Gluten Free Oils?

[T.H.]

I've been using Spectrum Brand oils up 'til now for my gluten free kids, thinking they were safe. Just looked at their website, where they say there is a possibility of contamination because they process wheat germ oil on the same machinery, and now I'm wondering if this has been the cause for my daughter having trouble lately. I'm trying to find a good gluten free oil brand; anyone have one that is gluten-free? Or better yet, organic and gluten-free?

Really having a harder time finding one then I would have thought!

[GlutenFreeManna]

Wow, I never would have thought to worry about that. I've been using Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil without problems. I just checked their website and it says their olive oil is gluten free and 100% olive oil. And there are no "processed in the same facility/equipment...." statements on the bottle or the website. The company doesn't make other oils so I don't think it would be a problem.

[ravenwoodglass]

Wow, I never would have thought to worry about that. I've been using Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil without problems. I just checked their website and it says their olive oil is gluten free and 100% olive oil. And there are no "processed in the same facility/equipment...." statements on the bottle or the website. The company doesn't make other oils so I don't think it would be a problem.

Just what I was going to suggest. Just be aware that olive oil has a lower 'flash point' than many other cooking oils so watch it if you are frying.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Just what I was going to suggest. Just be aware that olive oil has a lower 'flash point' than many other cooking oils so watch it if you are frying.

Yes this is true, light olive oil is better than virgin for cooking though. Virgin oils can change in flavor (and not always in a good way) when heated too high. Use a good extra virgin oil for salads and Light or regular Olive oil for cooking and you should be okay.

[jerseyangel]

I've been using Spectrum Brand oils up 'til now for my gluten free kids, thinking they were safe. Just looked at their website, where they say there is a possibility of contamination because they process wheat germ oil on the same machinery, and now I'm wondering if this has been the cause for my daughter having trouble lately. I'm trying to find a good gluten free oil brand; anyone have one that is gluten-free? Or better yet, organic and gluten-free?

Really having a harder time finding one then I would have thought!

I most definately have had issues with Spectrum--both the oils and the solid shortening.

I use either Carapelli or Phillipo Berio olive oil--extra light for cooking and baking, extra virgin for salads and flavoring.

[Dixiebell]

Smart Balance says on their website that all of their products are gluten free.

[T.H.]

Wow, I never would have thought to worry about that. I've been using Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil without problems.

Oh that's good to know. How sensitive to gluten are you, if you don't mind my asking? I have some in my family that seem to be pretty moderate in their sensitivity, but I tend to react to much lower levels of gluten. Dumb ole body, blech.

I found out, to my disgust, that the 'processed in the same facility/equipment' kind of statements aren't legally required for gluten. So a company can put it on, but they don't have to, which of course makes things so much more trying for those of us who actually need it, sigh.

Thank you so much for the info - so glad to have oils to try and find! I was just losing my mind trying to think of some!

And then, I happened across an older post here on celiac.com, too, about the same thing, LOL. No info. at all, and then lots of great info. all at once, woot.

[T.H.]

Oh thank you - I'll go check that out!

[GlutenFreeManna]

Oh that's good to know. How sensitive to gluten are you, if you don't mind my asking? I have some in my family that seem to be pretty moderate in their sensitivity, but I tend to react to much lower levels of gluten. Dumb ole body, blech.

I found out, to my disgust, that the 'processed in the same facility/equipment' kind of statements aren't legally required for gluten. So a company can put it on, but they don't have to, which of course makes things so much more trying for those of us who actually need it, sigh.

Thank you so much for the info - so glad to have oils to try and find! I was just losing my mind trying to think of some!

And then, I happened across an older post here on celiac.com, too, about the same thing, LOL. No info. at all, and then lots of great info. all at once, woot.

I am extremely sensitive. I got glutened by sharing a water bottle with my husband once after he had been eating gluteny food all day. My home is completely gluten free because I can't stay healthy if there's gluten in my home. I had to get all new pans, cutting boards, etc.

Something else I wanted to mention about olive oil. If you buy olive oil, as long as it's 100% olive oil there is not much reason (from a health standpoint anyway) to buy organic. I try to buy organic for a lot of things, but olive oil is not on the dirty dozen list for pesticides (last I checked it's not even in the top 40 for highest levels of pesticides) and it's rarely genetically modified unlike canola oil or corn oil which are very frequently made with genetically modified pest-resistant strains. So for olive oil anyway, IMHO you can skip paying extra for organic olive oil.

Also, I think you just stumbled across an instance where organic does not equal safe gluten free food. Since many organic companies are branding themselves as "healthy" companies they also make a lot of wheat products-- wheat germ oil, vital wheat gluten, whole grain pasta, whole wheat bread, etc, etc. Unless they make their products in a separate gluten free facility I wouldn't trust an item claiming to be gluten free from and organic company that also produces a wheat item. Amy's meals are one that comes to mind that a lot of people react to. It does stink that we have to contact some manufacturers to find out about shared facilities. I really hope this changes in the future.

[Trigirl]

I’m incredibly sensitive too. I eliminated olive oil completely because it made me sick. I found an avocado oil I’m ok with so I’ve used that. I’m about as sensitive as a person can be. I’ll get really sick from shared water bottles. Or shared anything with gluten. It’s a tough!!!  

The brands you all mentioned were ones I couldn’t not find at Whole Foods by me. I’m trying one that said processed on equipment that handles peanut oil. I figure since they say that it’s probably not cross contaminated with wheat. ????