We put our next issue to bed and it is now at the printer’s going through the various stages that eventually deposit it in subscribers’ mailboxes. That means I have a little time to take deep breaths, become reacquainted with my life, and catch up on odds and ends.
Last night that meant going shopping.
I stopped at the Christmas Tree Shop which, for whatever reasons, has nothing to do with Christmas trees, at least not in August. Let’s say it’s the home of cheap items you didn’t know you needed and some you do, including an odd assortment of food. I was truly surprised to find a box of Glenny’s gluten-free oatmeal cookies for $2.99.
Needless to say I was dubious about the oatmeal, but according to the box: “Gluten Free Oats are more expensive than regular oats because of the Gluten Free inspection process necessary for growing through baking and packing.” So I called the company and was told they buy their oats from Only Oats in Canada, which to my knowledge is a reputable company.
The price differential was considerable. On the company’s website the cookies sell for $11.99 plus, presumably, shipping, for 20 cookies or two boxes. I got 10 cookies for $2.99, which would be $4 less and no shipping (to be technical about it, I did drive there and back which means some cost for gas and it took more time than ordering on line). Still I would call it a good deal.
My next job is to taste them and if they are really good, to find out how often the Christmas Tree Shop stocks them. I suspect it’s trial and error there and they stock them when they can get a good deal by buying great quantities.
There was another gluten-free product right next to the oatmeal cookies – Goldbaum’s GF ice cream cones. A box of 10 was $2.99, which is a steal. I couldn’t find out much about them or the company, but I can tell you they are delicious. They taste a bit like the fortune cookies we used to enjoy at Chinese restaurants but can no longer eat, albeit with a little cocoa powder thrown in. I wasn’t able to track their price from venues other than the Christmas Tree Shop but suspect it would be more than I paid.
Christmas Tree Shops appear to be an east coast phenomenon with onsite retail sales only so I’m sorry to disappoint those who live elsewhere. It will probably take me six months or more to get back there but my guess is that when I do, there will be a few gluten-free products available and likely the two I bought last night won’t be on the shelves.
What’s astounding, however, is that there were any at all. Apparently the Christmas Tree Shops buy in ultra large quantities when they can get a good price. So you never know what will be available when you visit. Essentially they took a chance on a gluten-free product, which is just one more measure of how much gluten-free has caught on in our society.
Ann
4 comments:
Hello.
Very interesting oatmeal cookies.
I have an important question in the gluten-free diet in the U.S. and Canada, maybe you could answer.
That amount of gluten allowed in products made??? The 20PPM?
In Europe we have as "gluten free" to 20ppm gluten and may contain up to 100 PPM, is the same in the U.S.?
Thank you for your response grcias
Affectionately
sonia gluten free
In the US, there is a proposed definition for gluten free that allows up to 20 ppm of gluten in a gluten-free food. It has not officially been adopted but is already generally being followed. Foods that contain 100 ppm of gluten are not allowed to be labeled gluten free. Under the proposed definition gluten-free foods can not contain wheat, barley or rye. They also can not contain ingredients made from wheat, barley and rye that have not been processed to remove gluten protein. Ingredients from those grains that have been processed to remove gluten, for example wheat starch, can not contain 20 ppm or more of gluten. Likewise, oats can only be used if they can meet the 20 ppm cutoff. These are specially processed oats grown under careful conditions to prevent cross-contamination by gluten-containing grains. Hope that answers your question.
Yes, I feel gluten free is the next thing that is jumped on the bandwagon, which for me is a great thing and for others as well!
Enjoy!
I heard that they sell Goldbaums GF ice cream cups in Stop and Shop so I will have to go there to see if they are in stock since I do not have a Christmas Tree Store near me.
I purchased the dinner rolls from Everybody Eats and my non GF sister and I enjoyed them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.The GF egg challah bread was pretty good too.
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