Gluten Free Crackers: Crunchmaster White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                   White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

BRAND:                                  Crunchmaster

COST:                                     $3.29
 
SIZE:                                       4.5 OZ
 
COST PER OZ:                        $0.73/oz
 
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO
 
ORGANIC:                               NO
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A
 
VEGAN:                                   NO
 
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES
 
LOCATION OF FACILITY:        LOVES PARK, IL
 
SHELF LIFE:                           1 year

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

Crunchmaster produces a line of gluten free, rice crackers baked in the Japanese “Usuyaki” style, which translates to English as thin and flat. They pride themselves on using all natural, whole grain ingredients made without any preservatives or artificial flavors. Additionally, many of their most commonly used ingredients, like rice, sesame, quinoa, amaranth, and flax seeds are grown locally in California.  Crunchmaster was nice enough to send us some samples of their newest flavors, one of which is the White Cheddar flavored Multi-Grain Crackers we reviewing today.

Crunchmaster’s white cheddar flavored multi-grain crackers were rich, flavorful and not too heavy. I usually steer away from snacks blasted with a powdery cheesy coating, like Doritos, because of an aversion to high sodium doses and too many questionable ingredients. These thin crackers were filled with good grains and seeds, like sesame seeds, millet, quinoa, flax, corn, and rice while still maintaining an addictive, junk-food sort of flavor. Containing only 120 calories per serving and five percent of the daily-recommended sodium intake, Crunchmaster’s white cheddar crackers are a manageable and relatively healthy indulgence.

Crisp, and flavorful, these crackers would be great with more cheese sliced and piled high on top, or if you are like me, eaten directly out of the bag as a quick snack on the go. I really enjoyed the bits of whole seeds embedded within each cracker because it created a multi-textured experience, while still being simple, tasty, and easy to snack on. These multi-grain crackers were relatively low calorie and I was able to eat 15 crackers per 120 calorie serving. They were also low fat and not too salty. 

Taste:  These crackers were cheesy, crunchy, while still being light and crispy. They were easy to munch on and I felt satisfied prior to overeating. They were also savory without being overly salty.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that not only are these crackers certified gluten free, but were a good source of fiber, cholesterol free, saturated fat free, and low fat. The back had a little information about the crackers, an ingredients list, and nutrition facts.

Packaging:   The crackers were packaged inside of a resealable, foil lined plastic bag.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:      4
Taste:          4  
Value:         3
OVERALL:   4.3

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cookies: So Far Gluten Free Decicacies Chocolate Chip Shortbread

PRODUCT NAME:                          Chocolate Chip Shortbread

BRAND:                                         So Far Gluten Free Delicacies

COST:                                            $2.50

SIZE:                                              3 OZ

COST PER OZ:                               $0.83

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:              N/A

ORGANIC:                                      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              PLEASANTON, CA

SHELF LIFE:                                 2 WEEKS

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

I feel pretty lucky to be living in the Bay Area post celiac diagnosis. Gluten-free establishments seem to be popping up left and right, from Mariposa and Crave bakeries, to bars serving sorghum beers, and of course, Gluten Free Reviewer Grocery. Adding to the roster of great celiac-friendly joints is Pleasanton’s So Far Gluten Free Delicacies.  Created in 2009, So Far was founded by a daughter looking out for her mom who recently found out she had celiac disease. After much trial and error, Mom, and the rest of us are able to enjoy delicious gluten free treats from this great little bakery. Made from simple ingredients which are reminiscent of gluten-y desserts longed for by individuals with wheat-free diets, So Far presents a line of deserts which are safe and taste great.

So Far’s four-pack of chocolate chip shortbread cookies were half gone by the time I was a couple blocks away from the Gluten Free Reviewer headquarters.  These small square cookies were buttery, rich and not too sweet. They were a little bit dry and crumbly, but not in a gross way; they were the way shortbread cookies are supposed to taste. They reminded me of biscotti and if they had survived more than a couple hours in my presence, they would have been great with a cup of coffee or tea. The cookie itself had a really nice and subtle almond flavor which allowed the chocolate chips to really shine. The cookies in this four-pack tasted gourmet and had a sophisticated taste that differentiated them from a regular old, run of the mill cookie.

These very satisfying cookies were made using rice flour, cream cheese, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, almond extract, salt, chocolate chips, and veggie oil; ingredients, excluding the rice flour, which are found in most conventional baked goods. This gives the cookies a familiar taste, without the strange chemically or overly dry taste experience associated with other gluten free deserts.

Taste:  Buttery, subtly almond, and chocolaty, these cookies were delicious and not too sweet or rich.

Labeling:  So Far packaged their chocolate chip shortbread cookies in a sealed plastic sleeve with a sticker on the front stating what the product was, who made it, and information about their gluten free status. Since So Far is a small bakery, legally they do not have to provide nutrition facts, but they did have a sticker listing all ingredients used.

Packaging:   Four cookies were packaged in a sealed plastic sleeve.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:       4
Taste:           5
Value:          3
OVERALL:    4

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

The ELISA Test: A test that tests for Gluten!

Have you ever wondered if your supposedly Gluten-Free restaurant meal had secret sneaky glutinous invaders? If the go-to snacks you checked the ingredients for time and again are actually the source of mysterious stomach aches and other maladies? Do you wonder if companies are perhaps not as stringent about cross contamination as one would hope?

In steps the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, a little friend to help you get to the bottom of the all too common conundrum: Is this food REALLY gluten free? Is it processed on machines that aren’t covered in wheat flour and other invaders? Is it made keeping your allergens and sensitivities in mind?

The ELISA test is one that has been used to check for contamination in all sorts of industries, but most recently it has been popularized for the gluten-free sect. At home testing kits are becoming readily available and are fairly simple to use. Essentially, you grind the food in question into a fine powder, add a provided gluten extraction solution to the powder and place it in a small test tube. You then add a gluten tester strip to said test tube and after about ten minutes, the strip indicates if there is any level of gluten in the product. It is simple, easy, portable, and efficient.

Just how does the ELISA test work, you ask? Essentially, the strip is looking for pesky wayward gluten antibodies, specifically called Gliadin.  It does this by affixing a detecting antigen to the surface of the test strip and then applying a specific antibody over that surface so that it can bind to the antigen. “This antibody is linked to an enzyme, and in the final step a substance is added that the enzyme can convert to some detectable signal.” (Wikipedia) The American Celiac Organization states that “the importance of an ELISA test is that is it rapid, inexpensive, and run by a machine. Thus the results are independent of observer variability.”  This is just one thing that makes the ELISA test more desirable then others on the market. The machine testing weeds out human error and provides an accurate and unbiased gluten diagnosis for specific foods. A customer need not worry about misrepresentation or misreading caused by technician bias.

Although the science of the ELISA test seems complex, the actual procedure of testing itself is fairly simple. The ELISA test is much more accurate then other researched allergen food tests on the market because it is able to detect gluten in products in as small as ten parts per million, which is essentially the accepted value for your typically gluten sensitive/Celiac afflicted consumer. Other tests only go as low as being able to detect gluten in the 100-200 parts per million realm, which renders them essentially useless to the highly allergic.

In my research I found the ELISA at home tests to be fairly inexpensive. Typically they are about $250.00 for a package of twenty five tests and they get less expensive as you buy in bulk.  Those with mere gluten sensitivities but not all out Celiac Disease would not necessarily find it necessary to purchase this product but if one were highly sensitive I imagine the product would be indispensable. As it is quick, inexpensive, accurate, and easy it could be a life saver in new restaurants and travel situations. Besides all these perks, isn’t it kind of cool to be able to bring science into your very own kitchen? I would definitely say its worth the money and effort.

Written by Lacy D.