Special Statement on Purity Protocol Gluten-Free Oats from Gluten Free Watchdog

Special Statement on Purity Protocol Gluten-Free Oats from Gluten Free Watchdog

Based on testing commissioned by Gluten Free Watchdog, we do not recommend the use GF Harvest brand oats as a source of purity protocol oats. This product line will not be included in the updated purity protocol listing on Gluten Free Watchdog.

Also based on testing commissioned by Gluten Free Watchdog, we do not recommend the use of Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats. We have been unable to confirm the source of oats used by Trader Joe’s in this product. Based on language included on product packaging as well as information available on the Trader Joe’s website (see photos), consumers have assumed that the oats in this product are purity protocol.

Gluten Free Watchdog has spoken with all known suppliers of purity protocol oats in Canada (packaging reads product of Canada). According to these suppliers, none of them provide oats to Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s has been unable to provide us with the source of their oats.

Gluten Free Watchdog has temporarily removed from the website the listing of purity protocol suppliers. If you are a manufacturer and you sell single ingredient purity protocol gluten-free oat products sourced directly from Avena Foods, Montana Gluten Free, or MGM Seed & Grain/Bay State Milling ONLY, please contact us info@glutenfreewatchdog.org. If you are a manufacturer who previously was included in this listing, please reach out again with updated information.

If you believe Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats made you or a family member ill, please file a complaint with an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator. A listing is available at https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda/consumer-complaint-coordinators.

Back packaging of Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats.
Screenshot from Trader Joe’s website taken 9/28/22.

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Comments (10)

  • C. Bryce Reply

    Thank you, GFW,

    This is just my experience, I don’t want to contradict you, but I have a pretty strong (nausea, bed ridden, body pain like fever) reaction to gluten and have eaten Trader Joe’s oats pretty often and have had no problems. I hope they are found to be safe by others.

    September 29, 2022 at 4:34 am
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      You are reporting your experience not contradicting. Our statement is based on our testing and concern about product labeling that suggests the oats are purity protocol. Like you, we hope this issue is limited and not widespread.

      September 29, 2022 at 12:56 pm
  • Beth Nolan Reply

    What about Trader Joe’s over night oats? Those made me violently ill.

    October 6, 2022 at 3:38 am
  • Lin Reply

    How many PPM are you testing to?

    October 6, 2022 at 2:39 pm
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      The Ridascreen gliadin R5 ELISA has a lower limit of quantification of 5 parts per million of gluten. The competitive R5 ELISA has a lower limit of quantification of 10 parts per million of gluten (used to detect gluten protein fragments) Products are reported to FDA when they test out of compliance with the gluten-free labeling rule (i.e., testing at/above 20 parts per million of gluten).

      October 6, 2022 at 2:49 pm
  • Aston Bloom Reply

    What about Bob’s Red Mill GF rolled oats?

    October 14, 2022 at 6:01 pm
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      Bob’s Red Mill uses both purity protocol and sorted oats in their labeled gluten-free oat products.

      October 14, 2022 at 6:37 pm
  • Sharla Reply

    Hi, when will a new list of purity protocol oats be on the website? Thank you!

    November 21, 2022 at 3:09 pm

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