I noticed in my local GJ's recently that they had a very yummy looking citrus muffin type thing, with a sign above it saying 'low gluten'.

What is the point of this? Maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you can't have gluten then you can't have ANY gluten! Well that's certainly true of Coeliac Disease anyway!

I have been trying to pluck up the courage to say something to the manager, but wanted to get my facts straight first.

I would think that this could cause potential problems with someone who was still learning about cutting out gluten, or a well meaning friend buying one for someone thinking they were doing the right thing.

What do you think?

I know someone who is not coeliac but has difficulty with gluten. She can have a small amount. generally she eats no gluten but certainly can tolerate some gluten.

So no, not always 'can't have ANY gluten'.

I think what you would find is that muffin is made of GF products but the company do not want to guarantee that it is totally GF. They are covering their arses basically.

My DH who is gluten intolerant can eat these and I suspect he is probably the kind of person they are marketing to rather than a coeliac.

Given the environment back-stage at Gloria Jeans they can't exactly promise that anything they make will be gluten-free, but they can offer something low-gluten, so that people who are just sensitive to gluten, not those who have coeliac or are completely gluten intolerant, an option.

Then there's also the option for people who are gluten free by choice - this is an option for them, too.

It's a little irresponsible as for most, no gluten means no gluten. However for those that have a wheat intolerance (me!) it would be good as small doses are ok but if I had some wheat everyday I would be very ill. Perhaps they should rename it low wheat and put the % of wheat flour?

I think it's awesome.

I am not a diagnosed Celiac, never had the biopsy. I have a gluten intolerance, and score as allergic on allergy testing, but I can eat a small amount of gluten a day without symptoms. I would absolutely, 100% buy a low gluten food. I prefer to avoid gluten when I can, but a low gluten food would give me the freedom to try something that sounds really yummy!

If it is marketed as low gluten it's very unlikely to have wheat as an ingredient.

I would say it is to cater for those than can tolerate a small amount of gluten, rather than someone with coeliac disease.

OK, thanks for the clarification! I'm glad I didn't say anything without checking first.

I'm still learning!

I also think it's probably to cover themselves , and most likely in regards to possible cross contamination.

Or perhaps they see a market and want to profit from it. From what I've read, most people on a gluten free diet haven't got a Coeliac diagnosis - so it would be catering for them. (in my own family, 4 of us are gluten free, only 1 is officially diagnosed as Coeliac)

Unfortunately, these sorts of products can make it harder for those who do have Coeliacs - in that someone might buy this product for a Coeliac relative or friend, and not realise it isn't suitable, but might then tell the Coeliac person that it is gluten free - many people don't seem to understand that low gluten doesn't equal gluten free.