This past weekend I attended the BlogHer conference in San Diego. It was my second year attending and my first time in San Diego (which is beautiful, seriously – go!) and overall i had a fantastic time. I met some people I have been dying to meet, had the best roommates a lady could ask for and was introduced to a lot of really amazing new friends.
Last year i was disappointed when i got to BlogHer and saw the food for the entire conference was all buffet style. Makes total sense but before attending i was told that there would be safe options for people with celiac disease. Buffet is not a good thing for people with celiac disease = cross contamination would be insane. I didnt have high hopes for this year but was surprised to see they had separate buffet tables for vegans and gluten free.
I was going to stay away from the food any way. fearing cross contamination and traveling i felt it would be easier for me and smarter to just not eat. But there was a gluten free buffet – and i was hungry and so for lunch the first day i grabbed myself a plate of salad – thinking that would be the safest option.
i was wrong
i got sick.
cross contaminated.
from the salad on the gluten free labeled buffet line.
I kicked myself the entire time because i should have KNOWN not to touch it. Most dont know that if you visited the regular buffet then came over to the gluten free and grabbed our food – contaminating the gluten free buffet with even just a few particles of gluten — that will get me sick. It was out in the open in a non dedicated kitchen not too far from the regular buffet and no sign that warns people of cross contaminating.
I should have known better.
Thankfully I was attending the conference being sponsored by Kinnikinnick Foods and they had sent a box to my hotel in San Diego full of safe food for me to eat. No more needing to worry.
The next morning i went into the food hall to have some coffee and breakfast with my besties. I took a look at what they had to offer at the gluten free buffet and i had to take a second look.
oatmeal? whaa?
Then i had to remind myself that i am no longer in Canada – where we have safe labeling laws and a clear definition of what is gluten free … oats NOT being considered gluten free in Canada, but is in the US… i wondered then if i had been contaminated with oats somehow & that sold me … not eating the food.
I ended up having to take a few breaks to the hotel room because of the effects of the cross contamination the day before. i got very tired, stomach pains and my joints hurt like whoa. I was happy to be able to rest & escape to the room to enjoy gluten & casein free cereal, donuts, bagels and more from Kinnikinnick.
I was happy that the gluten free buffet was there because many were able to eat and i was able to talk with some others who are on the diet. It was a definite improvement from the year before when there were no options available. I was also thrilled that in the conversations I had with many who ate a gluten free diet were familiar with Kinnikinnick Foods & loved their products. That made me smile because I am such a huge fan of the Canadian company, their mission and their products.
:: Two questions for you today. 1. Did you attend the conference? what was your favourite part? 2. If you eat gluten free are you noticing a trend of better understanding or just more confusion? ::
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: Complicatedmama
August 10, 2011 at 10:24 am
So glad that you had your Kinnikinnick Foods with you! I was worried about what you would be able to eat.
Also glad that you didn’t label this post “The time corine tried to kill me with the BlogHer salad”
xoxo
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 11:16 am
Of course i wouldn’t name it that – you were just being sweet and worried about me like a good friend
{& there was a surprising amount of times someone tried to ‘kill’ me that weekend 
}
xxo
Twitter: bewilderedbug
August 10, 2011 at 10:36 am
I’m so sorry you got sick from the buffet – at least they tried I guess.
I hate being glutenated – especially when travelling…and it would SUCK for it to happen at a conference.
Speaking of that I’m going to BlissdomCanada now! (yay!) – are you?
I guess I should be contacting them re: gluten free food as well. Hmm…
Thanks for this blog – it reminded me that I am gluten free (since I’ve been on the fence recently – I know it’s bad #don’tjudgeme) – and that I have to look out for these things #sigh
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 11:15 am
Yes – it was nice to see the option there – which would have been great for those using the diet for other medical reasons and personal decisions.
I have a ticket to BlissdomCanada – still doing a debate on if i will sell it or not. I am also attending the ShesConnected conference about 2wks before – also in Toronto.
Yes lady – if you need the gluten free diet you will feel SO much better on it!
Twitter: mytimeasmom
August 10, 2011 at 11:11 am
I’m so sorry to hear that the gluten free food at the conference made you sick. I was wondering how well they were going to be able to keep things separate.
It was nice meeting you there.
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 11:13 am
the gluten free buffet would have been fine for those who are on the diet for personal reasons or for intolerance. not safe for us with celiac disease.
It was nice to meet you too – i do wish we had more time to chat – would have loved to sit down with you {blogher is SO big… have you been to another conference before? i love blissom conferences b/c they are small and less focus on the parties = more time to connect!}
Aw, boo
I’m sorry to hear that you got sick from the cross-contamination! I do remember us talking about the lack of gluten free food options last year in NYC, and I’m glad they were actually able to address our concerns and make the conference better for everyone this year, even if it didn’t go so well.
I do have to say your sponsor sounds just incredible! Sending a box to your hotel so you don’t have to worry-Now THAT’S a company that cares
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Yes i was glad to see they had a gluten free option – i was thrilled because that means many more were able to eat. happy they had a vegan buffet as well!
& you know Kinnikinnick Foods is incredible. They have been SO good to me and i am so thankful.
Twitter: kristahouse
August 10, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Sorry to hear you got sick from the buffet. I’m just learning about gluten free diets from some new friends. I am glad that you had Kinnikinnick as an alternative.
It was nice to say hello at the cheeseburgHer party! Take care
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 3:10 pm
If you ever have any questions about the gluten free diet – or if your friends do – let me know – i would be happy to help answer if i can.
& yes it was nice to see you – i wish we had more time to talk!!
It wasn’t oatmeal, it was rice congee and it was awful. Other than that (and the chips) I was happy with the gluten free alternatives. Though I feel like I am part of the problem by not demanding stricter guidelines. I’d say it’s more confusing.
But gluten intolerance is confusing too. (I don’t mean Celiac disease, just sensitivities)
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
August 10, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Weird – the person who worked there told me it was oats (which is considered gfree in the US)… sounds gross though.
The buffet would have been find for those with sensitivities and intolerance because cross contamination is not as big of an issues as it is for those with celiac disease and gluten allergy. I was THRILLED to see the option there – was a huge improvement from the year before when there were no options.
Twitter: mommastuffblog
August 10, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Hi Devan,
So glad you had kinnkinik products with you, its awful that you got sick from the gluten-free buffet, I hope that you were in contact with the organizers so that they can explain the situation to the hotel staff. That said, I’m finding myself concerned about meals at Blissdom Canada, though I suspect I’m not quite as sensitive as you (though I’m much more sensitive than other people I know). Regarding your second question, I think there is more awareness about gluten-free these days (almost everyone knows someone who is gf), but understanding vs confusion, I’m just not sure.
So sorry that the food made you sick. I think it is so unfortunate how little understanding there is about food allergies. It makes life so much more difficult. We deal with dairy allergies which are much less restrictive than gluten so I can’t imagine what it must be like for you all the time. One of these days things will get better right?
I was at BlogHer. I just learned something new by reading your post. I didn’t know about cross contamination risks. So sorry you got sick. One of the things that impressed me about the conference was that they had vegan and gluten-free options. But who knew about cross contamination? Truly, learn something new everyday.
Twitter: phdinparenting
August 11, 2011 at 2:18 pm
I’m sorry you got sick Devan.
I must admit, I am one who lined up at two buffets. I went to the regular buffet and found that there weren’t any sandwiches I could eat there, but saw a huge pile of chicken wraps across the aisle at the gluten free table, so I grabbed one.
I figured since I wasn’t using my utensils at both and was just dumping something on my plate, that it would be okay. But now I know better and won’t do it next time. Perhaps better signage telling people about cross contamination would help?
Twitter: suzstreats
August 11, 2011 at 8:30 pm
So sorry that you got sick from the food! Glad you had back ups. It was nice to meet you at lunch Saturday!