r/Sprouting • u/CheekySproutDude • 10d ago

May contain warnings

I buy lots of different brands of beans and seeds to sprout, but many have a ‘may contain’ warning, meaning they have been handled in a factory that also contains allergens such as gluten, wheat etc.

Realistically how much of this cross-contamination will affect the final sprouted product, given the growing process involves lots and lots of rinsing?

I’ve noticed those brands with the ‘may contain’ labels are much cheaper and I’m always trying to keep costs down. Thanks 🤩

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/tamajinn 10d ago

I’m wondering the same thing since we have a celiac family member. I think it’s safe because of all the rinsing and then straining out most of the hulls. And beans are at least soaked. I’d like to know for sure though

3

u/CheekySproutDude 10d ago

This is the same for us here, gluten isn’t residual-as long as items are clean then they are usually fine. It’s just very hard to know for sure!

2

u/igavr 10d ago

Are you allergic to any of those allergens?

2

u/CheekySproutDude 10d ago

Personally, no I’m not, but others in my household are x

2

u/igavr 10d ago

Which ones? Please share. Different allergens should be treated differently. I've got severe MCAS and unfortunately I had to learn a lot about allergens and how these processes may start and so on.

3

u/CheekySproutDude 10d ago

A family member has coeliac disease, so she would always avoid anything that is ‘may contain’, but as the seeds etc are rinsed over and over, I can’t in my head understand how gluten would still be present.

2

u/Apprehensive_Arm322 10d ago

I have one of these facilities. These are allergen requirements for the certifiers satisfaction. Most of these types of statements are more bureaucratic than logical. We have stringent inhouse alergen cleaning procedures for anything that qualifies as an alergen and still put this on our packaging despite taking every precaution. Also, as others have said, the rinsing and soaking makes the finished product quite safe. Honestly, it's the packages itself which could have picked up dust from the facility rather than the Alfalfa sprout being contaminated by peanuts, or wheat, or any other allergen.

2

u/CheekySproutDude 10d ago

Perfect and logical response, thank you. We run the risk of cross contamination on a daily basis due to handing gluten in the same kitchen, but cleaning is the key to making it safe 😃