Following a gluten-free diet for close to eight years makes me somewhat of an expert. I know what foods contain gluten and what foods don’t. I know which specialty gluten-free foods are worth the money and which ones aren’t. I know how to read and decipher labels, yet I get complacent. I think many of us get to the point where we have our group of products we use, have done the research, and then stop or not make a habit of checking the label each and every time we purchase and eat them.
I am going to share my latest experience with you all. We have been buying Prego pasta sauces for years…long before we had to follow the gluten-free diet. Prego recently introduced Alfredo sauces to their line-up. To be honest I quickly glanced at the label and though it didn’t say, “gluten-free” like the Three Cheese red sauce, I wasn’t overly concerned because it was a new product and there was nothing on the label that I was concerned about knowing that Campbell’s clearly labels gluten on their products.
I was this close to serving this for dinner the other night. My eyes are usually looking for “natural flavoring”, which may contain barley malt, or “wheat starch”, so I was a little taken aback when I saw “malt extract” in the spice flavoring. Phew…so thankful that I checked before making a big mistake!
Following the gluten-free diet requires diligence, patience, understanding, and the ability to realize that you will make mistakes. We all do, we all will. After all, “To err is human; to forgive is divine”, right?
Care you share your close calls or mistakes with us? Use the comments section below.
Leave a Reply