Looking for safe dried beans in Canada

[PaigeyPants]

We have always eaten a lot of dried chickpeas, beans etc.

There have always been a few which included the 'may contain traces of wheat' disclaimer but lately it seems like every bag of beans I look at says it may contain wheat. 

The Unico canned beans have the CCA gluten free symbol on them. I don't understand how they can access safe beans but I can't!! 

Does anyone have a source for safe dried beans in Canada? Lentils?

Cheers

[cyclinglady]

Hi!  

I am in the U.S. but I think I understand your concerns.  The USDA allows a small percentage “stuff”  to be included in raw agricultural products.  Things like errant pieces of twigs and rocks!  Yes, even grains like wheat.  Long before I was diagnosed with celiac disease, my mother and grandmother taught us to sort beans/grains on a cookie sheet,  if you found something other than a bean or grain, toss it. Who wants to chew on a rock?   Of course, we washed our beans, rice, barley, etc.  before cooking.  

Now I do the same.  I sort for rocks and grains containing gluten and wash.  I think the manufacturers in Canada know they can not possibly sort carefully enough, so they apply the warning.  

I have yet to find one can of plain beans in the US that is labeled gluten free.  I assumed the manufacturers could not guarantee 20 ppm or did not want to bother testing.  

Now with my instant pot, beans are even easier and much faster to make!  

I hope another Canadian can address your question, but if you sort and wash you should be fine.   

[apprehensiveengineer]

On 2/23/2019 at 8:09 PM, PaigeyPants said:

We have always eaten a lot of dried chickpeas, beans etc.

There have always been a few which included the 'may contain traces of wheat' disclaimer but lately it seems like every bag of beans I look at says it may contain wheat. 

The Unico canned beans have the CCA gluten free symbol on them. I don't understand how they can access safe beans but I can't!! 

Does anyone have a source for safe dried beans in Canada? Lentils?

Cheers

Hi, I'm in Canada and had a lot of trouble finding beans initially. I use Unico canned beans, and their other products that are CCA certified (canned tomatoes, pizza sauce etc.). I am careful to look for the symbol as we sometimes get cans manufactured at their US plants, which do not have it.

Unico does dried beans as well that are certified. There is another major brand that has their dried beans certified, but the name escapes me at present. One or the other is usually available at most major grocery retailers. 

[PaigeyPants]

Thanks guys!

I am so confused about washing. I have seen other posts that say it is not enough.

I'll have to keep an eye out for the Unico dried beans, I've never seen them, which stores do you find them at? I have been using their canned beans but much prefer the taste of dried. 

I managed to find a bag of certified chickpeas at London Drugs of all places, and they were wonderful. 

I've resorted to growing my own kidney beans this year, hope it is a success!

[apprehensiveengineer]

@PaigeyPants

It really depends what province/region you are located in as grocery stores here are rebranded regionally, and have different brand loyalties in different regions. I've done grocery shopping in a lot of provinces, and you have to know what's happening more locally to be sure. As a general rule, most Loblaws-owned grocery stores will have Unico beans (No Frills, Superstore, Independent) though.

Since you mention London Drugs, I assume you're in BC. If so, you should have luck at Safeway, Save-On-Foods, IGA as well. Whole Foods and similar alternative/hipstery places will be a bust since they don't sell blue collar foods.

edit: the washing the beans thing is legit - GFWD did a report on this, in which she showed that washing dry beans did reduce their gluten content. However, if your beans are severely contaminated (or you find errant grains in them), this might not be enough. I avoid lentils (higher risk), and still wash dry beans and rice no matter how they are labelled (good practice regardless of whether you are celiac).