<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> How does one get past the feeling of hopelessness that Treasure talks about, what with one cross-contamination story after another filling this list? (My stupid mailer won't quote her post :-( The answer that I've found is *very* simple, if not always easy. I watch what I put in my mouth. If I get something contaminated that is not supposed to be, I complain, *loudly* to the shopkeeper or restaurant involved....(she says, as she is about to start day 2 of the ye olde brown rice, seaweed, acidophilus and steamed veggie routine to *try* and put the digestive system back together after a real mess last week :-( For instance, I bought some allegedly GF muffins from a local health food store last week - muffins I'd eaten in the past with no problems. Didn't bother to read the label - I eat these puppies all the time! Whammo! The stupid store changed the formula. I *know* the flour mix they use is good (same one I use at home). Read the ingredient list. Whoops. They're using a new soymilk to mix them with (one I seem to remember having given up because, even though it tasted good, it was barley-malt sweetened). Grrr... Call the store and scream. Call the local celiac support group and kvetch. Secretary at the support group said unprintable words and said it would be checked that day (along with a message to the flour mix supplier to let him know).... I don't think that chain will be selling those muffins as GF for long :-) This is what happens when I want someone else to do my cooking for me. If I confine my eating out to relatively simple things, I'm fine. I've been known to carry my own (safe) meals on outings, and to tuck dried fruit and nuts in my backpack for longer trips. Oftentimes, I'll duck into a market for fresh fruit and baby carrots while husband and daughter grab a fast food meal - I'll be perfectly happy with a lunch of 3 or 4 nice pieces of fruit instead of something more substantial if I know I won't get sick from it... It's also easier to stick to this if you treat yourself well... I can remember opening my lunchbox at one graduate school outing I was on. Every one else was eating fastfood sandwiches. I had packed (on ice): hand-carved roast turkey, a steamed artichoke with curry mayonnaise, a salad with balsamic vinagrette (home-made), popovers (again home-made), fresh fruit salad and a brownie. Everyone wanted *my* lunch ;-) Trust me - it was a *lot* easier not to be envious of their sandwiches when *everyone* wanted *my* meal ;-) ;-) While I was envious of the time-saving of their "meals", I sure ate a lot better that day ;-) karen You get past the hopelessness by being pro-active rather than re-active. Trust me - it's a lot easier to relax when you're well-fed with good-for-you food, rather than paying homage to the "porcelain goddess".... Karen M. Davis, Davis & Associates 818-892-8555 [log in to unmask] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first rule of magic is simple. Don't waste your time waving your hands & hoping when a rock or a club will do. (attributed to McCloctnik the Lucid)