So, I got glutened
Slip-ups in grocery shopping
The amount of confidence, which I had gathered over almost three years of gluten-free shopping, was shattered recently. Yes, I got glutened in my own home. The kitchen brags about being 100% gluten-free. “How could it happen?”, you may ask. Well, that’s what this post is about. I wish sharing this helps someone, and maybe lets you know that you’re not alone.
Let’s rollback to beginning. I went for the grocery run on Thursday, as I always do. The list was pretty normal. I had bought everything on it more than once before. So, I was familiar with gluten-free alternatives/brands for each product I needed. I cook most meals, so most items are always from produce section. All of us are pretty clear about gluten in produce, right? Only the snacks, which come packaged have to be bought carefully.
Last week, one such snack on the list was hot-dog buns. I usually get those by the brand named Western Family from the frozen section. If I find Promise-brand ones, I’ll get those sometimes. The section of the freezer only has gluten-free items on all shelves: cakes, breads, bagels, buns, pizza crusts and more. I saw a new brand package with hot dog buns in it. And yes, I put it in the cart.
If you’re a fellow celiac, you know what I am talking about. It’s not a bizzarre behaviour. A new gluten-free item is discovered, and that item must be “tasted for science”. Sounds familiar, eh?
Let’s make hot-dogs
A few days later, on a saturday afternoon, my partner and I were down for a mid-afternoon snack. About 20 minutes after the thought, on the dining table. I took a bite. Incredible!
Trust me when I say, I could taste the gluten in the bun, but couldn’t accept that there was.
“This bun is so good. Is it even gluten-free?”, I said.
Immediately, my partner’s face changed. She got worried, rushed to the kitchen, checked the package (of the buns), and screamed: “Stop! I’m sorry.” Not her fault, really. Both of us were there when we bought the buns. But 2 bites were more than enough to cause damage.
Since then, I am having heart palpitations, feel lethargic, inflammation on my face and hands, can’t walk for long, brain fog, loss of appetite and bad bowel movements. It’s been a week, I’m recovering. Thanks for worrying!
And thanks for reading too!
Always read the packages, a little slip-up can cost weeks of recovery.