My Trip to the UK

NorthernElf · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:10 am Post subject: My Trip to the UK

Just thought I'd write a short bit about my experience. I got glutened a few times and now I have some tips to help others avoid this !

Read, read, read labels.
Things that are safe here aren't necessarily safe over there. My second night there we had lamb with mint sauce and I was pretty ill the next morning. Many of their condiments over there contain MALT vinegar - mustard, hot mustard, HP sauce, etc. Ugh. I should have read the label - it said it contained gluten.

Know your cooking methods.
Fast forward a few days to a Bed & Breakfast in Scotland. I order a couple of poached eggs with my coffee & eat my Mrs. Mays gluten free nut bar, patting myself on the back. My second egg tastes kind of vinegary - my sister in law says that if you poach eggs in just boiling water, vinegar is added so they keep their shape. It's not long until I'm very nauseous and visiting the bathroom and just wanna go lie down...as we're touring the sites. The light goes on the next morning while I'm in the shower contemplating breakfast - of course, they would have used MALT vinegar again ! I have hardboiled eggs at breakfast.

I get ill from a smoothie that I didn't read the label on. Apparently, smoothies with added barley are big (ugh).

The UK has pretty good labelling - most products have an allergy alert written right on them and wheat, barley, and gluten are listed if present. What gets difficult is when you grab a product that doesn't have it - are there no allergens present or does this product just not include the alerts ? Hence my fourth glutening on baked beans. Ack - no allergen listing BUT gluten in the ingredients that I missed (thought I could go by the alert alone). Ugh.

I'm so excited Canada is going to start this type of labelling by the end fo the year.

Products I liked in the UK...
GF pita bread, naan bread, pasta, cookies, Walkers crisps (chips - says suitable for celiacs right on the bag, baked chips too). The larger grocery stores have a "Free From" section that includes vegetarian and GF products, all labelled. Marks & Spencers have take away salads such as grilled chicken and feta, etc. that have the allergy alert on them (many with no gluten, yay!).

Oh, and I really enjoyed Greens gluten free beer !

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 195 Location: Chicago

I also recently got back from the UK...and there are some definite differences...like you pointed out. I did however react to their gluten free items. The ingredients were all fine...but I think with the 200ppm allowed, it was too much for me. I did notice that their breads and stuff were so much better- but then they kind of made me sick- so I guess not so good. They had better texture. I think I also messed up with the diet pepsi- I'm not sure their caramel colour is safe. Plus, like you said- the malt vinegar is everywhere. They did have a lot of GF options though, and if the 200ppm doesn't bother you- it would be really great.
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Rachel