All that being said, I want to start getting back into this blog, and keeping you posted. The latest happenings with Shelf Reliance are too exciting to not post about, so it's the jump start I need. I'll just get straight to the point: Shelf Reliance has officially released their line of certified Gluten-Free Foods!!!
For those of you who don't know, gluten is a substance found in wheat and related cereal grains. It is responsible for giving dough its elasticity, among other functions. An increasing number of people are discovering (whether through personal experimentation, or actual clinical diagnosis) that they suffer from some form of gluten sensitivity, meaning that when they eat a diet containing gluten, they have digestive and other health issues, including the body's inability to properly absorb nutrients, which in turns leads to a myriad of other health complications. The level of intolerance in individuals range from a mild sensitivity to full-blown Celiac's disease.
For some, eating foods that are naturally gluten-free (fruits, vegetables, meats, etc) is sufficient. But for many others, cross-contamination becomes an issue. For example, even if a food doesn't contain anything that has gluten in it, but was processed or packaged in a facility that also processes gluten-containing foods, small particulates and residue from the gluten-containing food can contaminate the otherwise gluten-free items, thus rendering them unsuitable for consumption by those which higher sensitivities. This makes it really hard for families who want to build up a home store of shelf-stable foods but have to ensure gluten-free processing for their foods.
Aware of this growing need in the market, Shelf Reliance has undertaken the task of creating a separate packaging area and having their products certified for true gluten free status... all at no extra cost to their gluten-intolerant customers. Below is Shelf Reliance's official FAQ info, as well as a list of all the THRIVE foods currently certified as Gluten Free (there are almost 100 of them!) I have also added a link to all this Gluten Free info to the "Links to Help You Thrive" side bar for future easy reference.
If you would like to place an order for any of your THRIVE Gluten-Free foods, just visit www.WhitneyHemsath.ShelfReliance.com and shop from the convenience of your own home, or contact me at ThriveWithHemsath@gmail.com for help in placing your order or answering any questions you might have.
Gluten-Free FAQs
1. What is the difference between naturally gluten-free and certified gluten-free?
A product that is certified gluten-free is packaged under gluten-free conditions, meaning that the room and machinery it is packaged with are exclusively used for gluten-free products and are tested regularly to ensure that they are gluten-free. The product is also tested for gluten after packaging. Some of our products are naturally gluten-free, but we will not certify them as such if we do not do the gluten-free testing ourselves or cannot verify that the supplier’s manufacturing procedures are gluten-free.
2. What does gluten-free certification entail?
We are certified gluten by the Gluten Intolerance Group. In order to be certified by them, we sign an annual contract that allows them to inspect our facilities and review our testing records and cleaning procedures.
3. Is there a price difference between certified gluten-free products and other products?
Our certified gluten-free products are no more expensive than the other products we offer. We have taken on the gluten-free certification process as one of our daily quality control processes to ensure the high standard of THRIVE foods. We are excited to provide certified gluten-free products at no additional charge.
4. Are all packaging options certified gluten-free?
Because of the considerable cost and effort involved with certification, our pouches are not certified gluten-free at this time. However, all other packaging options—#10 cans, pantry cans, and buckets—are certified gluten-free.
THRIVE foods currently certified as Gluten-Free
Fruits
Apple Sauce
Apples, Fuji (FD)
Apples, Granny Smith (FD)
Apricots (FD)
Banana Slices (FD)
Blackberries (FD)
Blueberries (FD)
Cherries, Sweet (FD)
Grapes, Red Seedless (FD)
Mangoes (FD)
Peach Slices (FD)
Pears (FD)
Pineapple Chunks (FD)
Raspberries (FD)
Raspberries, Organic (FD)
Strawberries, Sliced (FD)
Strawberries, Whole (FD)
Vegetables
Asparagus (FD)
Broccoli (FD)
Carrot Dices
Cauliflower (FD)
Celery (FD)
Corn, Sweet (FD)
Green Beans (FD)
Mushroom Pieces (FD)
Onions, Chopped
Onions, Chopped (FD)
Onions, Green (FD)
Peas, Split Green
Peas, Green (FD)
Peas, Green Organic (FD)
Peppers, Green Bell (FD)
Peppers, Green Chili (FD)
Peppers, Red Bell (FD)
Peppers, Mixed Bell
Potato Beads
Potato Chunks
Potato Dices (FD)
Spinach (FD)
Tomato Dices (FD)
Tomato Powder
Zucchini (FD)
Grains
Amaranth
Amaranth, Organic
Cornmeal
Millet
Quinoa
Quinoa, Organic
Rice Flour
Rice, Instant Brown
Rice, Instant
Rice, White
Dairy
Cheese Blend
Cheese, Cheddar (FD)
Cheese, Colby (FD)
Cheese, Monterey Jack (FD)
Cheese, Mozzarella (FD)
Milk, Instant
Milk, Powdered
Sour Cream Powder
Yogurt, Blueberry (FD)
Yogurt, Passionfruit (FD)
Yogurt, Pomegranate (FD)
Yogurt, Cherry (FD)
Yogurt, Strawberry (FD)
Yogurt, Vanilla (FD)
Meat & Beans
Beans, Black
Beans, Instant Black
Beans, Kidney
Beans, Lima
Beans, Pinto
Beans, Small Red
Beans, Small White Navy
Eggs, Scrambled Mix
Egg, Whites
Lentils
TVP, Bacon
TVP, Chicken
TVP, Taco
Basics
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Bouillon, Beef
Bouillon, Chicken
Butter Powder
Honey Crystals
Salt, Iodized
Shortening Powder
Sugar, Brown
Sugar, Powdered
Sugar, White
Drinks
Fruit Punch Performance
Orange Bliss
Orchard Apple
Simply Peach
Melon Berry Burst
Mango Passion
Desserts
Ice Cream, Chocolate Bars (FD)
Ice Cream, Neapolitan Bits (FD)
