Everbest Bakery and Pastry Shoppe Gluten Free Fail

 

Interesting photo to asses here. Why? We have a traditional bakery and a uniquely dedicated gluten free retail store, side by side, in East Northport, Long Island. Although it may be difficult to see from a distance, on the right is the "Strictly Gluten Free" retailer and "Everbest Bakery & Pastry Shoppe" (couldn't find their website) on the left. Yet these opposite businesses are both promising gluten free products. Hmm mm m, this is going to end bad unfortunately for one of them, can you guess who? 

Gluten Free Bakery Items Will Make You Sick

CAN YOU SPOT THE GLUTEN FREE FAIL?

Introducing

 Mountain Oven 

Crested Butte, Colorado 

Shame On Better4UFoods: An Expo West 2015 Fail

If you've ever attended a food show as a trade professional or even as a shopper who loves seeking the healthy and sustainable food, beverages and services, you'd assume food allergies and gluten health risks are a top priority! This pizza manufacturer, Better4UFoods, was so clueless that it's now time I share this story of ignorance in the gluten-free and allergen marketplace. Health and safety concerns can no longer be tolerated. 

Better4UFoods Pizza Ruins My Expo West

Unfortunately, my expo west was cut short due to a brand, Better4UFoods, that had no idea what legitimate, safe gluten-free food is all about.  I'm not upset at Expo West, more at myself along with Better4UFoods who has a pizza company that decided to enter the gluten-free market to capitalize on profits of the growing industry. Better4UFoods is a classic example of what not to do as a manufacturer in the gluten-free market because of how they do not comprehend the seriousness of gluten-free lifestyles.  

Are Better4UFoods Amateurs?

I'm asking for your opinion on more of the details. As shown above, Better4UFoods' Expo West booth served regular pizza in an oven while their entire trade show booth backdrop had their gluten-free banner, and had a Gluten Intolerance Group certified gluten-free sign on their table near their pizza samples. Let me ask you, would you expect their pizza on the table to have gluten knowing this?  

Better4UFoods Cross Contamination Fail

On Saturday afternoon at Expo West, Better4UFoods failed the gluten-free test. Their booth had a few people, and the staff behind the booth were talking about their products and options such as Daiya cheeses they source with an interested trade pro. I listened in  as they talked about gluten-free, analyzing their booth and the certified gluten-free sign blatantly at the front of the table.  Although, I was at Expo West since Wednesday, I admit my fatigue got the best of me. I already had what seemed like a few hundred gluten-free conversations, so I mistakenly "assumed" this booth was gluten-free safe due to the signs everywhere.  Wow, was I wrong and upset, utterly devastated to make the mistake that I haven't made in over a decade of my life, assuming food is gluten-free without asking. 

Why Wasn't Better4UFoods Trade Show Staff Educated?

I asked the woman and man behind the table what was in their gluten free pizza, while handing off my business card on their table,  elaborating that I was a gluten-free blogger. As I tasted it, they said, "We aren't serving gluten-free pizza now." So I said, "excuse me, this is not gluten-free pizza on your gluten-free table?" They looked around puzzled, scared and in that silence, I did what any other Celiac Disease diagnosed patron would do... I ran off to the bathroom to eliminate all of the recent samples I just ate by all means necessary. I had no other choice! My trade show and my health would be at risk if my body has an auto-immune attack. Therefore, I tried my best to remove the food from by stomach asap. 

Be wary of supporting gluten-free products from those who know little to nothing of a category that is rooted by actual health concerns - Celiac Disease. 

Better4UFoods tricked me and likely many other innocent gluten-free trade professionals at Expo West 2015. I encourage others to come forward and claim if they were sick after eating at Better4UFoods Expo West 2015 table. We can't stand for this ignorance in our natural food industry. The time to educate all and stop turning your head is now!

Better4UFoods Never Apologized 

I waited over a week to write this article because during this encounter I had left my business card. The woman and man behind the the Better4UFoods booth apparently didn't care that they "glutened" me. My card says that I'm a  gluten-free blogger, my phone, email, social sites and that have Celiac Disease since 1997 are clearly noted on the business card. I received no phone call, email, text or outreach whatsoever. One would think that a company with a backbone of either allergens or gluten related illnesses wouldn't stoop this low. 

Trust is only earned. Never assume, and never trust anything is gluten-free until you read labels and talk to people behind the company. Use your eyes, ears and heart or say NO. 

In our natural products industry, we know that gluten-free isn't a fad, and it only has one strict definition. It's not easy. I repeat, gluten-free is not easy. Clearly, gluten-free guidelines by the FDA issued in August 2014 only helped out a little bit. Gluten-free ingredients and risks of cross contamination must be proven gluten-free safe via product testing <20 ppm per FDA. For those with Celiac Disease, we prefer testing <10 ppm and ideally <5ppm due to so many contamination risks.  Better4UFoods had gluten pizza in the same oven cooking on a table that had gluten free certified signs, and banners everywhere. It's a disgrace in 2015 at a natural food show that gluten health risks still exist by manufacturers who are empowered to set examples.  Yet Better4UFoods tried to save themselves by putting up an "allergen risk" sign on their booth. 

I would never buy a product from Better4UFoods when they conducted this type of health risk in public at a natural products respectable industry trade show. Who knows what happens behind the kitchen oven and in their manufacturing facility. That's my biggest concern to other healthy gluten free consumers and business professionals who trusted them.

Until next food show, I move forward, but I'll never forget.  Have you had a glutened experience and didn't share it? Please share it today so that we can learn from each other.

Subway Ingredient Also Found In Yoga Mats: Azodicarbonamide

Do not eat here!

Thanks to Food Babe's article, millions of USA consumers are now aware that their favorite fast food gluten based bread products use an all-american common unpronounceable ingredient that is banned in most of the world, azodicarbonamide: 

What the Heck is "Azodicarbonamide"

BANNED IN EUROPE, AUSTRALIA & SINGAPORE 

BUT PERMITTED THROUGHOUT USA

WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

Azodicarbonamid is commonly used as a flour bleaching agent in common gluten and dough conditioners according to the the FDA. It's also the same ingredient used in yoga mats, shoe soles, floor mats, and window gaskets.  It's linked to asthma and other possible allergies for works involved in plants... Further, those who work with this ingredient wear masks far more urgently than just to protect their face, but to protect their entire health! Who at the FDA approved this and why is the FDA to be trusted after yet another ridiculous global issue?

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)

Gluten Free Means 100% No Gluten. California Pizza Kitchen's Cross Contamination Is Harming People!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

The gluten-free diet was created for people with an auto immune digestive disease called Celiac Disease.  There is a major epidemic going on right now that can be summarized into two main issues for our gluten-free community to understand:

1. Restaurants who claim to be gluten-free and are not
2. People who eat gluten but say they're gluten-free

The NDDIC reports, The only treatment for Celiac Disease is a gluten-free diet.... For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage.... To stay well, people with Celiac Disease must avoid gluten for the rest of their lives. Eating even a small amount of gluten can damage the small intestine. The damage will occur in anyone with the disease, including people without noticeable symptoms. Depending on a person's age at diagnosis, some problems will not improve, such as short stature and dental enamel defects. To stay well, people with celiac disease must avoid gluten for the rest of their lives. Eating even a small amount of gluten can damage the small intestine. The damage will occur in anyone with the disease, including people without noticeable symptoms. Depending on a person's age at diagnosis, some problems will not improve, such as short stature and dental enamel defects.

Channel 8 & 9 News Reports on Chef in Glenwood Springs

I'd like to take this moment and thank KJCT8 & Colorado 9 news for reporting last night on this important matter:  These are MUST see reports! Click below.


News is that Damian Cardone moved to NJ.... restaurants beware! diners beware!


KJCT8 news: Chef deliberateyl tries to make customers sick. Link
Colorado 9 news: Chef's gluten-free secret posted online uproar. Link

Bad Bakery, Bad

Don't you just love that warm, sweet sensation from breathing in freshly baked bread and pastries at the nearby bakery/cafe? It makes you smile doesn't it? Perhaps you even do a little dance? Great.... well not so great for Celiacs. That's actually a poorly thought out concept. Spending extended amounts of time in a bakery surfin' your laptop breathing in the particles of goodness, could for some very sensitive Celiacs get you ill. And if there is enough freshly baked items in there, there could be flour dust contamination to the coffee, tea, fruit, smoothies or cups, etc. Daang.... The grass is always greener on the next block or two so go hang out at a coffee shop that won't kill ya. I'm sure the coffee there will be just as good.