I have a question for you: Have you ever taken a gluten free venue at face value only to find out later that you were totally wrong and had probably been making yourself sick? This is unfortunately one of these stories.

Frozen Yogurt is definitely a summer thing and has been at the top of Mike and I’s dessert lists lately. The main reason for this peaked interested had not only been the change of the weather for the warmer but also this little place capturing our eye:Yogurt Crazy, a self serve yogurt place in which you are the yogurt master and you pay by weight for your finished product. The thing that captured our eye the most was the many GF signs in and outside the store. They’re even certified as a gluten free establishment!

 The options are delicious, and cheap, for their

quality, and only a few of them aren’t gluten free as
the picture to the right indicates. Some of the best flavors include pomegranate, berry tart swirl, peanut butter and strawberry (I personally am a big fan of the Pomegranate and strawberry mixed together topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips). For a few weeks we were eating there twice a week and it was bliss.

So you ask: What could be wrong with a place that says they are gluten free all over the place and offers delicious products? I started to notice after the third or fourth time there that I was feeling ill afterwards. I was chalking it up to lactose intolerance but decided to take a closer look

Unfortunately, when I looked closer I realized that what is wrong is cross contamination. Take a look at all the machines:

How do you think they clean the left over yogurt off after you use the machine so someone doesn’t get old yogurt? A cup or rag for each machine? NOPE! They have one rag, which they profusely rub over every nozzle and serving surface in the store including the counters around the toppings! Now how does that work for your gluten free guests if some of your favors aren’t gluten free!?

Totally irritated at having fallen for the signs without question I promptly threw out my serving before purchasing and walked out. My next plan, to go in and have a nice discussion with management. My lesson of the day: Don’t fall for something when it says gluten free and pay close attention to detail!

Have toy ever had a similar experience? Please Share!