GIG of Portland

16/09/2025

Starting 9/8/25 Harlow Cafe + Juice Bar on SE Divsion and NW 23rd will now be open EARLIER!

“New hours 8:30am-7:30pm everyday. Start your day out with us! We love you! 🥰”

15/09/2025

Costco recall hits popular food product over potential wheat allergy risk

Costco is recalling popular Rolling Pin brand of Dubai chocolate due to a mislabeled allergen. The warehouse chain announced that the product incorrectly listed "gluten" instead of "wheat" on the packaging.

Here's what to know about the recalled Costco chocolate and how to get a refund.

Customers who purchased the Rolling Pin Dubai Style Chocolate (item code #1932972) between May 1, 2025, and August 29, 2025, should return it to Costco for a refund.

While a wheat allergy can be fatal in severe cases, Costco says the health risks are likely minimal since gluten is listed on the allergen statement and gluten is found in wheat.

The Belgium-made chocolate snack debuted in Costco stores a few months ago and achieved online virality, thanks in part to the larger Dubai chocolate buzz that's taking over the internet. The individually-wrapped pieces come in a pack of 50, and are made with milk chocolate pralines, kadayif (made of shredded phyllo dough) and pistachio filling.

"In the event there are any wheat allergies in your household, please return the item to your local Costco for a full refund," Costco announced in a statement.

15/09/2025

Smiles for your Monday.

14/09/2025

Cheerios Testing Protocol a/o September 12, 2025

Cheerios testing protocol reconfirmed by General Mills:

At the end of July, Gluten Free Watchdog reached out to General Mills corporate office to ask if there were any updates to the 2021 testing protocol for gluten-free Cheerios.

We received a response on September 12, 2025 (they apologized for the delay).

The response: “The testing protocols are the same.”

Once again, here is the testing protocol for gluten-free Cheerios reconfirmed on September 10, 2025 (apologies for any formatting that doesn't come through properly):

Bottom line: General Mills continues to use mean test results from a composite sample made up of sub samples taken from 12 to 18 boxes of cereal to determine if a lot (24-hour production cycle) is gluten-free.

Finished product testing
• General Mills is producing gluten-free Cheerios using what they term “validated gluten-free flour.”
• General Mills determines gluten-free status of a “lot” of oat flour via a lot mean.
• Further, General Mills determines gluten-free status of a “lot” of gluten-free Cheerios via a lot mean.
• In both cases, General Mills defines a “lot” as a 24-hour production cycle.
• To arrive at a lot mean for gluten-free Cheerios, the following protocol is followed:
o Twelve to eighteen boxes of cereal are pulled during a production cycle or “lot”.
o The contents of each individual box are ground.
o A sub-sample of ground product is taken from each box.
o The sub-samples are composited—meaning they are combined.
o The combined sub-samples are subject to additional grinding.
o A minimum of six, 1-gram sample extractions are taken from this combined, ground sample.
o Extractions are tested using the Ridascreen Total Gluten assay R7041.
• All lots of oat flour and all lots of gluten-free Cheerios are placed on hold (not shipped) until gluten testing has verified that the lot is gluten-free.
• Any lot of flour and/or Cheerios not verified as gluten-free would not be used or shipped.

Source: Gluten Free Watchdog, LLC

14/09/2025

Mediterranean Diet Improves Quality of Life and Mental Health in Celiac Disease

While avoiding gluten remains the cornerstone of managing celiac disease, a new study shows that embracing a Mediterranean-style gluten-free diet may provide added benefits.

The study set out to determine whether eating a Mediterranean-style gluten-free diet could improve quality of life, especially mental well-being, for people living with this condition.

The Mediterranean diet uses whole, natural foods. It includes lots of fruit, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, fish, olive oil, and whole gluten-free grains.

Red meat and packaged and processed foods are limited. Although it is traditionally eaten in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, its health benefits have been extensively researched to provide optimum benefits.

The diet is rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and whole plant fiber and has been linked to decreased heart disease, decreased diabetes, less cancer, reduced inflammation, and improved mental wellness.

The study found a strong connection between better adherence to the Mediterranean diet and improved mental health scores among people with celiac disease. This suggests that those who closely followed the diet felt better mentally.

The Mediterranean diet contains nutrients that are known to support brain health. These include omega-3 fatty acids from fish, antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and B vitamins important for mood and brain function. The diet may also help reduce inflammation and support a healthier balance of gut bacteria—factors increasingly linked to emotional well-being.

Living with celiac disease requires major changes in eating habits. For many, simply removing gluten is not enough to feel completely well. This study highlights that the quality of the foods in a gluten-free diet—not just the absence of gluten—can play a critical role in how people feel, especially when it comes to mental health.

By choosing more whole foods, healthy fats, and fiber-rich gluten-free grains—hallmarks of the Mediterranean way of eating—people with celiac disease may experience fewer emotional difficulties, reduced anxiety, and a better outlook on life.

Reference:
Psylinakis E, Thalassinos N, Dafouli A-M, et al. Mediterranean diet and health-related quality of life in patients with celiac disease. Gastrointest Disord. 2025;7(3):43. doi:10.3390/gidisord7030043

Celiac.com

13/09/2025

Hey Beaverton and West Siders! Support your local GF businesses ❣️🥰

More good news for westsiders. Our well-kept secret of a Beaverton location continues to be open 8am-4pm, every Wednesday-Sunday for the foreseeable future. Since it has now found a higher purpose as a back end supply for the new Bethany Village location, it is no longer necessary to close this store. Not that it’s exactly hit its stride, after a year plus of being open we see about 25% as much traffic there as in Portland, but now there’s plenty of time for that to change, right? And while we’re limited in what we can offer in Bethany, we still have the full Mikiko experience just down Murray Blvd and a reason to make the trip. Look for the complex with no signage and no visible business activity, think of it as a suburban speakeasy 😉

13/09/2025

Dedicated GF Beer at Octoberfest at Mt Angel!! 🍺 🍺 🍺
Hurry! The Mt. Angel Oktoberfest runs from Thursday, September 11 to Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Thank you My Angel Oktoberfest! 🍃🍂Evasions Fest Beer made the cut and is being served this year at the festival in most beer gardens. Prost!

13/09/2025

National Celiac Awareness Day Is Today‼️

⭐️Text and photo by the fabulous Al Klapperich, branch manager of East Central Wisconsin Gluten Intolerance Group

September 13th was chosen because it's Dr. Samuel Gee’s birthday.

Dr. Gee published the first modern description of the celiac disease and is credited with being the first to recognize the link between celiac disease and diet.

For some background on Dr. Gee - http://bit.ly/GIGECW-NCAD

Luckily, we don’t need a designated month or day to promote awareness. For those with celiac disease - or any gluten-related disorder - or anyone that follows a gluten-zero lifestyle...EVERY DAY is awareness day. Yup, every single day just by simply doing what we do - leading by example.

There are leaders and those-who-lead. Leaders typically hold a position of power or authority. Those-who-lead have the ability to inspire without power or authority. We only need to look to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela as perfect examples of those-who-lead. We may not possess that amount of fame, but that's the beauty of those-who-lead - we don't need it. Each one of us can inspire others simply by leading by example. We chose not to be a victim; not to give up and say "I can't do this gluten-zero thing, it's too hard". We chose to be successful. Every time we opt out from an opportunity to cheat, we show others that we take our health and lifestyle seriously.

Indeed, our actions can speak louder than words.

Every day we can find gluten free awareness raising moments, they're all around us. A simple and polite "No thank you, I am gluten-zero because the gluten in those donuts make me sick" when the quickie-mart employee asks if we want 3-for-a-dollar donuts as we pay for gasoline. How about a respectful interchange of facts with those that are "gluten-free most of the time". Better yet, invite them to our next support group meeting, so they can learn what gluten-free is all about.

Sharing educational information with your health care team members [doctor, dentist, pharmacist, etc].
Speaking to food service professionals about gluten-zero dining options [or lack there of].
Bringing a plate of your killer peanut butter cookies to [anonymously] share at work; specially for that co-worker who turns up their nose at your "icky gluten-free food". Of course, you don't tell anyone they are gluten-free until Mr/Mrs Food Snob proclaims them as "The Best!” Ah sweet justice.

Gluten-free awareness is continuing to grow, but we need everyone's help. In order to raise awareness properly, everyone in the gluten-zero community must keep educating, motivating and advocating.

Keep up the great work. Stay strong. Be well. Keep moving forward.

Alan Klapperich GIG of ECW Branch Manager

13/09/2025

Hey, hey Honey Butter Country Fare is back with more wing style sauces.

Try your chicken or vegan chik’n with Buffalo, Tamari Sweet Chili, or Honey Mustard sauce.

Wash it all down with a can of Ground Breaker Brewing or Swift Cider

😘🤗 XOXO - HBCF

HOURS:
Thur-Fri 4pm-8pm
Saturday 12pm-7pm
Sunday 12pm-6pm

Arbor Beer Lodge
6550 N Interstate
Portland OR
(Take the MAX!)

🍯🧈🎟🎢 🍿 🎡 🎪


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13/09/2025

Texas-Style Potato Salad

This potato salad has eggs and a mayo-style dressing with mustard, red onions, pickles, and fresh parsley. Easy-to-make.

Recipe: https://onlyglutenfreerecipes.com/recipe-items/very-best-texas-style-potato-salad/

12/09/2025

Best Donuts in the Portland Area?

⭐️Two dedicated gluten-free shops are in the top 5! 🌟

Congratulations Mikiko Mochi Donuts & Blue Moon Bakery ❣️

10/09/2025

Corvallis Reser Stadium Has a Gluten Free Option 👉🏻 4Chicken&Waffles

“2 college football games down, 5 to go!”

“Thank you for being our go-to non-profit for working together. You’re awesome!”