(Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April/May 2009 newsletter of the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. For information about a US study that found gluten contamination in non-gluten grains, see Tricia Thompson's article.

A new member sent us this query:

"I do have one question...about lentils. I recently made soup with red lentils and got sick the next day...then was horrified to find little kernals and bits of wheat in the lentil bag...obviously contaminated. Do you know where I can get uncontaminated lentils? I have always used all types of lentils and was hoping to continue relying on them for much needed fiber."

I squirmed with discomfort on reading this one. We consume a lot of beans and lentils in our house and lentils had given me trouble from tie to time. I had not considered that gluten contamination might be the problem however.

First I tured to Shelley Case, the north American authority on the gluten-free diet. She brought others from the CCA Professional Advisory Board into the discussion including cereal scientist Dr. Vernon Burrows, with the resultant conclusion that yes, gluten contamination can be an issue.

I honestly had no idea where lentils were grown. I didn't remember seeing any fields of lentils growing in southwestern Ontario where I grew up and so I had assumed they were grown somewhere distant like India or South America. Wrong-lentils are grown in Canada particularly in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. And the crops are commonly rotated with gluten-containing cereal crops.

So where does that leave us? I had heard that Unico's products can be counted on to be uncontaminated so I contacted them for further informaion. I got the following response to my questions from John Ladis, Director of Quality Control.

"Our suppliers of beans indicate to us that the beans are processed in non wheat processing facilities. The only possibility of allergen contamination are traces of soy or corn from the growers, in the form of "harvest contamination". Usually growers will grow either beans or wheat products, but not both. They are packed in totes that are not re-used. We do not test for gluten. It is on this basis that we claim they are gluten free."

With this response, i feel relatively safe consuming Unico canned beans and lentils. I will seek out their dried ones as well, available at Safeway, I am told. I am also taking the beans and lentils I currently have on hand, spreading them out on cookie sheets, and carefully inspecting them for contaminants. So far no problems but never again will I assume that I need not check! If you purchase prepackaged dried beans or lentils and find wheat contaminantion, it should be reported to the CFIA.

Anne Wraggett