Did You Know Gluten May Be In Construction Materials?

I have Hashimoto’s, which is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Due to the similar molecular structure of the thyroid and gluten, gluten is a major trigger for me. Like someone with Celiac, I have to avoid gluten at all cost. I never eat gluten (on purpose). I don’t use any personal care products containing gluten and I try not to breathe in gluten molecules.  

At the end of March, we discovered a leak under our kitchen sink. It caused a lot of damage, so 3 cabinets, the sink, and all the flooring needed to be removed and replaced.  The demolition didn’t affect me but as the rebuilding began, my “allergies” started to go crazy.  I thought it was the dust that construction creates.

I was partially correct.  By the 2^nd week I was suffering from fatigue, a terrible cough, sinus issues, and a pain in the front of my neck that I thought was a sore throat. I went to 2 doctors. Both informed me I was suffering from a severe histamine overload.  They also told me the pain in my throat was my thyroid not my throat. My thyroid was so irritated and swollen that I was having difficulty swallowing.  

I knew I had not been “glutened” by food. The construction was nearly complete so it took me a day or two to realize there could be gluten in construction materials. I did a little digging and found a variety of articles about this:

Wheat flour is sometimes used in the plaster, plaster walls, drywall, glues of all kinds, chalk type products, to name a few. Wheat paste is used for “durability and stickiness.” The biggest issue is the plaster dust that lingers in the air for a long time and can travel all over the house. 

It has been 7 weeks and I am finally starting to feel better. I now have an air filter running in my house all the time. In addition, I have had to resort to nasal steroids and a myriad of supplements to support my thyroid and help reduce the histamine overload. 

http://www.fromhousetohomeboston.com/very-first-methods-to-home-remodeling/

These are 3 of the websites I visited:
 
Synkro Niciti is an artist website. Author Kat McDaniel wrote, Gluten Sentsivity for Construction Workers, Artists and Children: Building and Craft Materials, which details issues about how she was effected by construction in her home. This article had solid research and facts about various construction materials.

Green Builder Elements explores "green" ways to create building supplies. The article, How To Plaster Walls: Natural Clay Plaster Finishes, suggests, "Additional additives such as wheat paste help increase durability and stickiness." 

Celiac.Com: Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Forum has an ongoing thread about how plaster dust has effect people with DH(dermatitis herpetiformis) and Celiac Disease. 

I would like to hear from those of you out there who have had experiences with construction materials. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Photo by the http://www.fromhousetohomeboston.com/very-first-methods-to-home-remodeling/

Think Twice Before Ignoring Your Gluten Issues

How many of you out there have been diagnosed with Celiac disease and are asymptomatic? Are you eating gluten-free? How many of you suspect you may have Celiac disease but have not been diagnosed yet?

I know several people who have Celiac disease and are asymptomatic. This may sound like a good thing but it can lead to serious health issues. Being vigilant with a gluten-free diet when a person does not notice that they are reacting when eating gluten can be difficult. 

I have a friend who was diagnosed with Celiac disease 10 years ago. She is asymptomatic so she did not bother to purchase an additional set of pots and pans etc., to prevent cross contamination. She shares her kitchen with gluten eating people and was not as careful as she could have been about cross contamination. 7 years later she had another endoscopy and colonoscopy done because her iron count was very low. Though she was fairly strict with her gluten-free diet there was noticeable villi damage in her small intestine. The doctor also contribute a few of the other medical issues she had been noticing to her being exposed to cross contamination of gluten.

In the New York Times Magazine section of Sunday, August 17, 2014 paper, there is a powerful article about a man who was suffering from a myriad of symptoms such as extreme weight loss, hair loss on his legs, weakness of the arms and legs, etc. He had been diagnosed with Celiac disease years before but he was asymptomatic and therefore did not follow a gluten-free diet. 

After months of doctors and testing, this man finally was sent to a neurologist because he was falling down and the weakness in his limbs was getting worse. The neurologist ordered 2 additional tests. One to eliminate a type of cancer and the other to check for low copper counts.    

The mans copper counts came back very low. According to this article, 'Without copper, the body can't make blood, nerves or muscle." Now they knew what was causing the symptoms BUT what caused the low copper counts.

You got it, Celiac disease!

 

Celiac Disease: Villi Damage: Photo by gastro.ucla.edu

" Celiac disease (CD) is also known as Celiac Sprue or Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy. It is an autoimmune disease which is genetic and therefore an inherited disease. It affects people
of all ages and it is believed that approximately 1 in 133 people have Celiac disease, yet
most are undiagnosed. When gluten is eaten, the small intestine becomes damaged.
The villi are pushed down by the gluten, creating an environment that is unable to
absorb nutrients. There are over 300 registered symptoms for Celiac. The most common
symptoms are diarrhea, bloating, anemia, chronic fatigue, weakness, bone pain, weight
loss and muscle cramps. It was once thought that Celiac’s only affected the small intestine,
but it is now known that it can cause medical issues." (Gluten-Free Living 101by Marian Z Geringer)

The damage that Celiac disease can cause to the small intestine, can prevent the absorption  of nutrients such as iron, vitamin B 12 and copper. 

This man was put in the hospital for treatment and then told to be on a gluten-free diet. "within two months, he regained his weight and part of his strength. The doctors told him it would take three months for every month he was sick to get back to his normal strength."(NY Times).

Please think twice about the food decisions you make. Every bite counts.




Photo by: gastro.ucla.edu

Can Hookworm Cure Celiac Disease?

For those of us suffering from digestive issues such as Celiac disease, colitis and Crohns disease, and leaky gut, we are always hoping for new medical breakthroughs .The question is how far are we willing to go to try a new "cure". 

Twelve people in Australia were willing to go very far to help in the search for answers to Celiac Disease.  They allowed researchers from John's Cook University to be "experimentally infected with 20 Necator americanus (hookworm) larvae."  You read that right, Hookworm!
Surprisingly, the experiment appears to have been successful. 

Hookworm (see photo credit below)

On September 25, 2014, Science Daily published an article,  Celiac disease: A wriggly solution to an inflammatory condition.

Summary:

 "Groundbreaking results were achieved in a clinical trial using hookworms to reduce the symptoms of celiac disease. The results are good news for sufferers of other inflammatory conditions such as asthma and Crohn's disease. In the small trial run over a year, 12 participants were each experimentally infected with 20 Necator americanus (hookworm) larvae. They were then given gradually increasing doses of gluten, with their daily dose in the final stage being equivalent to a medium-sized bowl of spaghetti."

The results as stated in the article: 

 "The potential of helminths (parasitic worms) in treating inflammatory diseases lies in their ability to dial back the human immune response -- a skill that enables them to survive, and thrive, in the human gut, without compromising their host's ability to fight off other infectious diseases."

 " A collaboration between JCU scientists in Cairns and gastroenterologist Dr John Croese at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, this study investigated the mechanism by which hookworms reduce the inflammatory response. "In gut biopsies collected before, during and at the end of the trial, we identified specific cells of the immune system, known as T cells, that we suspected were targeted by hookworm proteins," Dr Giacomin said. "We found that over the duration of the trial the T cells within the intestine changed from being pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory."

So, if I understand this article and the others I read about this topic, then my question is what about the medical complications from having hookworm disease. 

According to the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease, (NIH)  hookworms is no longer a major disease in the United States and other developed countries because the living conditions are excellent. Conversely, hookworm effects over 600 million people in the world, mainly in undeveloped countries. 
Hookworm lives in the small intestine. Hookworm can cause gastrointestinal issues. It can also create blood loss causing anemia and possible protein loss. 

What are you willing to do,in order to feel better? 
References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140925100929.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3174943/
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/hookworm/pages/default.aspx

Photo: Image: L: Filariform (L3) hookworm larva in a wet mount. R: Hookworm rhabditiform larva (wet preparation). Credit: DPDx

My Response to the Negative Media About Living Gluten-Free

I have been very frustrated the last few weeks because I could not type. I have wanted to respond to all the negative media about living a GLUTEN-FREE life. Maybe I needed the time to figure out just what I want to say.

First and most important, is the lack of knowledge that the general public and many doctors have about diseases and disorders directly affected by consuming gluten. Even a few people with Celiac Disease have responded by saying it is hurting those with Celiac Disease when so many people use the GF diet in order to lose weight, etc.  This remark excludes those of us who also have diseases, disorders or health issues that are affected by eating gluten. 

The Media & Gluten-Free Living

Yes, there are those people eating a GF diet because it is the newest fad or weight lose idea. 
So what, the truth is that wheat in its current form is very difficult to digest.  Even if a person does not need to be on a GF diet ,they may receive health benefits by eliminating gluten.

Yes, people on a so called GF diet sometimes do not even know what gluten is.
It sounds ridiculous but maybe these people will start to learn what it is and will help educate others.

Yes, the media is all over the gluten-free way of life.
It was the media that started to shine attention on Celiac Disease and Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). Because of this attention, more research about a gluten diet is now being funded. I guess we have to take the good with the bad.

I know what I know and I will not let others belittle it or make me doubt myself. I don't have Celiac disease. I have an autoimmune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's and Leaky Gut. Some doctors do not think gluten affects Hashimoto's, others do. I have met many people with Hashimoto's or another autoimmune disease that feels much better after eliminating gluten. That can not be questioned.

I know what I know
Eating gluten makes me sick. 
Cross Contamination of gluten, makes it difficult for me to swallow and my skin gets rashes. 

Since I stopped eating gluten:

• I no longer have difficulty swallowing
• My digestive issues are gone
• My eczema is gone 
• No more brain fog
• No more arthritis pain 
• the list goes on and on. 

Check out July/August issue of Simply Gluten Free magazine. 
Dr. Alexander Shikhman, founder of the Institute for Specialized Medicine and  board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, is the author of the article called, Gluten Intolerance and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  In Dr. Shikhman addresses how gluten can affect the body and may be directly related to other autoimmune diseases, especially Rheumatoid Arthritis. I enjoyed reading his ideas and theories.


Dr. Alexander Shikhman has a self assessment Gluten Intolerance test on his site.   

Please stay true to what you know works for you!

Gluten and the Brain

Until the 1970's  most doctors and researchers did not know what Celiac disease and Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity was, let alone know what the symptoms are or how to test for it. Until recently, gluten sensitivity was not even acknowledge as a medical issue, but now it has its own medical name, Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or NCGS, and is being researched.  

This medical arena is still in it's infancy stages as far as research and testing are concerned. Even more obvious to people trying to get answers is that very few doctors link the symptoms to the possibility of these diseases and disorders. It can take years to be diagnosed. It has been stated by Dr. Fassano that there are over 300 symptoms for Celiac Disease and over 140 NCGS.  So it is no surprise that the medical profession has difficulty relating certain symptoms to these diseases and disorders.

What is coming to light now is that what was once considered a mainly gastrointestinal issue has now started to become a neurological issue also.  Doctor David Perlmutter has written Grain Brain. Dr.O'Bryan has done a series of informational webinars on this very subject.

Living Without Magazine has published a very exciting article called Gluten &Your Brain by Christine Boyd in the April/ May 2014 issue. Please pick up the magazine or go to the website and order it. There is so much to learn about this area of gluten issues.

"Celiac disease is not just a gastrointestinal condition as we believed before, says celiac expert Alessio Fasano M.D, director of the Center for Celiac Research  at Mass General Hospital for Children. "It can affect any organ ...  "  Dr. Fassano goes on to state that neurological symptoms associated with gluten are on the rise.   Living Without


According to the Article these are some of the diseases and disorders linked to gluten: There are many more possibilities.
Behavioral Issues
Brain Abnormalities
Brain Fog
Cognitive Troubles
Gluten Ataxia
Gluten Encephalopathy
Gluten and  Schizophrenia
Language Issues
Myelopathy
Myopathy
Neuropathy

Photo by http://www.howtofascinate.com/blog/bid/187873/Fascination-Happens-Deep-Within-The-Brain
Boyd, Christine. Gluten & Your Brain. Living Without Magazine. April/May 2014 pp. 26-33
Perlmutter, David MD. Grain Brain. New York. 2013

Benefits of Bone Broth #2

I have been eating/drinking bone broth now, for several weeks. I have felt a change. Though detoxing has its rumblings and some discomfort, I am clear that these minor side effects are leading to a healthy gut. A healthy gut means a healthier me. 
The most nutritious broth is bone broths. This broth is filled with nutrients, iron, calcium etc that are easy to absorb and probiotics that help heal the gut.

I made a chicken broth and beef broth. I do not eat beef often and brisket is the only red meat I have cooked years, so buying oxtail, knuckle ones and marrow bones and chicken feet was a little out of my wheel house. Sure hope it tastes okay. It soaks for 2 hours and then brews for 18 -24 hours.

I was told to cook the first batch for 8 hours. The longer you cook it the more is released and, I was told to start slowly. My last batched cooked for 22 hours.

If you do not want to make this yourself there may be someone in your area making these broths:

Southern Orange County, CA Area: How To Heal a Cowboy?
Northern California, Berkeley Area: Three Stone Hearth 
Weston A Price Foundation is the place to search in other areas.
 

For more information about the benefits of bone broth here are a few sites:

The GAPS diet (gut and physiology) is being used all over the world to help people heal their gut issues.
 

Living Healthy n Happy is a wonderful blog filled with valuable information about the GAPs diet, fermented foods etc.   

Wellnessmama has a good tutorial on how to make bone broth. The photo below is from her tutorial. 
 

Interactive Checklist of Symptoms

The Celiac Diseases Foundation has just published a interactive checklist of symptoms for people to complete and take to their doctors.

There are over 300 symptoms related to Celiac Disease and 140 related to Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. For many it takes years of suffering before they are accurately diagnosed.


As The Celiac Disease Foundation states, "Most people with celiac disease are undiagnosed.This checklist helps you document if you or your child have any of the common symptoms or conditions. Share your checklist responses with your physician to determine if you or your child should have the celiac disease panel blood test."
"This checklist is NOT a self-diagnosis tool. Diagnosis of celiac disease requires a celiac disease panel blood test and an endoscopic biopsy of your small intestine.
You MUST be eating gluten in order for the celiac disease panel test to be accurate as it measures your body’s reaction to gluten. A proper diagnosis can only be made by a physician."

It is time to take charge of your own health. 
 

Wheat Research Continued

I  was doing additional research on wheat and came across this article about the "dark side of wheat".

It intrigued me and I believe it is worth sharing:

Dark Side Of Wheat can be found at                

The Road Trip

As we left Ashland, Or, I wondered if we would find another town that was so gluten-free friendly. It was such a pleasure to know that almost any eatery there would accommodate our needs.

We drove down the 5 freeway south towards Sacramento. Since we had just done this trip going north, we were well aware that we would need to bring food with us, as there is no place safe to eat on this stretch of the road. We had a hearty breakfast in Ashland, so this was not a problem. 

We then took the 505 fwy south to the 80 freeway through Berkeley and down to San Bruno. Our dear friends live in San Bruno and they need to go GF for health reasons. The next two days would I would wear the GF consultant cap as well as the friend cap. 

After I helped them clean out their pantry, refrigerator and freezer, we went shopping for replacement foods.My plan was for us to cook, so they could get comfortable with GF replacements. I brought some of my own pots and pans with me so I could teach them to cook GF and I would be assured that I would not get glutened. I, also, made them both chicken and beef bone broth.

That night we went to " Off the Grid" which is a group of food trucks that travel around the area. My friend was excited for us to go because they have a GF truck. Unfortunately, the GF truck did not show that night.In some ways this was a good thing because I got to take them to each truck and discuss what was in the foods and why most of them were not GF. 

The next stop was in Scotts Valley, a small town near Santa Cruz. My friend, Wendy's, mother, brother and mother-in law have Celiac Disease. Needless to say, Wendy gets what it means to live GF. Whenever I am in Scotts Valley I go to a Cambodian Restaurant called Jia Tella's. 
The food is wonderful and the hostess has family that have Celiacs so she was very helpful. 

The ride down the 101 fwy south was easy. We made sandwiches for the car though San Luis Obispo has may GF options, we decided not to stop because we just wanted to get home.

We are now safely home and I can relax about what and where to eat.

Celi Study Experience

Hi Marian,

     I am happy to share my experience as I love to contribute to the Celiac community.  For the most part I don’t have any privacy issues etc.  Just ask and I will let you know

  First let me share why I love this study:

1.  The medication is actually an enzyme

2.  The study does not ask that you go off the gluten free diet!

3.  The study helps you track your symptoms!

4.  You get free lab work and an EGD (something I have been intending on having done; however, I have had other medical expenses due to foot surgery and I have had to put off).

The study itself is handled in phases and you qualify phase by phase.

The initial phase is an extensive medical history – typical questions that you would have on a questionnaire for a physical.  Then you are asked about your historical intestinal issues, rashes, medication/alcohol use.  Nothing really earth shattering.  Your height, weight, & blood pressure are taken and you have a brief visit with the physician if any clarification is required.  My original biopsy noted that I had intraepithelial gastritis and I thought it may disqualify me from the study and the study coordinator wondered as well.  I believe that was the only reason I met with the doctor.  Oh, and there were consents to read & sign.  I was there 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. and I imagine I will not be there this long for each visit.

The study coordinators were very nice and I felt quite comfortable.  Sonia Collins is kind and very helpful/involved with the Celiac community (although not Celiac).  Sonia also likes the baked goods she receives from the patients to try!  Sonia is also more than willing to share new product information between patients.  Dr. Ennis was quite pleasant as well.  Dr. Ennis family is completely gluten free as his son has Celiac Disease (I always like to see that kind of support).

The next phase of the study was going over the lab results, the diary, & scheduling the EGD (which may be cancelled if I don’t qualify for the next round).  They performed all the labs I was looking for  When I was diagnosed, my doctor bypassed all the important stuff and went straight to the biopsy and the genetic testing (therefore, this was great).  The tests revealed that I was definitely negative for gluten – with the usual trace noted.  I am proud to say that I am very strict with my diet; however, I have a new deficiency:  Folate.  The doctor noted this as clinically significant and recommended a supplement (dually noted and purchased immediately). 

Next, we went over the daily diary.  For some reason I anticipated that it would be a food diary, but it is actually a symptom diary.  The idea of the study is that even someone like myself who is diligent with their gluten free diet is going to get a little gluten somewhere.  Therefore, cheating on your diet is not necessary, recommended, or required.  This initial diary will document the symptoms you have throughout the day.  The questions are related to symptoms you may have had throughout the day; diarrhea, regular bowel movements,  abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, or fatigue.  You go through a practice run with the study coordinator and then the next night you are on your own for 28 days.  I believe as long as you comply with the diary you qualify for the EGD.  The diary is really easy and it is by phone.  The company even sends you a text or will call you daily to remind you!  I was there for 45 min. and my next visit is actually my EGD (unless I fail at my diary and they cancel me).

If my EGD reveals I do not have any ongoing intestinal damage, I believe that will disqualify me moving forward.  Therefore, I may not have an update until the end of January as my EGD is not scheduled until January 24th.  Please feel free to inquire if you have any additional questions/concerns.

Meat Glue

I am doing research for a talk and came across an article in the Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: Gastrointestinal Hip or Hype?by Brigid Duffy

This is an excellent article - well worth reading. What stood out for me was the section about microbial tTG or "meat glue": 

"In 2002, researchers from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., reported that gluten contamination is the single biggest culprit in patients who have a poor response to a gluten-free diet (Abdulkarim AS et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2002;97:2016-2021). One of the chief reasons is that an increasing number of food manufacturers and fast-food companies are using microbial tTG, or “meat glue,” as a means to cross-link proteins and give processed meat its desired shape. Even products as seemingly innocuous as turkey bacon might contain this gluten trigger. Moreover, the FDA does not require food companies to list tTG on its labels because the agent is considered a “processing aid.” In these cases, even patients with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity who are the most committed to a gluten-free diet don’t stand a chance."

I will continue to do further research and get back to you with information.

Tea Anyone?

Teas come in various forms: tea bags, loose and single serving container such as K-cups.  Tea is inherently gluten-free. But it is not that simple.

Flavored tea can contain gluten in the form of malt, malt barley or barley.

Tea bags can be made with barley (this would not be on the ingredient list)

Some tea manufactures use glue to hold the tea bag wrapper together. This glue may contain gluten.There is little information about single serving packaging and the ingredients are proprietary. 

I have contacted the following companies and here are the responses.

There is a quick view list and then a detailed list by company. 

Key Codes:

       GF = GLUTEN-FREE

       GF? = the TEA BAG is unknown

       Dedicated Facility – no cross contamination

       Non GMO- no genetically modified ingredients      

       Possible Cross Contamination: due to the facility

       Unknown means I consider this an unsafe brand due to lack of information. 

     

Quick List of Teas:

Bigelow Tea (via website & phone) GF & Dedicated Facility

Celestial Seasoning: (via website) Unknown

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf:(via  email)GF& Possible CrossContamination   

David Tea: (via website) GF

Good Earth (via website & email) GF & Dedicated Facility         

Green Mountain Tea (via phone)  GF

Lipton Tea: (via website) Unknown

     
     MightyTea (via website) GF, possible Cross Contamination

     Numi Tea: (via email) GF, NON-GMO, DEDICATED FACILITY

Peets Coffee & Tea (via email) GF

     
     Pukka Tea: (via email)   GF

    
     Republic of Tea (via website) Certified GF by GFCO

      
     Red Rose Tea (via website & phone)  GF?

     

     Stash Tea (via website & phone)  Possible Cross Contamination. 

 

     Tazo Tea (via email)  Unknown

     
     Teavana: (via website)  GF & Dedicated facility

    
     Tetley Tea: (via phone)  GF & Dedicated Facility

     
     Twining Tea (via email) GF?

    
     Yogi Tea (via email) GLUTEN in many teas & Possible Cross Contamination

Detailed list by manufacture and comments made about the product:

Bigelow Tea (via website & phone) GF & Dedicated Facility

“Is GF but contains soy.”            

 The Bigelow phone representative stated:

Bigelow discontinued the teas that did contained gluten.

 They converted their manufacturing plant so it is completely GF.           

  

Celestial seasoning: (via website) Unknown

‘… a few Celestial Seasonings tea contain roasted barley, which contributes a small amount of gluten. We recommend reviewing the box of tea you’re interested in to make sure it says “gluten free”’.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: (via email)

                                                     GF & Possible Cross Contamination

“All of our coffees, teas and powders are made without gluten ingredients. Though, please note that our powders are produced in a facility that does produce products for other companies that may contain gluten. So,there is always a risk of cross contamination.  For nutritional information on a specific item please feel free to email us at info@coffeebean.com.”

David Tea: (via website) GF

    “Yes indeed, but please be aware that our teas do not come from certified 

      gluten-free facility."   

Good Earth (via website & email) GF & Dedicated Facility         

      “All of our teas are gluten-free as well as free from containing MSG, sugar, 

     preservatives or sweeteners, either natural or artificial and are made in

     allergen free production facilities  Any perceived sweetness in the tea is due

     to the combination of herbs, spices and citrus components in the blends.”

Green Mountain Tea (via phone)  GF

All tea is gluten-free.

The tea comes in K cups and I am waiting for an answer. 


Lipton Tea ( via website) Unknown
"We recommend that you read the label each time before buying our products. If gluten is present, it is clearly listed in plain language on the ingredient label. (i.e. wheat flour, rye , barley, oats, and malt)"
Tea Bag/ Tea Attachment:
"We do not use any glue in the assembly of our Tea bags or tags. Where a staple is not used, we use pressure and heat to adhere the string to the tag and the bag." 

Mighty Tea (via website)  GF & Possible Cross Contamination
"None of our blends contain wheat, rye, barley, or oats, so the tea itself is gluten-free. However, our teas may be processed in a facility that also processes gluten products, opening up the risk for cross contamination." 

Numi Tea ( via website) GF, NON-GMO, Dedicated Facility 
"...All Numi products are gluten-free. Our tea are packaged in facilities and on machines that do  not process or work with gluten. Our teas do not come into contact with soy, dairy, or nut products.  "

"Our tea bags are compostible and made from Manila hemp cellulose. They are non-GMO verified, oxygen whitened and the tag is made from 100% recycled material and soy-based inks. They do not contain any gluten."  

Peets Coffee & Tea (via email) GF
"Our teas, and herbal (black, green, Oolong, white, and herbals) are made without
gluten ingredients."

Our Tea Bags we use have been confirmed gluten-free"   

Pukka Tea (via email)  GF ( see exception)
"Yes, our products are gluten-free"
"Our tea bags are not healed sealed so therefore they do not require a polymer of any kind to keep then closed. The machine folds the bags and sews it shut with a single piece of cotton thread... 
ALL Pukka Teas are gluten-free BUT our Night Time and Relax Blends contain oat straw. Although the analytical tests undertaken on these teas show that gluten is absent, consumers who are extremely sensitive many want to check the suitable contents of oat straw for related gluten allergies like avein."

Republic of Tea (via website) Certified GF by GFCO

Is certified GF as is their bags. Look for GF label to be sure.

*I found one tea flavor that is not GF and is not labeled GF.                                   
Coconut Cocoa Cuppa Chocolate - contains barley. "

Red Rose Tea (via website & phone)  GF?

“Please be advised products of Red Rose are all gluten free.”

There was no response about how the tea bag is made. 

Stash Tea ( via website & phone) Possible Cross Contamination
"All of the flavors used in our blends are gluten-free/ we do not use barley malt in any of our blends." 
"We do not test our products or have a GF facility."
"Our tea bags are heated sealed and do not contain gluten."

Tazo Tea (Starbucks) (via email)  Unknown
Thank you for getting in touch with us, Tazo is unable to guarantee a "gluten-free" environment in our retail locations due to the potential for cross contamination with gluten-containing products. The open environment and operating procedures of our store locations may present additional risk for gluten-sensitive customers aside from the gluten-containing ingredients themselves. "Gluten-free" is a claim with specific requirements defined by government agencies and industry standards. We are unable to make this claim on a product unless the item is specifically formulated and manufactured to meet the definition of the claim.

Teavana (via website)  GF & Dedicated Facility
"All Teavana teas are gluten-free"
Teavana Teas are loose tea and therefore tea bags are not used.


Tetley Tea: (via phone)  GF & Dedicated Facility

All tea and tea bags are gluten-free and made in a dedicated facility.

Twining Tea (via email) GF?

“All teas are inherently gluten free regardless of where the tea is sourced,   

 our ingredient listing states black tea or green tea in additional

 to other ingredients a particular tea may contain.  None of these added

 ingredients these contain gluten, so therefore our teas are gluten free.   

 Please note, however, that Twining's at this time does not utilize an

 outside agency to certify our teas as gluten free.”

 

 Yogi Tea (via email)  GLUTEN in many teas & Possible Cross Contamination

 "The following teas contain Barley malt / Gluten:

 YT Schoko, YT Licorice, Schoko Chili, Digestive Tea, Women’s Tea,  

 Calming  Men’s Tea, Good Morning Chai” 

      Happy Sipping!