Is Johnny's Seasoning Salt gluten free?

My husband loves his Johnny's! He was making breakfast potatoes and was about to sprinkle some Johnny's on, but I stopped him and asked him to read the label. Is Johnny's GF?

The answer is yes. Oh wait...no! Yes! No! Awwww! I am so confused!

This is a tricky one and why you should ALWAYS check labels. The smaller size shakers of Johnny's ARE gluten free. Here are the ingredients listed on Johnny's website for the 8.5 & 16 oz seasoning salt:

Fine grain crystalline salt, monosodium glutamate, pepper, paprika, granulated garlic and spices.

However, the large 42oz (which we were using) is NOT gluten free! Here are the ingredients for the 42oz as listed on their website:

Salt, sugar, paprika, pepper, garlic*, soy sauce powder(soybeans, WHEAT, salt, malto-dextrin), cellulose gel & citric acid

It's pretty confusing that a manufacturer would have the same item be GF or not GF depending on size. I know from this experience I am going to be more careful about re-checking labels if I buy a different sized item.

***UPDATE***
I emailed the manufacturer. This is my email:

I have a question about your Johnny's Seasoning Salt. I wanted to know why the recipe varies depending on what size product you purchase? I have Celiac Disease and have seen advertisement on your website staring that the 8.5 & 16 oz are gluten free. The 42 oz however is not. Both bottles are called the same thing, "Johnny's Seasoning Salt" and have the same label & color scheme. Do you feel that would be confusing or misleading to consumers?

This is the email response:

Jeny

The are actually two different recipes.

The 4.75, 8.5, 16 and 32 oz versions are our original recipes and are GLUTEN FREE. This will be the version in all "regular" grocery stores including Wal Mart.

The 42oz No MSG version is specific to Costco and is not Gluten Free. This is a special recipe designed for Costco only. This will have the big "No MSG" tag on the front of the bottle and is only available at Costco.

Thanks

Jeff
Johnny's Fine Foods

Celiac Awareness Month Fun Fact #5

Celiac Awareness Month fun fact of the day:

T/F Celiac Disease just means you can't have wheat

Gluten is in products that you wouldn't expect, such as ice cream, soups, sauces, licorice (red & black), processed meats (sausage, pepperoni, beef jerky & lunch meats) When reading a label, you can't just look for the word wheat. This is an example of items you may see on labels that mean the item may contain gluten:

Abyssinian Hard (Wheat triticum durum)
Alcohol (Spirits - Specific Types)
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Atta Flour
Barley Grass (can contain seeds)
Barley Hordeum vulgare
Barley Malt
Beer (most contain barley or wheat)
Bleached Flour
Bran
Bread Flour
Brewer's Yeast
Brown Flour
Bulgur (Bulgar Wheat/Nuts)
Bulgur Wheat
Cereal Binding
Chilton
Club Wheat (Triticum aestivum subspecies compactum)
Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Cookie Crumbs
Cookie Dough
Cookie Dough Pieces
Couscous
Criped Rice
Dinkle (Spelt)
Disodium Wheatgermamido Peg-2 Sulfosuccinate
Durum wheat (Triticum durum)
Edible Coatings
Edible Films
Edible Starch
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum)
Emmer (Triticum dicoccon)
Enriched Bleached Flour
Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour
Enriched Flour
Farina
Farina Graham
Farro
Filler
Flour (normally this is wheat)
Fu (dried wheat gluten)
Germ
Graham Flour
Granary Flour
Groats (barley, wheat)
Hard Wheat
Heeng
Hing
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Kamut (Pasta wheat)
Kecap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Ketjap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Kluski Pasta
Maida (Indian wheat flour)
Malt
Malted Barley Flour
Malted Milk
Malt Extract
Malt Syrup
Malt Flavoring
Malt Vinegar
Macha Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Matza
Matzah
Matzo
Matzo Semolina
Meringue
Meripro 711
Mir
Nishasta
Oriental Wheat (Triticum turanicum)
Orzo Pasta
Pasta
Pearl Barley
Persian Wheat (Triticum carthlicum)
Perungayam
Poulard Wheat (Triticum turgidum)
Polish Wheat (Triticum polonicum)
Rice Malt (if barley or Koji are used)
Roux
Rusk
Rye
Seitan
Semolina
Semolina Triticum
Shot Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Small Spelt
Spirits (Specific Types)
Spelt (Triticum spelta)
Sprouted Wheat or Barley
Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Strong Flour
Suet in Packets
Tabbouleh
Tabouli
Teriyaki Sauce
Timopheevi Wheat (Triticum timopheevii)
Triticale X triticosecale
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
Udon (wheat noodles)
Unbleached Flour
Vavilovi Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Vital Wheat Gluten
Wheat, Abyssinian Hard triticum durum
Wheat amino acids
Wheat Bran Extract
Wheat, Bulgur
Wheat Durum Triticum
Wheat Germ Extract
Wheat Germ Glycerides
Wheat Germ Oil
Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Wheat Grass (can contain seeds)
Wheat Nuts
Wheat Protein
Wheat Triticum aestivum
Wheat Triticum Monococcum
Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Bran Extract
Whole-Meal Flour
Wild Einkorn (Triticum boeotictim)
Wild Emmer (Triticum dicoccoides)

May contain gluten depending on manufacturer:

Artificial Color4
Baking Powder4
Caramel Color1, 3
Caramel Flavoring1, 3
Clarifying Agents4
Coloring4
Dextrins1,7
Dextrimaltose1,7
Dry Roasted Nuts4
Emulsifiers4
enzymes4
Fat Replacer4
Flavoring6
Food Starch1, 4
Food Starch Modified1, 4
Glucose Syrup4
Gravy Cubes4
Ground Spices4
HPP4
HVP4
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein4
Hydrolyzed Protein4
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein4
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate4
Hydroxypropylated Starch4
Maltose4
Miso4
Mixed Tocopherols4
Modified Food Starch1, 4
Modified Starch1, 4
Natural Flavoring6
Natural Flavors6
Natural Juices4
Non-dairy Creamer4
Pregelatinized Starch4
Protein Hydrolysates4
Seafood Analogs4
Seasonings4
Sirimi4
Smoke Flavoring4
Soba Noodles4
Soy Sauce4
Soy Sauce Solids4
Sphingolipids4
Stabilizers4
Starch1, 4
Stock Cubes4
Suet4
Tocopherols4
Vegetable Broth4
Vegetable Gum4
Vegetable Protein4
Vegetable Starch4
Vitamins4
Wheat Starch5

Celiac Awareness Month fun fact #4

Celiac Awareness Month fun fact of the day:

Celiac Disease is not the same thing as a gluten intolerance. It doesn't just cause tummy trouble.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes whole body, systemic damage. Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases

Mama Mia! That was delicious!

Mama Mia Trattoria in downtown Portland was a favorite of mine pre-celiac. I was so happy to find they have a gluten free menu! Be sure to tell your server you are GF.

http://mamamiatrattoria.com/?openmenu=gluten-free-menu

Service is always top notch at Mama Mia. Their happy hour is amazing. I didn't look at their GF happy hour items tonight though. If you want to check it out, I would call ahead to find out your options.

Tonight I started with the house salad. Organic baby greens, shaved red onions, candied pecans & ricotta salata cheese tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious!

For dinner I ordered the cioppino, which is is whitefish & shellfish in a slightly spicy broth. If you like seafood, I highly recommend this dish.

The cioppino came with a side of pasta.  They Do have a GF pasta option, but I love veggies and opted for a size of spinach.  It was spinach sauteed in olive oil and lots of fresh garlic. 

I didn't get a photo, but my husband got the CHICKEN SCALLOPINE PICCATA, which is on the GF menu also. My husband said his was delicious. The chicken was tender, perfectly cooked & the sauce amazing.

Tonight we were way too full for dessert, but we have sampled some of their deserts in the past. The homemade sorbet is fantastic. Our favorite is the pear sorbet.

Mama Mia changes their menu quarterly, so if you go once, it is worth going back. They also recently started serving weekend breakfast. I have had the Caprise Frittata and it was very good.

I do recommend reservations. We went on a Tuesday night & they were busy. If you go for happy hour, the bar is small...get there early before the dinner rush. (503) 295-6464

Celiac Awareness Month fact #3

When you have Celiac Disease, you can't "cheat". A crumb of a gluten product the size of 1/4 of your pinky nail can cause internal damage to your body. It can take 3 months to fully recover from the effects of of ingesting a small amount of gluten.

Celiac Awareness month fun fact #2

Flour dust can stay airborne for 24 hours after you use it.

That is why I threw out all wheat flour in my house and replaced it with gluten free flour. It is also why if I purchase baked goods, I only purchase from dedicated gluten free facilities.

Celiac Awareness Month fun fact # 1

Did you know that sauerkraut contains more good bacteria than yogurt?

Many people with Celiac Disease have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in their gut, due to the damage of the villi in our intestines.

This picture shows the hairs (villi) in a healthy intestine and the villi in a Celiac intestine. The villi die, which creates pockets in your intestine that the bad bacteria can get into, which can also cause "leaky gut syndrome"