Restaurants say no gluten and then serve it to you!

[Dena]

Just venting...I was diagnosed with celiac 15 years ago and been off of gluten ever since. I have no patience when I finally find something at a restaurant I can eat and make sure with the waiter that there's no gluten in it and then I bite into it and feel a crunch! Tempura in a sushi when there wasn't supposed to be, etc. Sprinkled all over a sushi veggie bowl when you said you were sensitive to gluten.... and then they're like "sorry", as if no big deal as you spit out the food and feel nauseous knowing you consumed it already...and really not wanting another dish of the same thing without gluten because you lost your appetite... or being told that I can eat nothing at this restaurant because EVERYTHING has gluten in it, so, dude, post it on the door!!!! Just really bugs me, ruins a nice might out with my husband or maybe friend or family once again because of my eating situation where I now have lost my appetite. Anyone else feel that way?

[cristiana]

37 minutes ago, Dena said:

Just venting...I was diagnosed with celiac 15 years ago and been off of gluten ever since. I have no patience when I finally find something at a restaurant I can eat and make sure with the waiter that there's no gluten in it and then I bite into it and feel a crunch! Tempura in a sushi when there wasn't supposed to be, etc. Sprinkled all over a sushi veggie bowl when you said you were sensitive to gluten.... and then they're like "sorry", as if no big deal as you spit out the food and feel nauseous knowing you consumed it already...and really not wanting another dish of the same thing without gluten because you lost your appetite... or being told that I can eat nothing at this restaurant because EVERYTHING has gluten in it, so, dude, post it on the door!!!! Just really bugs me, ruins a nice might out with my husband or maybe friend or family once again because of my eating situation where I now have lost my appetite. Anyone else feel that way?

Hi Dena, 

Yes!  It has happened to me so many times I've pretty much just given up eating out altogether, with the notable exception of one pub that has never let me down. 

I have so many stories.  For example, we once went to a restaurant which prided itself on catering gluten-free.   I ordered salmon and scrambled eggs (what could possibly go wrong?) and it was served with brown bread.  My daughter said, "Check the bread is gluten-free, Mummy" and so I did... and youv'e guessed it.  It wasn't.  Another time I asked for a salad (what could possibly go wrong?) and it had been prepared on a bread board that had obviously been covered in bread crumbs as they were all over the lettuce etc.   Twice I've had pasta and been reassured the chef knew what he was doing, and it has made me ill.  And the list goes on.

The thing I find hard is when caterers sincerely think they are offering a gluten free product, but actually don't understand the intricacies of the gluten-free diet and get it badly wrong, yet have managed to persuade you that they do know what they are doing, and it then makes you ill. 

However, I feel  things have changed a bit here in the UK in recent years.  There was a tragic case where a young girl had an allergic reaction to sesame on board an aircraft.  Since then, I have found caterers are more worried about this issue and instead of trying to persuade me to eat their food, I get the impression they would prefer I didn't eat their food than take a risk.  (Of course, having celiac disease it isn't the same as being allergic to gluten, but when I tell them I react severely to it all the same, they seem almost relieved I have brought my own food)

Cristiana

 

 

[Scott Adams]

I've definitely had my share of issues, and I know I've mentioned this before but now I always take 2 GliadinX (AN-PEP) enzyme pills (disclosure, they are a sponsor here!) before I take a bit at a restaurant, party, friend's house, etc. 

It really usually is an innocent mistake when you get gluten in your food, even after ordering from a "gluten-free" menu, but it's still upsetting, and can spoil an evening (and a few days of your life depending on how sensitive you are).

My most recent bad experience was also at a sushi place where the new rave seems to be lots of very fancy, and, in my opinion, overstuffed rolls that include tempura. We asked if a particular role was gluten-free or not, and the server said it was. Luckily my son, who's not gluten-free took the first bite and warned my daughter and I that it had tempura in it. When we complained they were nice enough to nix it from the check, but my confidence in the place dropped to zero. I won't be back.

It also makes me wonder about cross-contamination. Tempura in sushi rolls was pretty uncommon 10 years ago, but it now seems like 50% or more of the fancy rolls include it. My guess is that this creates lots of crumbs, contaminated knives and bamboo sushi rolling mats, etc.

On a positive note, I've also had some amazing experiences lately where I could get local made artisan gluten-free bread and have it while everyone else had their regular bread before the meal came. 

It does seem very hit or miss, and I no longer have much trust in places, even if they have a gluten-free menu, or are listed in a gluten-free app. A new employee, or one that doesn't really care about doing a good job, is all it takes to make you sick.

[trents]

Been there done that!

[Dena]

Thank you so much, Everyone. Just nice not to feel alone in this. The best is when they offer gluten free pasta options and then proceed to explain that none of the sauces are gluten free... so... uh... then it's not gluten free!!!!! I just hate not being able to eat out like a normal person somewhat once in a while. And I wish they would be a bit more sorry when they make a mistake like this.

Yes, tempura used to be one option on the menu, now it's in more than half the menu!!! Sushi is a naturally more or less a gluten free food....!

[trents]

This is why many celiacs just don't eat out any more. You have no control over the ignorance of the kitchen staff with regard to celiac disease and even if the food they offer is naturally gluten free, the kitchen staff is typically not careful with regard to cross contamination issues when preparing or serving the "gluten free" menu items.