Sainsbury’s have yet to come back but Goodness Foods explained that most pulses are packed in factories where gluten products would also be handled so there is a risk of cross-contamination. This means that, although many of the suppliers are aware of the risk and take steps to avoid contamination, no-one is prepared to say they are gluten free. So we have a ridiculous situation where a naturally gluten free food cannot be labelled as such. I do not know anywhere that only deals with pulses and GF said that most distributors outsource the packing of their pulses, so to speak.
Lesley from Goodness did make a valid suggestion, though, to try and help:
With pulses the gluten contamination would only be a surface powder. Would washing each time (which you should with pulses) help at all?
Good point – and I’m afraid that’s the best I can come up with for now. Blimey, we can’t be losing another food group! I SO wish the food industry would get with the gluten programme; they are making life so much harder for people than it needs to be.
If anyone else can shed any light or knows of a ‘clean’ company, do please let us all know.
Meantime, I will let you know what Sainsbury’s have to say if and when they come back to me, although I would imagine we will get the same response.