Oats and Gluten Free

[Sweetjane]

We are avoding gluten for DS and therefore not using oats. I'm a little unclear on this as some claim it is cross contamination with wheat and others claim that oats themselves contain gluten. My question is this...could we use whole or steel cut oats and wash them really well before using them? What exactly is this gluten free oatmeal that I've seen, anyway?

Thanks in advance...

[nalo]

My ND just told me that it's all about cross contamination and that Irish and other high quality steel cut oats are just fine. They are not produced on machinery that also processes foods with gluten I guess (otherwise, why would she recommend they are okay).

[jocelyndale]

There are a handful of brands sold in the US which are certified free of contamination from rye, barley, and wheat (from field to mill). A quick google search for gluten free oats will bring up brands.

Some folks with celiac disease still react to avenin in oats as it is similar to the gluten proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. Many do not.

[Sweetjane]

Hi,

I have seen the certified gluten free brands, but just wondered if I could use whole oats or steel cut oats and wash them. I figured those would be easier to "wash" than rolled oats. The price of the gluten free ones is just too much for us. We are dealing with an intolerance, not celiac or allergy, so I am not overly concenred about cross contamination. Well I made some steel cut oats (McCann's from Ireland) this morning, so we'll see how it goes. I hope it goes well, because he LOVED IT.

Thanks!!

[tanyalynn]

Are you trying to make a specific oat recipe, or just use this as a hot cereal? If the latter, we've liked buckwheat. Nice flavor, nice texture.

[jocelyndale]

Originally Posted by Sweetjane

Hi,

I have seen the certified gluten free brands, but just wondered if I could use whole oats or steel cut oats and wash them. I figured those would be easier to "wash" than rolled oats. The price of the gluten free ones is just too much for us. We are dealing with an intolerance, not celiac or allergy, so I am not overly concenred about cross contamination. Well I made some steel cut oats (McCann's from Ireland) this morning, so we'll see how it goes. I hope it goes well, because he LOVED IT.

Thanks!!

Do you think you can identify a cracked wheatberry and remove it from your cut oats? That's next to impossible. With a keen eye and time, you can remove wheatberries and ryeberries from a bucket of oat groats, then wash well.

McCann's has been tested with varying levels of cross contamination, ranging from undetectable to over 700ppm. They themselves "reckon" (no testing) that they have no more/around 0.05% foreign grains (500ppm). That's not safe enough for me.

If you're not worried about cross contamination, why bother washing or asking?

[Sweetjane]

Jocelyndale,

Maybe it is just the way it came across in writing, but your ast post seemed somewhat sarcastic and rude. I said that I am not overly concenred about cross contamination, not that I am not concerned. DS is allergic and anaphylactic to several foods, and for those I am keenly and obsessively aware of cross contamination. The reason I "bothered to ask" is that his diet is extremely limited and I was hoping to perhaps find a new food to brighten his day. I am not aware of the specifics of oat manufacturing in Ireland and therefore usure if I was dealing with possible dust and residue or actual pieces of other grains. This is why people ask quetions. Thanks.

[jplain]

In your situation, I think I'd go for gluten-free oats. That way I wouldn't have to wonder if cross-contamination of oats was the problem if my child developed any symptoms. In my experience, the gluten-free oats aren't that much more expensive than McCann's ~ maybe you can find them cheaper if you look around or look online.

[jocelyndale]

I was asking an honest question. With grains, cross-contamination is rarely just dust, it's actual grain.