A few months ago I wrote about how annoying and ridiculous it is when people ask me why my body works the way it does. Well, I think it’s even more annoying and ridiculous when people ask me why certain foods contain gluten.
I’m not kidding. This happens all the time. I have no idea why. A friend who’s vegetarian won’t eat marshmallows. She told me there’s animal fat or something in it (I forget exactly what.) I accepted it. I didn’t ask why they use 
those fats in marshmallows. And yet, people ask me about gluten constantly.
Last week, for example, I went to a small gathering with friends. As usual, M cooked. As usual, I brought my own food. M reviewed what was in the food for the sake of the others, then mentioned how glad she was that I bring my own food, just in case. I’m glad she appreciates it!
Later we were talking about the food, and I took some of the plain steamed veggies. I mentioned how they were the only thing of hers I could eat. M pointed out that I could eat the mashed potatoes, but I pointed out that she’d said earlier it had vegetable broth in it, and that store-bought broth almost always has gluten. She was surprised. Then, I kid you not, M’s wife 
looked right at me and asked, “Why do they put gluten in broth?” I told her I didn’t know and quickly changed the subject. I mean, I didn’t make the broth! How the hell should I know why gluten is in it? Why should I care? And yet people ask me that all the time! Like a couple weeks ago when I said I couldn’t eat Chinese food because of the soy sauce, and my friend asked me why there’s gluten in soy sauce. Again, how the hell should I know?
So to be clear, I don’t give a flying fuck why there’s gluten in broth, soy sauce, some vinegars, salad dressings, or a bunch of other unexpected places. I just know there is. I just know what I need to avoid in order to protect my health. What’s important is that gluten can trigger an autoimmune response, which is why I spend extra time and effort to buy gluten-free versions. I just barely know what it does to my body. I don’t know or care what it does to food. So if you care, you can go find out for yourself.
And that will be my response from now on. The next time someone asks me why a food contains gluten, what it’s purpose is, I will tell them that I’m no scientist, but they are welcome to look it up and let me know. Then I will walk away. It’s just not worth my limited energy to deal with those absurd questions.
Chronic Rants 
Hah! yeah – like we should all be experts or something?
OTOH – many folks know “just enough to be dangerous(?)” …like that “gluten comes from wheat” and maybe that it’s also in barley and (umm, I forget what the 3rd source is, myself!)
So that “Why…????” question may be more out of dismay or curiosity than actually expecting you to give them the answer. If I hadn’t already heard about it, I’d certainly be surprised to find out that the “stuff that makes dough hang together” might be in soy sauce or vinegar or pills!
“I don’t know! Why don’t you look it up and let us all know…?” – not too snarky, and doesn’t volunteer *you* to educate *them*. I’ve been being more aware of, and refraining from, that tendency, too, lately!
Karen, gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye 🙂 And yes, I understand people’s curiosity, but it’s still silly for them to think *I* would know why. Even if they don’t expect it, I guess I still find the question odd.