Does anybody have an alternative to Branston Pickle?

[nellie237]

I occasionally fancy a cheese & pickle sandwich. Thank you.

[Sapphire10]

Not that similar to Branston but I really enjoy Ballymaloe Tomato Relish GF (Tesco and Ocado), maybe other supermarkets, and Duchy Beetroot Relish (Waitrose). I've also been fine with Tesco own Caramelised Red Onion Chutney. The last 2 don't appear to have anything that may cause issues in the ingredient list. I'm pretty sensitive to cross contamination and codex and I've been OK. Hope you find something you enjoy.

[nellie237 in reply to Sapphire10]

Thank you for responding. I'm one of those odd people that doesn't like tomato ketchup or pizza, so I don't think I'd like the tomato relish. I'll definitely try the Caramelised Red Onion Chutney though🙂

[Hidden in reply to Sapphire10]

Is that their 'finest' range or their normal range?

[Sapphire10 in reply to Hidden]

The Tesco Red Onion Chutney is the Finest Range.

[Hidden in reply to Sapphire10]

Sounds good.

[nellie237 in reply to Sapphire10]

I enjoyed the Red Onion Chutney today. Thanks again for the suggestion.

[Cooper27]

I haven't tried Branson before, but you might find some recipes worth trying yourself? As I understand it, pickle is mostly onion, apple/veg and vinegar? I suspect the gluten comes from the vinegar and must be easy to substitute with apple cider vinegar or distilled malt vinegar? I'd research to see how easy it is

[nellie237 in reply to Cooper27]

Wow, never had Branston pickle - not in a shop bought cheese and pickle sandwich, or a ploughman's in the pub?

I'm not a big fan. I only ever used a minimal scraping it if I'd run out of salad - and that's what I'm looking for really.

[Cooper27 in reply to nellie237]

I think the glory of making it yourself is they you can reduce the recipe as necessary. But a quick Google suggests Branson itself is considered GF:

glutenfreemrsd.com/2010/03/...

I personally suggest it would depend on how sensitive you are and how much you use! If it's a tiny scraping on a sandwich, then in context it would be below the 20ppm limit. If it's tbsp directly from the jar, it might equate to more than 20ppm. Some can tolerate 20ppm, while some need to fall far below this limit to be symptomless, only you know what you can tolerate.

[nellie237 in reply to Cooper27]

Thanks for looking for that. When I was 1st dx I bought seeded GF bread because I've always preferred seeded bread. It was painful immediately (and I tried it a few times).....so I had to eat the white stuff for a while. I can now eat GF seeded bread without any problems. I can also drink coffee now, which I really missed. So, hopefully when I've run out of salad I can have a slightly less dry sandwich now too.

I haven't found GF bread that I haven't had to toast before making a sandwich yet, and I've tried quite a lot.

[Researchfan]

Hi nellie237,

Hope you’re doing ok.

If can get it, Heinz ploughman’s pickle might fit the sandwich? Made with spirit vinegar and no allergens listed on label but sulphites.

I’ve not tried it though Sainsbury’s and Ocado online might sell it 🙂

[nellie237 in reply to Researchfan]

Hi Researchfan,

Good to hear from you. 🙂 Thanks for the Heinz suggestion - sounds like just what I'm looking for.

I'm getting there slowly. How are you?

[Researchfan in reply to nellie237]

Hi nellie237,

Thanks, doing ok not too bad. Glad you’re getting there 🤗 .

I finished the gluten challenge recently and tested negative on coeliac blood test. Good news and a relief. Though doesn’t explain symptoms. TSH is still high normal which is concerning so sub clinical hypothyroid.

I was reading that the gluten gliadin antibodies (igG) cross-reacts with the thyroid and there’s literature supporting a gluten free diet in thyroid disease. I’m gluten free again now 🙂 .

I went cows milk free a month ago too which has helped a lot with brain fog and constipation. I was in denial about dairy for a long time as it’s hard to give up.

All the best x

[nellie237 in reply to Researchfan]

Hi Researchfan,

That is good news about the coeliac test.😊

Yes, I've seen some of the stuff re GF & Thyroid, and from where I'm sitting I think a connection is correct. I really hope that being GF again helps your thyroid function. There's quite a lot of info on benefits of Selenium re converting T4 to T3 too. I'm eating a couple of Brazil nuts a day - most of the supermarket brands now detail how much they contain.

If your GP refuses to keep an eye on it, there's always Thyroid Thursdays with Medichecks for £26 (I think).

I seem to be OK with milk now. I don't really like it, but it was surprisingly difficult to exclude.

I've not had a problem with constipation, even on Iron tablets. Magnesium is supposed to help (also with sleep). I've read quite a bit about how most of us don't get enough because the soil is so depleted, but have been finding it difficult to find a good quality magnesium supplement that isn't a whacking great dose.

All the best to you too x

[Researchfan in reply to nellie237]

Hi nellie237,

Sorry thought I’d replied!

Glad you’re doing ok.

Thanks for your reply and recommendations! I’ve started eating Brazil nuts again 🙂 and already take mg.

I’m better gluten free thanks goodness.

I will checkout the thyroid tests.

I decided to do the igE allergy blood test with York tests, and I’m sensitised/allergic to wheat! And soy! (Soya is in loads of gluten free foods).

It all makes so much sense to me now. I was reading up. there’s the ‘gluten related disorders’ that’s the spectrum, coeliac disease (autoimmune reaction to gluten); non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (innate immune reaction); and wheat allergy (immediate igE antibodies and or delayed non-immediate allergy).

All the best x

[nellie237 in reply to Researchfan]

Hi,

I'm so pleased for you that you've found the answer😊, but ooh soy, that's a bit cr@ppy on top of wheat. Everybody deserves a biscuit now and again.😞

[Researchfan in reply to nellie237]

Thank you ☺️ Oh I know, I love biscuits! Unbelievable how much soy is in gluten free products especially schar brand - I thought it was the maize a problem before 🙃 .I like baking so will have to perfect a gluten free biscuit lol. Biscuits are one product gluten free that could do with more decent options. I like the oatie ones by Nairn’s, and Mcvities gluten free hobnobs 😜 .

[nellie237 in reply to Researchfan]

I wish that I liked baking. GF biscuits without oats are not nice, I've put quite a few in the bin.....I think its texture.

I'm sure that your biscuits will turn out a lot better than mine did .x

[Researchfan in reply to nellie237]

Thanks ☺️ . I’ve had quite a few flops with gluten free baking in the past lol. and spent a lot of money on ingredients experimenting. Gluten free baking seems to work when the planets and stars are aligned just right 😁

[Hidden]

I just did a test run of Stokes Sticky Pickle and would be hard pushed to tell it from branstons (apart from the price...). First cheese and pickle sandwich since diagnosis and very lovely it was too

[nellie237]

Thank you Tillyxx,

I will try Stokes. Glad you enjoyed your sandwich. GF Bread needs something extra.

[Hidden in reply to nellie237]

It really does! I make my own which is ok on the day it’s made. After that it’s a toasted sandwich job (you can get a nifty little toasted sandwich maker that does just one in the microwave - weird I know, but very effective) x

[nellie237]

I haven't tried breadmaking yet......biscuits were a disaster😞

My very small kitchen now houses 2 toasters. I used to just make toast under the grill...then when I had to get a toaster it seemed unfair not to get my daughter 1 too. 🙂