Costco Eliminating Gluten-Free Products from Nova Scotian Shelves

I’ve posted a few times about the great gluten-free options at our Costco stores in Dartmouth and Halifax, including pizza, pastas, crackers, deli meats, and pretzels. Last year, we visited Costco stores in Calgary and Edmonton and saw even more gluten-free options. We were excited, thinking that this meant more gluten-free options were coming our way.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true. The Bayers Lake and Dartmouth Costco stores have stopped selling Breton gluten-free crackers, gluten-free pasta, and even some types of quinoa. Who knows what products will get the axe next. It’s hard to believe that last fall people were told that there would be a gluten-free section in the Bayers Lake Costco!

This is even more disappointing considering that posts that I’ve seen recently on Facebook and Twitter indicate this is not part of Costco’s overall strategy. Some Costco stores in the United States now carry supersized loaves of Udi’s bread. The Costco in Quebec carries Glutenberg beer.

If you’re disappointed in Costco’s decision too, please fill out a comment card the next time you’re at the store and put it in their suggestion box. We’ve been told that this box is emptied and read daily and that the store does listen to suggestions. We’ll keep you up to date with any developments!

Glutenberg is Coming Back to Town

Earlier this summer, we noticed a lack of Glutenberg beer at our local NSLC. We asked an NSLC employee what was going on, and we were told that it was being discontinued. In a panic, we tweeted at Garrison Brewing, who imports the beer from Quebec microbrewery Brasseurs Sans Gluten. It was all a mistake, they said. In fact, they were working on bringing another variety (in addition to the blonde) into Nova Scotia.

Fast-forward six weeks and the Glutenberg shortage got worse. In fact, it was taken off the NSLC’s website entirely, and as of today, it’s still missing. We tweeted at Garrison again and were told that it was some kind of trade dispute at the provincial level that was out of their hands. Since then, both Garrison and the NSLC have reassured us that Glutenberg will be back on shelves by the end of October.

Read more…

Delta Airlines Meals Are Not Gluten-Free

Here’s a scary reminder that we need to read every ingredient, all the time! In her latest post, blogger Elaine Taylor-Klaus talks about how her family was served a gluten-containing meal on Delta airlines that was marked gluten-free. This is the third time that this has happened! Even worse, Delta Airlines places the blame on […]

Thanks to Damian Cardone!

I’d like to say thank you to Damian Cardone, the asinine Colorado chef who sparked an Internet uproar a few days ago by ranting on Facebook about how gluten-free food is nonsense, and how he often served customers regular pasta when they asked for gluten-free pasta.

Cardone’s infuriating remarks have spread like wildfire throughout the Internet, hitting major media outlets like the Denver Post and The View. In turn, allergies in general, Celiac disease, and the gluten-free diet have been thrust into the spotlight. Awareness has been raised and people are becoming more educated.

So thank you, Mr. Cardone. By publicly displaying your ignorance and intolerance, you have raised awareness for the very cause that you called “bullshit.”

Update on Chef Damian Cardone

Yesterday I blogged about Damian Cardone, the Colorado chef who went on a rant on his Facebook page admitting to poisoning those with Celiac disease.

Although his Facebook page appears to be shut down, here’s a snapshot of the page yesterday:

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Head Chef at U.S. Restaurant Calls Gluten-Free “BS”

Damian Cardone, a chef at Florindo’s Italian Cuisine in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has posted this on his Facebook page:

“Gluten free is bullshit!! Flour and bread have been a staple of life for thousands, THOUSANDS of years. People who claim to be gluten intolorent dont realize that its all in there disturbed liitle heads. People ask me for gluten free pasta in my restaurant all the time, I tell em sure, Then I serve serve em our pasta, Which I make from scratch with high gluten flour. And you know what? nothing, NOTHING! ever happens! People leave talking about how good they feel gluten free and guess what, They just had a full dose! Idiots!”

There is also this gem: “May god help the Liberal hippie idiot whos going to ask for gluten free pasta this weekend.”

This is just appalling. It looks like the Reddit hivemind is taking some action… but it’s terrible to see such appalling, harmful behavior from someone who is supposed to be an executive chef in the food industry.

UPDATE: The Facebook pages referenced above are now unavailable. Will keep you up to date if I hear more on this winner of a chef!

UPDATE 2: Here

Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Not Coming to Canada!!!

When we received news the other day that gluten-free Rice Krispies would be available in May, we immediately contacted Kellogg Canada to find out where they would be available.

Sadly, they said, “Unfortunately, the product you inquired about will not be available in Canada.

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Five Foods that Should be Gluten-Free… But Aren’t

Ever since I have been diagnosed with Celiac disease, one thing frustrates me the most. It’s not the stupid comments from people, insensitivity of others, or even the restricted nature of the diet.

No, what irritates me is food that should be gluten-free but isn’t because of a single additive. Here is my list of pet peeve products.