How We Vet Products for Our Boxes and Market

When you open a Love Me Gluten Free box or shop our Market, I want you to feel excited about discovering something new, not worried about whether it's safe.

As someone who has lived with celiac disease for nearly 15 years, I know how much trust goes into trying a new gluten-free product. And I don't take that trust lightly.

That's why we have a vetting process for the products we feature in our subscription boxes and Market. Some products are easy to approve. Others require additional questions, documentation, and review by our registered dietitian.

Here's a look at what goes on behind the scenes.

1. It Starts With Products We Genuinely Love

Before we even get to the gluten-free labeling, we ask ourselves a simple question: Is this something our community would be excited to discover?

We're always looking for a mix of products, including exciting new brands, innovative gluten-free foods, and new or beloved products from brands we already know and trust.

We want our boxes to feel like a discovery experience, with products you might not have found on your own, alongside familiar favorites you're happy to see.

2. We Look for Gluten-Free Labeling and Certification

Every packaged food product we consider must be labeled gluten-free.

Under FDA regulations, foods labeled gluten-free must meet specific requirements, including containing less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.

We especially love seeing products that have earned independent gluten-free certification through organizations such as the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), NSF, and Beyond Celiac.

When we verify that a product has a current, recognized gluten-free certification, that gives us a high level of confidence in its gluten-free status.

But here's something important: A product doesn't have to be certified gluten-free to be safe for someone with celiac disease.

And that distinction matters, especially when we're working with smaller and emerging brands that may not yet have the resources to pursue certification.

3. We Investigate Shared-Facility and Shared-Equipment Disclosures

You've probably seen statements like these on gluten-free products:

• Made in a facility that also processes wheat.
• Manufactured on shared equipment with wheat.
• Produced in a facility that handles major allergens.

These statements understandably raise questions, especially for people living with celiac disease.

But they don't automatically mean a product is unsafe.

The FDA permits foods to carry both a gluten-free claim and a shared-facility advisory statement, provided the food meets its gluten-free labeling requirements.

So rather than automatically rejecting every product with one of these disclosures, we dig deeper to inquire about its manufacturing practices, cleaning procedures, allergen controls, and gluten testing protocols.

4. We're Especially Careful With Oats

Oats deserve additional attention because they're particularly vulnerable to cross-contact with gluten-containing grains during growing, harvesting, transportation, and processing.

When a product contains oats but isn't certified gluten-free, we request additional documentation to better understand how the brand is ensuring its oats and finished products meet gluten-free standards.

We don't automatically reject products containing oats, but we do take a closer look to ensure the oats come from a certified gluten-free source or that the finished product is certified gluten-free.

5. When We Have Questions, We Bring in Our Registered Dietitian

We're fortunate to work with registered dietitian Molly Winsten, who helps us evaluate products that need a closer look.

Molly reviews ingredient labels, manufacturing information, and testing documentation provided by brands to help us determine whether a product meets our standards.

Sometimes her review gives us the confidence to move forward. Other times, we ask the brand additional questions or decide the product isn't the right fit. It's a case-by-case process.

6. Sometimes We Say No, Even When the Testing Looks Good

We once considered a product that was labeled gluten-free but also carried a statement saying it was manufactured in a facility that processed wheat.

We requested additional information, and Molly reviewed the brand's gluten testing documentation. Based on the information provided, she concluded that the product met gluten-free safety standards.

But we ultimately decided not to include it.

Why?

Because the packaging didn't do a good enough job communicating the precautions the brand was taking.

We knew that many customers would see the shared-facility warning and understandably question whether the product belonged in a gluten-free subscription box.

Even though the documentation supported the product's gluten-free status, we didn't want customers to feel uncertain about something we had chosen for them.

For us, it's not just about whether a product meets gluten-free standards. It's also about whether the brand communicates those standards clearly.

7. Sometimes a Warning Label Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Another time, we considered a dried fruit product that was labeled gluten-free but carried a shared-facility warning.

Rather than immediately dismissing it, we contacted the company for more information.

We learned that the specific product we wanted to feature was actually manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility!

The shared-facility statement was a blanket disclosure the company used across its product line, even though it didn't accurately describe the manufacturing environment for that particular item.

Had we stopped at the warning statement, we might have passed over a perfectly suitable product.

8. We Want to Give Emerging Gluten-Free Brands a Chance, Too

Some of the most exciting gluten-free products come from smaller companies that are just getting started.

These brands may have excellent ingredients, strong manufacturing controls, and thorough testing practices but haven't yet invested in third-party gluten-free certification.

We don't want to overlook a product simply because a small brand doesn't have a certification logo on its packaging. At the same time, we won't lower our standards to include it.

We evaluate the information available, request additional documentation when necessary, and involve Molly when we need her expertise.

It's how we balance discovering exciting new brands with protecting the trust our community has placed in us.

The Bottom Line: We Do the Homework So You Can Enjoy the Discovery

I started Love Me Gluten Free because I wanted people living gluten-free to experience the joy of discovering new foods without all the guesswork.

And that means doing a lot of work behind the scenes that you may never see.

We review gluten-free claims and ingredient labels, investigate manufacturing disclosures, request documentation when necessary, and consult our registered dietitian on products that need additional scrutiny.

Not every product we consider makes the cut.

While no vetting process can guarantee zero risk, I want you to know that we take our responsibility to this community seriously.

When you find something new in your Love Me Gluten Free box or Market, I want you to feel confident that it was chosen with care.

Because discovering gluten-free food should be fun. And we want to keep it that way. 💗

One more note: We rely on manufacturer's claims and documentation for accurate safety information. We do not independently test products ourselves.