<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

At 06:10 AM 4/28/01 -0400, Debbie wrote:

>I am wondering about annato.  What is the problem with it?  I have heard
>that the coloring process uses alcohol, which may not be gluten free.
>Does that mean that sometimes it is a problem and sometimes not?
>Because annato is in many cheeses--including some kosher ones which are
>labelled kosher for passover, which should mean gluten-free (no matzah
>in cheese, me thinks :-)

Thought I'd post to the list on this one since it keeps coming up like
some murdered body in a bad mystery :) You're right, Annato color is
fine. It's just the CSA (once again) that says it's suspect. If we
listened to them we'd be eating nothing but rice cakes and water. If you
have questions about any ingredients check Scott Adams's website:
http://www.celiac.com/forbiden.html I printed off the forbidden part of
this list and carried it in my wallet for the first two  years I was on
this diet till I got to know the stuff pretty well. Adams's website is a
good one and was a lot of help to me. Bookmark it; he'll have you
sitting on silk before you know it :)

>I'm also still confused about vinegar.  Done some reading on our
>website, but still not sure exactly which kinds are okay--what about
>white vinegar--is that okay?
>
>Thanks for info.
>
>Debbie

Once again it's the CSA that says not to use some vinegars, especially
distilled vinegars. Actually the only vinegar you have to avoid is malt
vinegar. Some may have an individual sensitivity to vinegar, but most of us
are not bothered by it at all. Same for distilled alcohol, no matter the
source, unless something has been added after the distillation. Every
chemist and all the other celiac organizations I'm aware of agree that
large nonvolatile proteins such as gluten (actually it's the gliadin we
have to avoid) do not pass the distillation barrier. That's why they use
distillation to purify water and alcohol, because it doesn't carry anything
with it that is less volatile. Alcohol is very volatile and few things
other than gasoline and cleaning fluid will pass through that distillation
process. Anyone who understands distillation will know this. Though many of
us may have problems with acid reflux and the worst thing for that is
alcohol, so you may be bothered by that if you drink. Damn! And I did love
drinking before this problem. And I was a happy drunk :) -vance