Sorry guys, I hadn't checked back in this thread as no one responded right away, figured it was going to fall by the wayside.

Yes maltodextrin is the culprit. It is not regulated. From www.glutenfreedietitian.com:

"Based on the Food and Drug Administration’s Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), maltodextrin is made from corn starch, rice starch, or potato starch. Because of this, it has been widely believed that if maltodextrin is made from wheat starch the maltodextrin must be labeled as “wheat maltodextrin.” Unfortunately, based on conversations and email exchanges I had recently with a consumer safety officer at FDA and a labeling and consumer staff member at USDA this is not the case."

So if it is derived from wheat, the label doesn't have to indicate it is!!!

Interestingly, I've NEVER felt good after drinking beer - so have always avoided it. What is beer made from? Barley. Nearly all beer includes barley malt as the majority of the starch. And even as a 21-something, I hated the way it made me feel.

Now it makes sense. I feel just like beer used to make me feel but about 20 times worse and sicker!

I was under the impression all cheeses were ok. Apparently blue cheese is the biggest felon in that category.... as indicated by the phone app which y'all asked about...

It's called "find me gluten free"... you can use the scanner to UPC codes and if they have it in their database, it will tell you whether it is safe or not. Some products aren't in there, clearly they are still building their database but it has helped as I mentioned above. Also, they provide links to restaurants that have gluten-free menus and the menus themselves which is nice.

My cousin has been gluten-free over a year after 8 years of suffering. I am SO glad she mentioned her symptoms to me because I had no idea I was going through the same thing. I just thought I was "stressed" out and my belly was just reacting. So I'm learning more each day. Eating clean definitely helps..... it's just still very, VERY new to me.....

Hate to say it, but being that the government does their best to make it so we really don't know where the gluten in our food is, and is doing very little about it, and that our government pretty much lies to us about everything else, anything they post on their website to me is propaganda to keep the pharmaceutical companies going, the grocery chains happy, etc.

(just my opinion, folks....)

Since you're a newbie, you probably didn't hear about the guy a couple of years ago who was actually repackaging wheat bread and selling it as gluten-free. Even with a blatant case like that, it took months to get the guy off the market.

Wow, that is awful. Where was that? There's a gluten free bread store here.... now I'm second guessing my visit there I had planned tomorrow! LOL!

I have a pretty severe gluten intolerance and diagnosed Celiac Disease. Maltodextrin is fine... so is MOST blue cheese. And blue cheese dressing is gluten free in 99% of the time. In fact my favorite treat is traditional wings at Buffalo Wild Wings and blue cheese dressing. I have never had a problem....

But there are probably other issues. You could personally have a severe intolerance to maltodextrin.

Oh wow... oh I shall live vicariously through your buffalo wing and blue cheese indulgence!!! LOL! Lucky you!

Yeah, every day since that setback I have felt better. I guess it's going to be a trial and error kind of thing. At least I know I'm making better choices for ME, anyway - and every day my stomach feels better.

I think part of my issue is my stomach is still very much in the "healing phase"... I'm still only 70-ish days into this and I know I've discovered foods I thought were gluten free - were not. So I have slowly taken them out. Day by day. Today was a pretty good day. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better, too!