Online, at big box stores, or from your local grocery retailer, wherever you shop, there’s probably some gluten free selection available. Nowadays, even your regular food provider at the corner of this and that street probably stocks something without gluten. And we’re not talking fruits & veggies, rice & legumes, potatoes and eggs. Well, not just.
Of course, all food companies stock foods that are naturally gluten-free, not necessarily to cater to people who suffer from gluten intolerance, but because these are staple foods that any supermarket and any grocery retailer, however small, carries.
But in addition to these, many stores today carry products specifically made for people who either need or want to remove gluten from their diet for particular reasons. When on a gluten free diet and in need to find quality foods, you may ask yourself, can you really trust companies that sell gluten-free labeled products?
Answer: you can, if you know from whom and what exactly you are buying.
Side note: as of 2014, new laws enacted by the FDA no longer allow food manufacturers to label products as gluten-free unless they contain the amount of gluten deemed safe for people intolerant to gluten, which is 20ppm or less. For example, if you buy a gluten-free granola bar that contains oats, then the product must have 20ppm of gluten or gluten-free oats.
So yes, if you learn to read the list of ingredients and the product labels, learn to interpret the advisory statements, there are very few chances to buy something that isn’t safe. And what is available in terms of both gluten-free foods and stores is quite a lot. Here are some foods and stores to shop when gluten-free.
Gluten Free Foods and Stores
Bob’s Red Mill – Here is a company that produces natural foods, grain-based (but not only) while also providing gluten-free flours, baking mixes and other safe products for people with celiac disease. Bob’s is probably among the oldest food processors in the country to have catered to people on a gluten-free diet since the earliest stages of the disease’s recognition.
None of their gluten-free products contain more than 19ppm of gluten, and moreover, they have a separate facility where they handle only gluten-free foods. Kudos!
Nature’s Path Foods – Sells certified organic products among which is a decent selection of safe and real gluten free foods, mostly breakfast items, for kids and for adults. They operate traditional stores mainly in North America, but you can find them online. Free shipping is available on orders over $45.
There’s something about this company that stands out, and that’s their approach to sustainable ways of doing business aside from the fact that they produce healthy, vegetarian and vegan foods.
Enjoy Life Foods – This particular company is actually one of the major players in the gluten-free food market, and they don’t just produce products for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance, but for people with various allergies too.
They carry in fact a gluten-free selection of products and also a range of specially-made foods for celiacs. What they sell are snack bars, cookies, breakfast foods and cereals, all treats to pamper people with various levels of sensitivity to gluten.