The problem with caramel color is it may or may not contain gluten depending on how it is manufactured. In the USA caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statute says: the color additive caramel is the dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates: Dextrose (corn sugar), invert sugar, lactose (milk sugar), malt syrup (usually from barley malt), molasses (from cane), starch hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), sucrose (cane or beet). Also, acids, alkalis and salts are listed as additives which may be employed to assist the caramelization process.

Your best bet will be to contact the manufacturer and confirm what they use to make their caramel color. In the US the most common is high dextrose corn syrup which would make it fine.

Here is another excerpt I found from Glutenfreeclub.com.:

Caramel coloring is what gives Coke, and other dark colas, the coloring. And caramel coloring is used in other food products too. For example, caramel coloring is in soy sauce, cookies, juices and some seasonings. Caramel coloring can be manufactured using different grains. In the United States, it is normally made with high dextrose corn syrup. But it is also infrequently made with barley. Dextrose is sugar and is safe. Barley is an unsafe starch for a Celiac.

This can be very confusing for people, and I’ve seen it in various forums and in my email box. Some people believe that many of the Coke products are safe to drink. Others think you should stay away from any product containing caramel coloring…..
So how do you know if caramel coloring is safe? It always goes back to the same procedures I followed for the above product. I ask! If a food product has caramel coloring listed as an ingredient, I need to call the company or check their website and ask them to tell me the parts per million of gluten. If it is over 20 ppm, or they can’t tell me, I don’t eat or drink it.

After doing this research and reading various articles I have come to the conclusion that if I am unsure where the product was made or if it does not say “Gluten Free” on the package I will either

a) Call the manufacturer
b) Avoid it

I hope this helps clear up some confusion on what to do with this tricky ingredient!

Non-Gluten Products
All smoothies are non Gluten except for Pomegranate Heart Happy. All Boosts and Super Boosts are non-gluten (except for Daily Vitamin, Energy and Happy Heart)

This is something I would have never known or even thought of but while enjoying one of their smoothies last week I began to wonder and looked it up. Luckily I picked a boost that was Gluten Free. They offer free boosts so pick wisely or ask. Cross contamination is something to worry about however. If it is busy and the workers do not have much time to clean out the blenders there may be residue left on the blenders from one of the Gluten containing boosts. You can ask them to wash yours extra, they are very concerned about pleasing their customers.

Hope this helps and you are able to avoid those Boosts!

• Gluten Free diets are not a fad: Unlike many diets, people who follow a Gluten Free diet do it because it is necessary, not by choice.

• Rising numbers: The amount of people following a Gluten Free diet is on the rise and the company that has the most to offer can gain a competitive advantage.

• Competition from other major players: We already have quite a few Gluten Free brands, but now with Betty Crocker and Chex coming out with their products it wont take long before other companies jump on that avalanche and can start cashing in.

It makes sense for companies to make Gluten Free products. Not only will they please more people and gain loyal customers but they can make a lot of money on these products. Companies would need to have a facility dedicated to their GF products like Betty Crocker has stated on their box, it does not have to be as large as the other plants but in order to ensure no cross contamination and make their consumers feel safer they would need to have a seperate facility. The creation of a Gluten Free division would be feasible, and a sound move. What company do you think will be next to make a major splash in the Gluten Free pool?

• LA Dodgers

• Arizona Diamondbacks

• Atlanta Braves

• Dallas Cowboys

• Washington Nationals

I think its great that these places are expanding their options to cater to those with special diets, I think many more stadiums will begin to carry Redbridge in the future. I cannot wait to have a beer at a ballpark! Are there any stadiums in your area that serve Redbridge or another Gluten Free Beer?

One of the best I believe is GlutenFreed I also think iEatOut does a good job at providing options. Unfortunately these apps are available on the iPhone, so if you are like me and have a blackberry or another phone with internet we will have to browse the web. These applications have come in very handy when trying to find places to eat when I am with my girlfriend. She has a iPhone and downloaded these applications when she found out about them. I recommend at least downloading the free ones, although I am sure that the ones that you have to buy are a little more in depth.

Now there are many options for those looking for completely gluten free food without cross-contamination. It seems like there are new findings and progress each year! It continues to become a more regular finding at grocery stores and restaurants! I will do my best to keep you updated on these new findings as time goes on.