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

Miscellaneous Notes:
--------------------

Boston Market:  We recently received a letter regarding gluten-free
items at Boston Market.  (This was sent in by a TCCSSG member, whose
name I have since misplaced--I'm very sorry not to be able to give
proper credit.)

The letter, dated January 18 1999, lists these items as being free of
gluten:

   black beans and rice
   broccoli with red peppers
   butternut squash
   coyote bean salad
   cranberry relish
   creamed spinach
   fruit salad
   hot cinnamon apples
   jumpin' juice squares (flavored gelatin cubes)
   mashed potatoes
   new potatoes
   rotisserie chicken
   rotisserie turkey breast
   steamed vegetables
   tossed salad (no dressing or croutons)
   whole kernel corn
   zucchini marinara

However, one must be cautious when eating there.  In a previous issue
of The Sprue-nik Press, TCCSSG member Sara Brooks gave us this
well-crafted warning:  "...I was mortified to see dough crusted meat
pies prominently displayed in the middle of the food trays.  I was
most concerned with the flakes of the crust falling into the bins of
foods we could eat.  Also, the pasta trays were near items we could
eat.  My worry was the pasta could accidentally fall into the trays,
and someone would simply spoon it out, leaving the food contaminated.
We would be none the wiser.  I also wondered about the gravy
accidentally dripping into the surrounding pans....What bothers me is
they say all this food is GF, but do nothing to insure it's purity for
us."

So exercise caution and good judgment when eating at Boston Market.
Look the food pans over carefully.  Don't be afraid to ask to be
served from fresh containers of foods, to minimize the risk of
contamination.

For more information, you can call Boston Market at 800-365-7000.

                            -=-=-   -=-=-

Joan Wade of Sylvan Farms:  Joan spoke to the group at our May
meeting.  Here is some of the information she shared with us:

* Kamut is a kind of wheat, and should be avoided by celiacs.

* Most corn meal is milled in Nebraska, using different equipment
  (thus there is less chance of cross-contamination).

* Organic mills are usually the safest, if you are trying to avoid
  cross-contamination.

* Sylvan Farms sells a popular flour blend.  All their flours come in
  oxygen-free pouches, so oils in the flours won't get rancid.

* Sylvan Farms does their packaging in a facility that packages rice
  products, but no wheat products, thus ensuring no gluten
  contamination.