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

Dear List Members,

Yesterday, a friend asked me if I felt that the shopping lists
handed out by stores and some Celiac associations were valid and
accurate.  I told her that I typically don't use them, but have heard
of numerous inaccuracies and contridictions on these lists.  She works
for a natural food retailer and wants to provide a list for celiacs who
shop at her store.  Her questions about what should be on the list
were:

1.  If a products ingredient list doesn't contain gluten items, should
    she include products that MIGHT be GF? (I told her about our
    concerns with cross contamination, and cited several incidents
    with listmembers getting sick).


2.  Would Celiac's like a list of POSSIBLE, not definite, GF items
    and decide if they want to risk possible gluten injestion?
    This list will also include certified GF items as well.

3.  If you chose a uncertified GF item on her list and got sick,
    would you hold the store responsible?

She and I spoke for almost an hour about the seriousness of accuracy and
responsibilities of mfg/retailer/celiac.  My contention was that if I
chose a product on my own volition (based on what I read or heard), then
the responsibility of my health ultimately rests with me.

IF, however, a store directed me to something they said may be GF, and I
got sick, then I may blame them, or think they were
being foolish providing their celiac customer base with inaccurate info,
or creating more work by having us call the mfg'er for the final
word on a product.

Since she felt that my take on this was a little bit hard lined, I told
her I would post it to the list and let people who need and use
this information, the Celiac community, voice their opinions.  This is a
medium-sized natural foods retailer, and the info will distibuted
through all their stores.

Please...send your opinions...any experiences, good or bad, with
shopping lists...or just plain vent!

Sincerely,

Jenny