On July 16, I published my “gluten free food list”. My intention is some day to publish a list that will enable people to shop for gluten. I am closer to this goal than I was last week but keep in mind that THIS IS NOT A GLUTEN FREE LIST YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. Do not rely on it when you are doing your shopping. Instead, give me feedback that will help me improve and if necessary correct the list. Send me an e-mail at gfceliac@gmail.com or leave a comment at the end of this article.

  For the purpose of this list, I have divided all foods into three categories:

  RED ———— for foods that are totally inappropriate for anyone living gluten free.

  YELLOW —– for questionable items. This list needs to be subdivided, since it includes foods that might be a problem, foods that are probably but not necessarily off-limits, and everything in between. These are all the “maybe foods”, the “gray areas”.

  GREEN ——- for foods that are naturally gluten free.

  Here is the current copy of the list. Foods that have been added are at the end of the category and are in italics and bold type:

++++++ RED LIST ++++++

items totally inappropriate for those living gluten free 

Barley, malt, bulgar, couscous, dinkle, durham, einkorn, edible starch, farina, kamut, seminola, spelt, triticale, vital gluten, rye, semolina

++++++ YELLOW LIST ++++++

questionable / more information needed before choosing

some brands may be acceptable

boullion, blue cheese, broth, croutons, dextrin, filler, hydrolyzed plant or vegetable protein, maltodextrin, matzah, modified food starch, miso, modified food starch, mono-diglycerides, mustard powder, brown rice syrup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, oats, beer, vodka, ice cream, pickles, cereal

++++++ GREEN LIST ++++++

“safe” foods for those living gluten free 

unprocessed fruits, nuts, meats, and vegetables; frozen fruits and vegetables not in a sauce; distilled alcohol, amaranth, arrowtoot, buckwheat, chickpeas, cornmeal, dextrose, gelatin, flax, grits, masa, millet, montina, nuts, oils, polenta, quinoa, rice, sesame, silicon dioxide, sorghum, tamari, tapioca, teff, vinegar (except malt vinegar), yogurt without fillers, wine without added flavorings.

May I stress one more time that this is NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION for gluten free shopping. Some day it will be. But now it is a document that needs your input and suggestions. You are the experts and the people who most need accurate information. Send me an e-mail at gfceliac@gmail.com or leave a comment at the end of this article.

Published 7/21/08