Gluten and Gluten-Free Choice

• What is Gluten? Where does it come from? How can it affect our health?

• Gluten is the protein that occurs naturally in wheat, rye, barley, and crossbreeds of these grains. Foods that typically contain gluten include breads, cakes, cereals, pastas, and many other foods. ^[1]
• Gluten is the substance that gives breads and other grain products their shape, strength, and texture. But for the estimated 3 million Americans suffering from celiac disease, an auto-immune digestive disorder, consuming gluten can have serious health consequences. ^[1]



• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s regulation of Gluten-free claims

• In August of 2013, the U.S. FDA issued a regulation that defined the term “gluten-free” for food labeling. The definition provided consumers – especially those with celiac disease – the assurance that “gluten-free” claims on food products will be consistent and reliable across the food industry, and gave them a standardized tool for managing their health and dietary intake. ^[1]



• Is the soy sauce gluten-free at Evergreen?

• Per FDA, if the soy sauce was made using a roasted grain that does not contain gluten, or the grains were processed to remove gluten and the use of the ingredient resulted in the presence of less than 20 parts per gram gluten in the food, then it would be permitted to bear the “gluten-free” claim. ^[1]
• At Evergreen, we use naturally fermented soy sauce made by Kikkoman®, which actually met Codex Alimentarius standards for gluten-free foods. Tests show their gluten content to be well under the 20 parts per gram required for gluten free products.



• What can you do, if you have celiac disease?

• At Evergreen, we seriously take your health and nutrition into consideration. If you have mild celiac disease, you may ask for gluten-free food by avoiding deep-fried dishes and soy sauce prepared food, although soy sauce we use would not endanger your health at Evergreen.
• If you are seriously allergic to gluten, these are what you could ask:
• Avoid dishes that are deep-fried, like sweet & sour chicken, or order it without breaded ingredient.
• Ask for the dishes with white sauce preparation, instead of the soy sauce.
• Once you have requested for gluten-free food, these are the protocols that how we prepare your food:
• Meticulous clean the kitchenware that were exposed to grain and soy products to avoid contamination.
• Cook your food using non-breaded meat with white sauce.

1. “Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods”. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. May 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2017.