Blue Diamond Almond Flour; non-GMO corn chips

[Gloria]

Have any of you tried Blue Diamond almond flour?

It occurred to me that I began using it (purchased at Costco) on Sunday and within days started deteriorating. I looked at the packaging and it says "Certified Gluten-Free." Then I noticed the caveat "Packaged on the same equipment that processes milk, egg, soy, and tree nuts."

The Honeyville packaging doesn't have a similar warning. Bob's Red Mill almond flour packaging states "Manufactured in a facility that also uses tree nuts and soy." Bob's Red Mill almond flour didn't bother me, but being in the same facility isn't as bad as being packaged on the same equipment.

Honeyville hasn't had a sale on their almond flour in a long time, not even on Black Friday as they did last year. I wrote an email to complain, but it appears that they may have the safest flour for me to use.

Gloria

[Gloria]

Someone asked me what non-GMO corn chips I use in an earlier post.

I buy EL Milagro corn chips which are manufactured in Chicago. I also buy their tacos. They both are made with non-GMO corn, as stated on the package.

Another option would be to buy blue corn chips or white corn chips. I read that they probably not GMO. Tex will be more informed about the veracity of that claim, but they haven't bothered me. The various oils used do, however. I found a package of blue corn chips that were baked, not fried, but, as usual for Trader Joe's, they are discontinued. I buy non-GMO chips cooked with corn oil.

Gloria

[tex]

Hi Gloria,

Good detective work.

I haven't tried any almond flour, since I don't do any baking, but I agree with you that this warning:

"Packaged on the same equipment that processes milk, egg, soy, and tree nuts."

is far more serious than this one:

"Manufactured in a facility that also uses tree nuts and soy."

The first one makes me look elsewhere or do without, but the second one I can live with if I can't find an equivalent product made on dedicated equipment in a dedicated facility.

But if wheat flour is involved, I avoid both categories, because wheat flour is so fine that it drifts and settles everywhere, despite valiant efforts to keep it under control.

I believe you're generally right about the corn types. Alternate types (colors other than yellow) of corn varieties are still non-GMO (other than the pollinating exception noted below). However, there is always a risk of cross-pollination. As you are aware, I used to grow and process food corn, and because of wind currents during pollination time, we would occasionally find a few kernels of blue corn here and there on ears of white corn, or yellow corn, and vice versa. This happened despite the fact that some of the fields were up to 2 miles away from the source of the pollen. Whirlwinds can spread pollen for miles.

Tex

[Marcia K]

I saw the Blue Diamond flour at Costco, too but I read the label and didn't buy it. I use Honeyville but I don't bake often so it lasts fairly long. It is expensive!

[jlbattin]

I have been using Blue Diamond almond flour for quite some time now and have had no troubles.

I liked the Honeyville one, but they quit carrying that at Costco.

My favorite corn chips I purchase at Costco (several bags at a time)! :) I'll have to go look at the bag but they only have corn in them.

[Gloria]

I gave a muffin made out of the Blue Diamond flour to my daughter who only has problems with gluten and soy per Enterolab and her experience. She had D within a few hours. I assume it soy contamination that bothered her. No more Blue Diamond flour for me. It's too bad because it was pretty finely ground.

Perhaps I just got a bad batch that was packaged in the first run after switching from packaging soy. I'm not taking any chances with it, though.

Gloria