biodegradable" utensils and paper ware from the new fad groups using wheat.

As for feminine products I can not comment.

Haha I called Kotex and their stuff is gluten-free!

More of what I see are concerns about the adhesives that are used to glue the towels to the roll and to glue the first towel down. I don’t usually use those towels, but sometimes I do if I’m rushing. 

[cyclinglady]

I would not worry but.....

Ennis was right about new “green” disposable flatware and dishes.  Now they are using wheat.  I would be interested to see if anyone actually tests this stuff.  

[kareng]

1 hour ago, cyclinglady said:

I would not worry but.....

Ennis was right about new “green” disposable flatware and dishes.  Now they are using wheat.  I would be interested to see if anyone actually tests this stuff.  

A few years back, I emailed with a company that made these “ wheat” based paper plates, etc.  it’s not actually the “ wheat” seed they are using. It is the leftover stem parts.  So likely no protein in them at all.  

[cyclinglady]

@kareng

Still...it is a little disconcerting. The Gluten Free Watchdog did test them and they were fine.  

[Fbmb]

Their response to me: 

“Gluten is a component of grain starches such wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn.  We do not intentionally add any such grain starches in our tissue, towel and napkin manufacturing processes.  However, we do not restrict these materials from entering the facilities overall, and as such a gluten free claim cannot be substantiated.”

well, gluten isn’t a grain starch found in corn first of all. I think I’ll call them to follow up because this person doesn’t seem credible.

[cyclinglady]

Well, the customer rep was right about gluten.  For example, there is corn gluten.  Only celiacs and NCGS patients do not react to it (allergies and intolerances aside), but to only the glutenin and gliadin found in wheat, rye and barley (and sometimes oats due to growing and distribution methods or bad luck....your body might think it is like gliadin!)  

https://www.verywellfit.com/do-all-grains-have-gluten-yes-but-not-that-kind-3973245

 It sounds like the company is trying to follow their legal department’s advice.  I use all those products you stated (except for those biodegradable wheat straw items).  You will be safe.  When I need a paper plate at a party, I always take on from the middle, never the top one in case of cross contact or some flu virus!  Peace of mind can be invaluable.  

Going back to the wheat straw plates, I have had family and friends live in China (corporate joint ventures).  Based on their stories, I would not and do not consume ANY food products imported from China.  That is substantiated by a friend who is retired from the FDA and monitored/tested imports in the LA area who gives this advice.  There is not enough oversight in his opinion.  Of course I still recall my old doctor who was furious that his pet food was contaminated from China and who can forget the infant formula incident in 2008.  Chinese people still prefer foreign imports over Chinese infant forumulas.  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-04/china-s-baby-formula-revamp-may-trigger-boom-for-nestle-danone

China is improving but they have a long way to go, in my personal opinion.  So, these wheat straw plates are out for me.  

Watch out for the wheat bran plates.....yep, they do have those.  I guess you can eat them afterwards.  Which plate is your hostess using?  

 

[Ennis-TX]

LOL here is a another new concept some of the restaurant/food truck  guys were talking about today on newer biodegradable utensils and straws. IT is gluten free and made of avocado pits.  So far poor chance of seeing it somewhere, our cost is like $615 per 1000pcs with markup value making them have to charge $1.25 a set.
https://www.biofase.com.mx/copia-de-home-2?fbclid=IwAR0UuFbAWKQk2E9Sc2DLbc02W8HDGakfYRsFgNAQPcN5KVqbghoGr4Lr3Rw

[Awol cast iron stomach]

For feminine products in my opinion one should avoid any feminine product with any deodorant additives/ scents/colors. I know back in the 80's deodorant maxi pads or colored toilet paper was marketed. I believe the glue adhesives on maxi pads are often vegetable based likely corn. I have use unscented maxi pads and unscented Tampax regular tampons for years.

The only problem I had once was with a deodorant pad I never used them again. I was the youngest girl in my family while growing up one day I found that the bathroom cabinet had none of our regular maxis to be found. I was frantic and had to get to school. Way in the back one of my sister's had some deodorant maxi pads. I had to get to school and ran to check all the bathrooms and there were no unscented to be found, so I had to use a scented one. Well no idea if gluten was used in the deodorant or corn, but lets say I  took it off during the school day and  decided wrapping my underwear crotch in toilet paper was best to finish the day (none of my friends had any pads with them that week). I suffered for a week after using that one pad my skin was irritated and inflamed. I went home and threw the rest out immediately so I would never be stuck with a deodorant pad again and called my mom at work to stop and buy us more. My mom a nurse had to listen to me complain and cry about it that first night was the worst. She did the nurse thing and had prepared me a sitz bath, but once the body is reacting I have to let the immune system ride it out which she likely already knew. If I recall after that when mom and I went shopping we bought 2 packages of plain so all her girls were covered. Memorable lesson. 

So not sure if they are using biodegradable products like Ennis mentioned could be the case or if the few scented products or colored products in the feminine and TP department are being used, but I suggest celiac's with potential multiple sensitives and especially DH ladies like myself stay very plain.  

[squirmingitch]

I know this is a thread from 2 months ago & pretty much everything has been covered but I wanted to address the issue of glue & paper towels & toilet tissue. This has come up before & internet myths being what they are......

The glue used in paper towels or toilet paper is a synthetic glue so no worries that it contains wheat. Wheat glue is not used either to stick the 2 plies together.