Coffee Shop Owner Admits Selling Contaminated Gluten-Free Pastries

Recently, I went to Montclair, NJ a place that offers a diverse subculture and health conscious community. I was told to enjoy a coffee shop, Trend Coffee & Tea, but something wasn't right about it when I walked in... Despite the inviting Montclair community storefront and Trend's comfortable choice of music, the Gluten-Free (GF) claims I read about and heard from my peers were indeed false and pure ignorance.

Trend Coffee & Tea House LLC

411 Bloomfield Ave

Montclair, NJ 07042

(973) 744-1333

Trend in Montclair, NJ is a typical  example of a business who doesn't care about what gluten-free actually means, nor knows of any of the important safety concerns, but seeks a profit. 

Trend's Coffee & Tea Shop female manager/owner explained they DO NOT:

• bake gluten-free products in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen
• utilize clean gluten-free utensils, pots, pans, aprons, ovens 
• wrap items in plastic, paper or separate from airborn gluten pastry contamination
• 3rd party or individually test products for gluten contamination
• care to understand what gluten-free actually means when I explained it to them
• care to separate, adjust or remove their gluten-free products going forward because they make money selling these products

Further, when I requested the manager/owner to explain their gluten-free claims, they had none. I found out through her aggression that they indeed had no idea what gluten-free meant just that it sells well so they keep selling them. Trend's manager/owner explained to me, "Wholefoods labels everything gluten-free, so we do, too." Clearly this is not a true statement as all Wholefoods I've spoken to have told me that they don't label prepared foods gluten-free because there is a risk of contamination on premise. She is a liar. This was her defense against not caring about what gluten-free is all about. This woman just wants to get customers in the cafe to make money, period.

Promote Establishments Who Sell Gluten-Free (GF) Products & Report False Claims

• If you see something not gluten-free say something and explain the gluten-free facts
• Gluten-free symbolizes gluten-free ingredients from manufacturing to preparation to consumer
• FDA passed a law for 2014 that all GF labels must adhere to <20 ppm gluten testing
• Report gluten-free false advertising and claims to me and other blogger/authorities to protect others (GlutenFreeG@Gmail.com)