A young mom with a cart rolled past, tossing a family-size box of Ritz next to a jar of peanut butter. Ingrid felt a sharp, irrational pang of jealousy. She doesn’t even know how lucky she is, Ingrid thought. She can just… eat.
The search history on Ingrid’s phone told a tragicomic tale of hope and denial: “Are Ritz gluten free?” Then, ten minutes later: “Are Ritz crackers safe for celiac?” Finally, an hour after that: “Gluten free Ritz alternatives that don’t taste like cardboard.” are ritz gluten free
That night, her sister called. “Hey, I’m bringing the kids over tomorrow. Is it okay if I make them ants on a log? You know, celery, peanut butter, and—” A young mom with a cart rolled past,
She ate five. Then she texted her sister: “Tell the kids Aunt Ingrid has new crackers for next time. They’re even better than the red box.” She can just… eat
She stood in the middle of the grocery aisle, phone glowing. The official answer: They contain enriched flour—wheat, barley, rye, the unholy trinity. Some flavors, like the “Gluten Free” vegetable crisps from the same brand, were certified. But the original? The round, golden, sixty-four-cracker-per-sleeve original? A ticking gluten bomb.
She smiled. “No thanks, buddy. My tummy doesn’t like those.”
“No,” she said. “Bring the real ones. I’ll make myself a different snack.”
