Gluten Free Works Gluten Free Resources News and Tips
Source: CNN.com
As most of you have heard by now, Subway began testing out a gluten-free bun and brownie in Dallas-Fort Worth and Tyler/Longview, TX on January 10th. This development at Subway warranted an article on CNN Health where you can see photos of both the bun and the brownie.
According to celiac.com, the gluten-free rolls and brownies made by French Meadow Bakery will come prepackaged and individually wrapped. Sandwich Artists in those two markets will be trained on how to cut the roll with a pre-wrapped knife for one use only. Also, to further avoid cross-contamination, that same Sandwich Artist will prepare the order from beginning to end, ensuring a 100-percent gluten-free meal.
While this is a great development for the gluten-free community, one has to proceed with caution. In addition to using a pre-wrapped knife, each Sandwich Artist needs to change their gloves prior to making a sandwich. Even though they are taking precautions to make sure the other sandwich ingredients are not cross contaminated, it would be wise to avoid any condiments that are spread with a knife and stick to packets. There is also no information on the gluten-free status of the lunch meats or other items for sandwich preparation. One has to wonder if they worked with a certification organization to develop their gluten-free handling procedures.
Although there are no current plans to roll out the gluten-free products nationwide just yet, we who are not in Texas are very curious to hear the feedback on the gluten-free sandwiches and brownies. This Examiner rarely went to Subway for a sandwich in my gluten days, so for those of you who have missed Subway sandwiches since going on the gluten-free diet, please let us know what you think!
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Author Information: Jennifer D. Harris, Atlanta, GA
Jennifer D. Harris, http://www.jenniferglutenfreeingeorgia.blogspot.com
Gluten-Free Product Specialist, Return to Eden
Program Chair, Atlanta Metro CeliacsTwitter@jenniferGFinGA
I’m crossing my fingers that this catches on and goes national (or at least comes to where I live in Minnesota). I’ve been eating Subway’s Veggie Delite subs since I was a poor college student, and for almost 20 years I’ve continued to love Subway’s veggie subs. After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease last fall, I had to part ways with my favorite sandwich, so this is very exciting and hopeful news to me. I’m a little disappointed that the GF buns being tested are round sandwich buns instead of the long 12″ sub buns, but hey – at this stage, I’ll take whatever they’re offering! (PS – French Meadow’s GF bread products are fantastic, so this is also exciting news.)
the veggie patties are to safe, so you = SOL.
May I recommend the Club sammich?
This is great ! I hope it spreads to all of North America !
I always have to carry a box of raisins and other snacks in case I’m out longer than planned.
If Subway spread their gluten free menu to my city,
then I’ll know where to stop before I pass out from low blood sugar.
I dont know how this would honestly work. I worked at a Subway for 5 years before i was diagnosed and cross contamination would be ridiculously hard to ensure. With all the regular bread in there there was ALWAYS crumbs in every single on of the tubs with meat/cheese/veggies/etc…. If they make this happen it would be incredible but i would be very leery about eating there unless they completely switched to all gluten free bread
Yes, bring it to Southern California as well…and yes I would want to know about all the products in the sandwich as well…however Bravo Subway for taking a step forward!
for those who are only gluten-sensitive and not celiac patients, gluten free anything is always good news. We had a difficult time with my daughter when we traveled across the country with her elite basketball team. Teams always head for the carb places…Panera, Subway and salads get old. Our suitcases already held rice milk, cereal and other snacks.
We use French Meadows rice tortillas and some of their deserts – they taste pretty good.
Wow, this is really exciting! I’d love to know how it goes over in TX, and I’ll be interested to know when it spreads to the rest of the country! Although, I will say that if I had Celiac, I wouldn’t eat gluten-free at Subway…most of the Subways I’ve gone to have employees who can either barely understand what you’re saying, or who generally don’t care that much…
I wouldn’t trust it. As Selena said, all of those little tubs have crumbs through and through. Even though the employee changed their gloves before handling your sandwich they did not change their gloves before handling any of the other ingredients after handling the regular gluten bread. Therefore, crumbs on gloves from the regular sandwich bread would go directly into the lettuce bin, tomato bin, cheese bin, meat bin, etc. The safest route to go would be the squeeze out of mayonnaise and mustard on the gluten free bun. Also, the counter on which they prep the sandwiches is completely cross contaminated.