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

Regarding this recent comment made to the list:

> ...Most fragrances are gluten based...

I've got to publicly disagree with this.  I do NOT believe that most
fragrances are gluten based.  At any rate, this type of claim should
not be made without some supporting evidence.  The following comes
from the WELCOME message that is sent to all new subscribers:

WEL> ...spreading information which is not well-founded can cause
WEL> confusion and distress amongst our members.  Therefore, before
WEL> making such a post, please be sure that you document your sources!
WEL> Don't make a claim that an item is, or is not, gluten free until
WEL> you can back it up.  When you do post it for the group to read,
WEL> please include the reasons, including the phone number/address,
WEL> the date you received the information, and if possible the name of
WEL> the person you contacted.

The sentence which immediately followed that comment was:

> ...Many give me the same reactions as eating wheat...

This may be the key to the comment:  For this individual, frangrances
cause a reaction similar to the reaction from wheat.  That does NOT
mean the fragrances themselves come from wheat or gluten.  It probably
means that this individual has other sensitivities besides wheat or
gluten.

One may ask, "What is the difference?  A reaction is a reaction!"
However, to the other list subscribers there is a big difference.  By
definition, all celiacs must avoid gluten.  However, most celiacs do
not have to avoid fragrances.  Some basic points to consider:

  1. Never ASSUME that a reaction must have been caused by gluten.  It
     could have been caused by something else.

  2. Never report that something has gluten, if it is based solely on
     your own personal reaction to it.  You may have some other
     sensitivity that is causing the reaction; if so you may be
     steering other celiacs away from a product that is actually
     gluten-free.

Later in the same post, it was written:

>  ...And, labels, cheap mailing labels at work.  They adhesives are
>  made with gluten...

Again, unless you've actually asked the manufacturer and have been told
that the adhesives are made with gluten, you would have to call this an
assumption based on a personal reaction.  It may or may not be true.  I
certainly agree that no celiac should lick any label, stamp, or envelope
without certain knowledge about the GF status of the glue.  However, I
think most celiacs can handle self-sticking labels without problems.

Jim Lyles ........ <[log in to unmask]> ........ Holly, Michigan, USA