Glutened at Restaurant

[humbird753]

I had not eaten out at all for at least 2 months until this past Saturday in celebration of a friend's birthday. I though it would be safe. I ordered a gluten-free steak, potato (brought my own Earth Balance), and cooked veggies, and of course water. When they came to deliver my meal there it was right on top of my steak (a breaded deep fried onion ring)

My husband asked if I wanted them to redo my order, but I said that's okay, I'd eat it anyway, but please don't let that happen again. I had to explain that the breaded onion ring was gluten. I believe people think we are too picky, and we're making a big deal over nothing.

I didn't think it would bother me, but had difficulty sleeping Saturday night because of pain on my lower left side. This is not a symptom that has been typical for me. I never experienced pain with my MC until that night. After I went to the bathroom, the pain subsided and I was able to get some sleep. But - Sunday and also yesterday I had more pain in the center and very low and probably made 5 trips to the bathroom each of those days. I am beginning to feel better today.

Is it really possible that the onion ring caused those symptoms??? Oh - I didn't eat the onion ring, I held my plate toward my friend and told her she could have it.

Although I rarely eat out, it surprises me that a restaurant will offer gluten-free foods, and yet they don't seem to know what that means.

I can fully understand fast-foot restaurants not understanding or offering gluten-free foods. But, IMO finer dining restaurants should be educated on not only food allergies, but gluten sensitivity (and what it is).

Paula

[tex]

Is it really possible that the onion ring caused those symptoms???

Definitely! I'm very sorry that happened, but yes, just the process of dropping or placing the onion ring on top of the steak, and/or removing it is guaranteed to dislodge particles that contain enough gluten to cause the symptoms that you experienced afterward.

I agree with you that any restaurant that would do that clearly does not understand the gluten issue at all, regardless of their claims. They are obviously gluten-illiterate.

Tex

[patc73]

I was reading a menu yesterday for a "destination" restaurant here in Michigan called Turkeyville (obviously, everything is turkey!) The menu had a "Gluten Free" section with four selections. Three were basically a salad with sliced turkey on top. The fourth was a stir fry, which I probably couldn't have anyway if they use soy sauce. But the stir fry's last sentence said, "Side roll." Hmmmm. I don't think they know what Gluten Free means either.

[ldubois7]

So, Tex, are you saying that if for example I am making a sandwich for my son using white bread, just getting that on my hands and maybe then eating my lunch, can cause a reaction?

[gluten]

Hi, When, eating out I always try to eat out on nights when the resturant is not busy. I always ask for the chef when I have a question about ingredients. On busy nights the chef is rarely available and most servers are not trained about the dangers of gluten. I always question the ingredients listed for the gluten free meals that are offered. Any meal with soy sauce should always be questioned becuase the resturant may not buy g-f soy sauce. Jon

[tex]

So, Tex, are you saying that if for example I am making a sandwich for my son using white bread, just getting that on my hands and maybe then eating my lunch, can cause a reaction?

Most definitely, if you don't wash your hands before touching your own food. Allowing your own food to contact the counter top, or plate, or knife, or anything else that contacted wheat bread would also virtually guarantee contamination with gluten (unless those items are wiped clean or washed, before contacting your own food).

Unless you happen to have an unusually high tolerance threshold for gluten (unusually high compared with most of us here), it only takes tiny trace amounts to trigger a reaction. A few of us, however, can tolerate trace amounts without noticing any symptoms.

Tex

[lando]

My guess is most restaurants, don't know and don't care.

I live in Orlando, and Disney restaurants are the only gluten free restaurant I would go to. They have to know. Tourism is their business. Plus i have talked to a few that have worked there, and they are very strict about it. But I would just rather not go out, because i don't have enough self control, to avoid it, if it is sitting on my table.

[tlras]

I question restaurants who have "gluten free menus" rather than "Allergen Menus". I found out that the restaurant I've been frequenting that has the gluten free menu (they call it their health menu) is not careful with cross contamination. I found this out just recently after finding a little rice pilaf in my steamed spinach. It seems the restaurants with the actual "allergen Menus" are more careful and more informative when it comes to gluten. But not all I suppose.

@Linda...funny you should mention hand washing after touching something with gluten. I just realized about a month ago that I wasn't washing my hands after making my son's lunch for school. I now am very meticulous about the washing...a pain, but necessary. Sometimes though during the dinner meal, I may forget but have been better about it recently....just have to wash my hands sooo much as my son and hubby eat gluten. Before all this hand washing I've been doing, I never reacted to anything but have heard from the Celiac group (I'm celiac) that some Celiacs or those very sensitive to gluten can react to even a crumb. Unbelievable! So wash those hands. There are many times that I have forgotten and then touched the refrigerator, etc. and wondering if I've passed on gluten to my appliances....jeez!! I must wash my hands about 50 times a day!!

Terri

[ldubois7]

Thanks, Terri.

I am more conscious now, but can't believe this is an issue with us. I'm learning more every day!

I am an elementary teacher, and was used to washing my hands frequently, but not as much at home! :)

[LindyLou]

I just wanted to relate a wonderful experience I had at our local Outback restaurant. As a standard policy, when I'm at a restaurant I will ask the server if they know what celiac disease is and if they don't I try to give them a fundamental explanation of what it is and why I need to be gluten free. Calling it celiac just makes it easier. Anyway last time I was there the waitress immediately knew what I was talking about. We ordered the crab and guacamole appetizer and just when I was about to request to have the tortilla chips served on a separate plate, she is the one who said that she will serve them separately so the food didn't become cross contaminated. In addition to that, she brought me 2 of the most wonderful gluten free rolls I have ever tasted. There is hope !!! I wrote to the franchise operator as soon as I got home to let them know they are doing something very right! I just wished I had more servers like this one.

[carolm]

Paula, I eat at 2 restaurants that also put butter on their steaks as they grill them. I noticed one place listed soy as an ingredient on their steaks. When I asked it was because the butter contains soy. That's another possibility when eating out that I would never have been aware of if I hadn't developed LC. Grilled steaks may be basted with butter, if we don't ask for something different.

Carol

[humbird753]

Carol - thanks for the warning on this. I'll have to be sure I ask that question also.

Paula

[OttawaGrl]

I was having a lot of problems when going out to eat. Even tho they said the food was GF and I asked a million questions, I always seemed to have a reaction. Then I found this restaurant in my city that is Amazing!!! Almost everything they offer is GF. Even have meals that are gf,df,sf,ef. Everything is made in house including their sauces. They had our local celiac association come out and do a complete overhaul on the restaurant to make sure everything was safe for GF people. They even have some desserts I can eat!! Anyways I was finally happy to find a place I can eat at and its good! :) So if anyone ever comes to Ottawa Canada, go to the Foolish Chicken! :)