Gluten free shoppers must read labels defensively. Manufacturers generally meet the legal requirement that they inform us if their product contains wheat.

But that is all they are obligated to do. “Voluntary Advisory Statements” such as “Products containing soybeans , dairy tree nuts, and wheat are manufactured on the same production line as this product” are optional and totally unregulated. Cynthia Kupper, head of the Gluten Intolerance Group, reminded our local support group recently that these statements are placed there by lawyers and not dieticians.

I agree. Sure, I feel comfortable when I learn that something was prepared in a dedicated facility, but I take other statements about as seriously as I take the warning that Starbuck’s places on every coffee cup informing me that the liquid in that cup is probably hot. That’s been my personal philosophy during my decade as a diagnosed celiac and my policy when I write for this blog. (I guess that is my “Voluntary Advisory Warning Label”)

Published 9/16/08