Gluten-Free Products & Cross-Contamination

Everyone's body is different, in the sense that everyone's body is built to handle a variety of the substances we put into them each day. For those with food allergies, reading the labels on food products during our every visit to the grocery store is crucial. We typically keep watch for ingredients (such as wheat and milk) and labels (gluten-free or dairy-free) printed on the backs of the items we purchase. However, just because an item has a (your allergen)-free label, doesn't mean you're good to go.

For example, a food item may say "gluten-free" or "contains no gluten ingredients" on the label, but if the item had, at some point, touched or rested on a surface where something with gluten had just been sitting, you could feel the effects of your allergy upon consumption of the item. This is known as cross-contamination.

How dangerous is cross-contamination?

Depending on the severity of your food intolerance or allergy, cross-contamination could have harmless to mild effects on your body, to dangerous, life-threatening effects.

How can I find out if a product I buy is cross-contaminated?

The easiest way to identify cross-contamination is an allergen label on the front or back of the package. The label often is a small text that says "CONTAINS: (INGREDIENT)" or "MAY CONTAIN (INGREDIENT)".  Some products are also labeled with words along the lines of: "THIS PRODUCT WAS MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT THAT ALSO PROCESSES (INGREDIENT)." In this case, it would be best to avoid consuming this product.

Below are a few real-life examples of possibly cross-contaminated products.

Queen Anne Milk Chocolate Cordial Cherries

Great Value Organic Frozen Sweet Potatoes

Crepini No Gluten Ingredient Egg White Thins

Keep in mind that not all companies list potential allergens on their products. Also, sometimes companies may print the allergy information in very small lettering, as in the final image. For everyone, if you must be wary of the ingredients you consume, common sense is often your best tool.