We at Van’s are very sensitive – no pun intended – to the challenges that come with avoiding gluten. That’s why we’ve worked to develop great-tasting, convenient, healthy gluten-free foods for our customers who avoid consuming the wheat protein.
And that’s why we were so interested to a
blog post recently posted on CNN’s health blog, which highlights a potential source of gluten that is less than obvious – cosmetics and toiletries.
As the piece explains, gastroenterologists meeting this month in Washington, D.C. are warning that lotions and other beauty products do not regularly disclose gluten content – meaning that unwitting gluten-sensitive consumers may be in for an unpleasant surprise. While gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin, it can be accidentally ingested in small quantities if it remains on the hands or is used around the mouth.
Fortunately for consumers, some companies do make and market gluten-free cosmetics. We suspect that more companies will be disclosing gluten content in the near future, since celiac disease and gluten sensitivity affect so many and are becoming better understood nationally. In the meantime, we recommend contacting manufacturers directly to find out if a favorite product contains gluten that may be harming your health.