Whole Foods

[Abbey Marie]

We finally went to the new-ish Whole Foods in the next town. I expected a wide range of organic high-priced foods, and shoppers who take themselves way too seriously. They did not disappoint.

While I'm looking at the endless shelves of organic vegetables, without a single recognizable brand (Bird's Eye? Hanover? Buehler?), I overheard the woman behind me say to the stock boy:

"Can you tell me where the gluten-free flowers are?"


When I stopped laughing, I thought: WTH?! Aren't all flowers gluten-free? Are we talking those fancy edible flowers? Or is this a case of someone who just will not have even the flowers in her vase with the offending gluten?

[Noir]

Are you sure she wasn't asking where the 'gluten free flours' are?

[Abbey Marie]

Are you sure she wasn't asking where the 'gluten free flours' are?

I thought about that, but I don't think so. That would make much more sense.

[WiccanLiberal]

I am shocked that there might be a market for more than one gluten free flour. Incidentally the gastroenterologists I work with scoff at the patients that insist they are gluten intolerant without any pathological evidence from small intestine biopsies. We've had one woman come in for five upper GI exams insisting she must have celiac disease and, indeed, listing it as a diagnosis when all of her exams have been completely normal. Her doctor says she has been to about six other specialists but refuses to acknowledge that the stress of her two children, caring for an elderly mother and holding down a job in ad marketing and eating at unusual hours might be contributing to her gastrointestinal issues.

[Abbey Marie]

I am shocked that there might be a market for more than one gluten free flour. Incidentally the gastroenterologists I work with scoff at the patients that insist they are gluten intolerant without any pathological evidence from small intestine biopsies. We've had one woman come in for five upper GI exams insisting she must have celiac disease and, indeed, listing it as a diagnosis when all of her exams have been completely normal. Her doctor says she has been to about six other specialists but refuses to acknowledge that the stress of her two children, caring for an elderly mother and holding down a job in ad marketing and eating at unusual hours might be contributing to her gastrointestinal issues.

Nice to have your perspective on the gluten issue. It does seem like the disorder of the month.

As for the other point, If I wanted flour, even if there were 20 gluten-free flours, I wouldn't make it plural. I'd say "Where is the flour?", not "Where are the flours".

[fj1200]

... not "Where are the flours".

There is more than one.

[KitchenKitten99]

The only reason I step foot in Whole Foods is to find products with alternative ingredients that my diabetic husband likes, which are rarely carried in our other local stores. Pastries made with quinoa flours and bean flours are actually tasty if done right, and I seem to find them there.