Alright so today I got this sudden question stuck in my head – is that Maille wholegrain mustard actually gluten free? Been using it forever on sandwiches and stuff, but my cousin’s gotta eat gluten-free now and I promised I’d check. Figured I’d share the whole messy detective work I did.
The Supermarket Shuffle
First things first, I had to find the actual jar. Grabbed my keys and drove to the nearest big supermarket. Wandered around the condiment aisle forever, past all the ketchups and mayos, until I spotted that familiar jar with the yellow lid and those whole mustard seeds floating around inside. Pulled one off the shelf.
The Label Staring Contest
Leaned right against that cold fridge door, turning the jar over and over in my hands, squinting at all that tiny writing. Ingredient list? Checked each line:
Mustard seeds – obviously fine.
Water – duh.
Vinegar – still good.
Salt, sugar – no worries there.
Spices – okay, getting a bit vague…
But the big one? No wheat, barley, rye. No “contains gluten” warning anywhere near the ingredients. Felt like a win! But then I saw it… that tiny line: “May contain traces of…” and my eyes just stopped. Traces of what? Couldn’t make it out! The text was stupid small. Fumbled for my phone flashlight like an idiot, shining it right on the glass right there in the aisle. Couldn’t see “gluten” mentioned in the traces, just stuff like sesame. Didn’t say gluten. Huh. Good sign?
The Phone Dig
Got home still feeling kinda unsure. Labels can be sneaky. Put the kettle on for tea and pulled out my laptop. Typed in “Maille wholegrain mustard gluten free” like my life depended on it. Needed official stuff, not just random forums. Clicked around Maille’s actual website – had to find that FAQs or nutrition section. Took a few minutes of clicking. Finally found it! Boom. Right there on Maille’s own site for the wholegrain variety, they state it clearly: The Cousin Seal of Approval (Mostly)
Sent my cousin a pic of the website bit. She texted back fast: “Great find! That’s the official word, man. Still, maybe start small if you’re super sensitive – traces exist everywhere, ya know? But yeah, Maille says it’s gluten-free.” So official source plus a cautious green light. End of the day? Seems pretty darn safe based on both the label (once I actually saw it properly!) and Maille themselves shouting it. Cousin’s gonna try it. But hey, if someone’s got celiac disease or crazy sensitivity, you gotta do you and maybe double-check with the doc. Companies sometimes change things, and ‘traces’ are a thing in factories. But for most folks avoiding gluten? Maille wholegrain mustard looks solid. Told my cousin I’d buy the first jar for her!