Nima Sensor Research

I feel like I need to respond to the Gluten Free Watch Dog’s post about the 3rd party verification of the Nima Sensor.    You can go to her website and read the position.  

My Opinion:

Here is my view on the  Nima Sensor:  From the Nima website there is a table showing the accuracy of the tests from 3rd party testing.  It shows that Nima found gluten in food around 97% of the time.  To me, that is better than the 0% of the time I had before Nima.   The link above is for the page showing the table.  

As of right now, there are no other devices to detect gluten for the average consumer.  I know that there are limitations and it is not perfect.  

Problems:

A recent example was we were out to eat and the server dropped a single crouton on my salad after they made it.  I didn’t see it initially and the part I tested with Nima didn’t pick it up.  It was partially user error because I usually dig through my salad looking for croutons, but I didn’t.  It was partially server error and not being careful with an order with an allergy.  I could not expect Nima to scan my whole salad and be perfect.  The technology isn’t there yet.  The rest of the salad ingredients were gluten free just not that single crouton, therefore, ruining the salad for me.  And no I didn’t just pick it out and eat the salad… ugh  I gave the salad to my hubby who can eat gluten and I ate my emergency protein bar.  

Saved Me:

There are more instances of where Nima has detected gluten than where it didn’t.  I used to drink a protein drink every day.    It is labeled gluten-free.  I thought everything was safe and good.  But my belly issues persisted.  I couldn’t figure it out.  When I got my Nima I tested the foods I was already eating to see if any contained gluten.  Sure enough, my protein drink came back with a shaft of wheat, or gluten found.   I retested it 3 times and different containers and it all came back unsafe.  I found the culprit on why my belly wasn’t feeling well, even though it was labeled gluten free.  

Conclusion:

I feel like I am doing a bit of ranting.  I am sorry.  You will see me continue to use Nima when we travel or eat at other people’s houses because, to me, it’s better than hoping for the best or guessing.  I don’t know what my food is being touched with, stirred with, wiped with or what is carried over it when it’s not made by me.  So Nima catches gluten most of the time and I am thankful for that.    I also use common sense.  I would not eat in a pizza place with flour in the air or test things that Nima can’t pick up like alcohol or vinegar or fermented foods.  

This is just my opinion.  You should research and decide for yourself to use or not use Nima.