Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Are Gluten Free Menus Really Safe For Celiacs?


mamacat

Recommended Posts

mamacat Rookie

I saw Pizzeria Uno has a gluten-free menu, which includes gluten-free pizza. It got me wondering about cross-contamination and whether they were really using different pans, etc. to keep it separated.

If a restaurant has a gluten-free menu, should I still ask questions to confirm that it's truly gluten free, or are there standards for gluten-free menus so I don't need to worry about it?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Gemini Experienced

I saw Pizzeria Uno has a gluten-free menu, which includes gluten-free pizza. It got me wondering about cross-contamination and whether they were really using different pans, etc. to keep it separated.

If a restaurant has a gluten-free menu, should I still ask questions to confirm that it's truly gluten free, or are there standards for gluten-free menus so I don't need to worry about it?

You definitely need to question the manager about their kitchen practices. Some restaurants do a phenomenal job of making a truly gluten-free meal while others....not so much. I tend to stick with high end restaurants as they have more formal food training and know what gluten and cc are. Chains and fast food places hire people with little knowledge of food in general and even less about cc.

Yet, some of those places do a good job too....it's really something you have to investigate at each place you decide to eat at.

You will eventually come up with your favorite places that do a good job. I never go back to a place if I have been glutened but that hasn't happened in ages for me. I also limit how often I go out.

AE Paul Newbie

I saw Pizzeria Uno has a gluten-free menu, which includes gluten-free pizza. It got me wondering about cross-contamination and whether they were really using different pans, etc. to keep it separated.

If a restaurant has a gluten-free menu, should I still ask questions to confirm that it's truly gluten free, or are there standards for gluten-free menus so I don't need to worry about it?

You ABSOLUTELY still need to ask questions!

Given the fad nature of many new gluten-free diners, restaurants across the country are rushing to create gluten-free menus. The problem is that many of these restaurants think a gluten-free menu makes a meal gluten-free, with no understanding of the perils of cross-contamination for celics. Some restaurants and chains do a great job; others horrible. The bottom line is that the presence of a gluten-free menu has NO RELATION WHATSOEVER to how well a restaurant can serve a gluten-free guest or even understands the issues.

Use an outside gluten-free or allergy restaurant guide or other source to find those restaurants that are truly knowledgeable about how to serve our community.

AEPaul

cap6 Enthusiast

Always always question. case in point - Dominio's Pizza. Advertise gluten-free but their prep does not equal gluten-free. I alsways feel better when the manager starts to explain how they deal with CC - and they talk about CC.

~**caselynn**~ Enthusiast

Always always question. case in point - Dominio's Pizza. Advertise gluten-free but their prep does not equal gluten-free. I alsways feel better when the manager starts to explain how they deal with CC - and they talk about CC.

You took the post right off my fingers lol couldn't have said it better myself! :)

ElseB Contributor

A restaurant near me recently started offering a gluten-free menu. So I sent them an email explaining the importance of avoiding cross contamination and asking them to explain how they ensure that menu items advertised as being gluten-free are in fact gluten-free each and every time that they are served to the customer. Their response:

Thank you for contacting us! I have forwarded your feedback to our Director of Training, Operations and Development as well as our Executive Chef & President and C.E.O for further review on the matter.

It is through feedback from valued guests, such as yourself, that we are able to continually improve our level of service and quality of our products and we thank you for giving us this opportunity.

This response didn't inspire much confidence that they actually have any kind of procedures for avoiding cross contamination. I definitely won't be trying out this restaurant. And I'm sure I will have to explain to more than one friend or colleague why I won't eat at this restaurant despite the fact that it has "gluten free" food. ugh, I hate these restaurants.

Contrast this with another restaurant near me that introduced a gluten free menu for a brief period, then removed it for "liability" reasons. They had received legal advice that since they can't guarantee that anything really is gluten free, they shouldn't have a gluten-free menu. Yet I feel so much safer at this restaurant. As soon as you say you have a food allergy or intolerance they send out the manager to deal with you. I have never once gotten sick at this restaurant. Yet I have gotten sick at many places with gluten free menus. The menu is meaningless: it is the attitude, training and experience of the staff that makes the difference.

psawyer Proficient
The menu is meaningless: it is the attitude, training and experience of the staff that makes the difference.

So true


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,647
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Mikharris
    Newest Member
    Mikharris
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.6k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Toaster
      No other tests. This was from about 10 years ago, I noticed it when checking through my all bloods to look for patterns.  I will go back to my doctor...
    • trents
      Were there any other tests besides the EMA run for celiac disease? If not, you should request them. At minimum, "total IGA" and "tTG-IGA" should be ordered. A more complete celiac panel would also include the DGP-IGA, DGP-IGG and TTG-IGG. And very importantly, you should not have been reducing gluten consumption in the weeks/months leading up to the testing blood draw.
    • Toaster
      I'm looking into it. I have several quite low vitamin results which I believe may be from malabsorption. B12, ferritin, folate, vit d all very low. Re-occuring mouth issues, gut issues. 
    • trents
      Have you been diagnosed with celiac disease or are you looking into it?
    • Toaster
      Thank you. There is no reference range mentioned unfortunately.
×
×
  • Create New...