Email Response from Baja Fresh

Back in the fall, I sent an email to Baja Fresh asking about eating there gluten and dairy free. I forgot to post the response they sent.

This is a portion of the response:
The following Baja Fresh menu items contain dairy products: Sour Cream; Jack, Cheddar and Cotija Cheese; Ranch Dressing, Breaded Fish, Flour Tortillas, and Chipotle Lime Seasoning in our Chile Lime Chicken Salad.

The following items contain gluten: Flour Tortillas, Tostada Shells. Flautas, Tortilla Soup, Breaded Fish, and Raspberry Iced Tea.

Please note, the above information is based on standard product formulations and is current as of August 15, 2005. Variations may occur due to differences in suppliers, ingredient substitutions, recipe revisions, or product assembly at the restaurant level.

We use only one fryer in each restaurant to fry both gluten and non-gluten items; Chips, Taquitos, Flautas, Tostada Shells, Breaded Fish.

There is some interesting information there. I found the date on the information humorous (more than 2 years old!) and the fact that the ingredients may vary at the restaurant level difficult.

I am beginning to see that to eat out it is also necessary to speak with a manager at the actual restaurant you will be dining at. Hopefully, they would know what you are eating!

Dining Out Gluten-Free - Chipotle?

I haven't been to a restaurant now for about a month. I received a coupon in the mail for a free burrito at Chipotle. Check out their menu online . From looking at their online allergen statement , it looks like a pretty good place to get something gluten-free. The only gluten containing item is the flour tortillas so the hard-shell tacos, the burrito bowls, chips and salsa and salads should all be ok.

And dairy is only in the obvious - sour cream and cheese.

The only hitch is they use soybean oil in almost everything. Now many allergy doctors tell you soybean oil is ok, so I guess it depends on your particular case. I am not supposed to have any soy, including the oil, right now. Oh Well!