This should be a reliable place to find well labeled products and the commercially packaged goods meet all labeling guidelines, BUT. The house prepared foods on the food bar are CONSISTENTLY under-labeled and ingredients are often not included. I can often see that thickeners or oils have been used but the chefs sometimes "wing it" and leave out ingredients. Or else the staff is lazy about posting the labels with ingredients. This morning I got half way thru an unlabeled mystery meat breakfast patty, (I chose because i didn't care what the meat was) before realizing it seems to have a wheat filler or breadcrumbs.
I'm gluten intolerant and allergic to canola oil, so I've seen this pattern for thickeners and oils on the food bar across the whole chain in Los Angeles and I have been commenting on it for years. They don't seem to care. This place should be a refuge for people with special dietary needs but it's actually worse because they market as though they care but bury these land mines on the food bar. SO ANNOYING AND CARELESS.
No
I hate coming here because it’s so big. You would think they would have gobs of gf stuff, but they have little and it is spread out everywhere and side by side with gluten counterparts. Please keep my gf stuff AWAY from the gluten stuff. I spend way too much time trying to find everything, and I feel like compared to Sprouts or Natural Grocers that they have the least knowledge employees and the HIGHEST prices. I also would never eat something from their lunch area because it’s a mess. No way I'm chancing that.
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Average
Don’t go out of your way thinking they will have GF food. It’s slim pickings. Among the fewest grocery options I’ve seen in a Whole Foods.
— Not Much/None
Got GF cupcakes in the bakery section and they were dry. Definitely would not get them again.
— Somewhat
— Not Much/None
— Poor
Good for GF groceries. Would be nice if they specified whether their prepared foods and salad bar are GF but they don’t.
— Somewhat
The food bar is no longer safe from risk of cross-contamination. The ingredient lists are not always correct. I don’t shop here anymore because the prices for gluten-free staples are so high. I do better on Vitacost.com for staples. I’m fortunate to have a Natural Grocers nearby for fresh food options in the winter when the farmers markets are closed.
— Not at all
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Not Much/None
— Poor