23
Apr
2017
25
Jan
2017
Gluten Free Watchdog Updated Position Statement on Oats
Background: Two scientific publications from PepsiCo scientists provide us with the best data to date on the state of contamination of oats sold as gluten-free in the US (1, 2). Extensive testing by PepsiCo found 1 in every 57 servings tested (0.25 g sample taken from each 45 to 50 g ground serving) to contain gluten at levels at or above 20 parts per million using the R5 ELISA R7001 assay. The scientists point out that the number of contaminated...
19
Dec
2016
Controversy continues to swirl around oats & their suitability for a gluten-free diet
Note: This is one of two companion articles published today on oats. An updated position statement on oats from Gluten Free Watchdog will be published in the near future. Very long bottom line “Do oats belong in a gluten-free diet?” This was the title of the first article of mine published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. This was way back in 1997. Oats were controversial then and they are controversial now. There have been questions about: oat safety, oat avenin; different oat...
02
Dec
2016
Testing Oat Products Using the Nima
Please watch the video Using Nima to test heterogeneous samples such as oats before watching this video. It is available at https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/using-nima-test-heterogeneous-samples-oats/. In the current video I test a box of "gluten-free" Cheerios from the 2015 recall and a carton of regular Quaker oats using Nima. Both of these products are highly likely to be contaminated with gluten and are not recommended for persons with gluten-related disorders regardless of test results using the Nima. My intention in testing these two...
09
Aug
2016
Canadian Celiac Association Recommends Against Gluten-Free Cheerios
Bottom Line Recommendation from CCA: “ The Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) recommends that people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity DO NOT consume the gluten-free labeled Cheerios products at this time because of concerns about the potential levels of gluten in boxes of these cereals. The CCA is receptive to evaluating any additional information that General Mills is willing to disclose.” Gluten Free Watchdog is in complete agreement with the CCA's position on “gluten-free” Cheerios Gluten-free Cheerios will be widely available in Canada...
30
Oct
2015
The gluten-free oats situation & why it is such a sticky wicket
Gluten Free Watchdog Position Statement on Oats: Gluten Free Watchdog supports the use of gluten-free oats by the celiac disease community that are produced under a robust gluten-free purity protocol.* At this time we do not in general support the use of regular commodity oats that are cleaned at the “end” of production via mechanical and/or optical sorting. We are not necessarily opposed to the use of such oats in the future if their gluten-free status can be definitively demonstrated via a rigorous...
12
Feb
2015
General Mills “Gluten-Free” Cheerios: Comment from Gluten Free Watchdog
Update July 22, 2015: Please see Gluten Free Watchdog's updated statement on Gluten-Free Cheerios https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/gluten-free-cheerios-take-two/ Update March 29, 2015: Gluten-Free Cheerios, Grain Millers, Oats, and Mechanical “Cleaning” As Gluten Free Watchdog reported in February, General Mills is using a proprietary mechanical sorting process to remove wheat and barley from the oats they will use in their gluten-free Cheerios. In general, mechanical cleaning of grains separates out unwanted materials based on size, shape, and color among other attributes. Mechanical sorting/cleaning of grains is nothing...
11
Feb
2015
Manufacturer Use of Regular Oats in Gluten-Free Foods: Statement from Gluten Free Watchdog
Ten years ago individuals with celiac disease were advised against eating oats. This was not because oats inherently contain gluten but because oats available commercially were highly likely to be contaminated with wheat or barley. Ten years ago we did not have oats that were specially produced and processed to be gluten-free. Today, thanks to the pioneering efforts of Cream Hill Estates, Avena Foods, Great Northern Growers/Montana Gluten-Free, and Gluten-Free Harvest specially produced and processed gluten-free oats and oat ingredients...
10
Jul
2014