Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and derivatives of these grains. If you are on a gluten free diet, you must avoid any foods containing these grains or their derivatives.
Grains Not Allowed on the Gluten Free Diet include:
- Wheat including but not limited to Bulgur, Couscous, Einkorn, Durum, Farro, Graham, Kamut, Matzo Meal, Semolina and Spelt.
- Barley is a grain and also used to make malt flavoring. It can be listed as barley, barley malt or just malt. Manufactures are not required to list barley as an ingredient so, although rare, barley malt can be simply listed as “flavoring.”
- Rye can be found in sandwich bread. It is common in German and Eastern European countries to use rye flour in bread with caraway seeds, and in pumpernickel bread.
- Triticale is a grain created from the crossbreeding of wheat and rye. It can be used in bread, cereal manufacturing, brewing and distilling.
Some, but not all, Safe Grains and Starches that are Naturally Gluten Free:
The following grains are naturally gluten free and safe on the GF diet. Only choose grains and flours labeled gluten free. A small study published in 2010 tested 22 samples of inherently GF grains, seeds and flours for gluten contamination. None of the products tested were labeled GF. Of the samples tested, 32% were found to have gluten levels greater than the FDA proposed level of 20 ppm. The study was considered too small to make of determination of which grains are more or less likely to be contaminated but based on the study, only choose grains and flours labeled gluten free.
- Amaranth – high protein and fiber
- Arrowroot
- Buckwheat – has no relation to wheat. Make sure it is not combined with wheat flour.
- Corn (Maize)
- Corn Starch
- Flax
- Millet
- Quinoa – new research is showing that some quinoa may be contaminated by barley. Make sure the quinoa is labeled gluten free.
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Soy
- Tapioca
- Teff
Other Food/Ingredients that are Gluten Free in their Natural Unprocessed Form unless Otherwise Noted:
- Beans
- Butter
- Canola oil
- Cheese
- Chickpeas
- Citric acid – usually made from corn, beet sugar or molasses. Even if made from wheat, it is so highly processed that no gluten protein would remain.
- Dextrin – a partially hydrolyzed starch that can be made from corn, potato, arrowroot, rice, tapioca or wheat. If made from wheat will be labeled as such and is not safe on the gluten free diet.
- Dextrose – made from rice, corn or wheat starch but is so highly processed that it is gluten free regardless of the starch source.
- Eggs
- Fruit
- Glucose syrup
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein – if derived from wheat will be labeled as hydrolyzed wheat protein and is not gluten free.
- Maltodextrin made in the USA is made from corn, potato or rice.
- Meat (plain)
- Mono and Diglycerides are fats made from oil such as soybean, cottonseed, sunflower and palm oil.
- Nuts
- Polenta
- Sesame
- Spices – pure spices are gluten free.
- Vegetables
- Whey – the liquid part of milk that is separated from solids when cheese is made. It is gluten free.
Children’s Art Supplies Not technically food, but don’t you remember the taste of Play-Doh? Play-Doh contains wheat.
Distilled alcoholic beverages Distilled products such as alcoholic beverages do not contain harmful gluten peptides. Research indicates that the gluten peptide is too large to carry over in the distillation process. For this reason, wines and hard liquor/distilled beverages are gluten free. Beers, ales and lagers made from gluten containing grains are not distilled and therefore, are not gluten free. There are many gluten free beers in the United States that are made with a substitute for malted barley.
Vinegar Distillation successfully removes gluten from the vinegar. One exception is malt vinegar made from barley that is fermented but not distilled and thus not safe for those on a gluten free diet.
Herbs and Spices Single ingredient herbs and spices are naturally Gluten Free.
Caramel color is generally made from corn, but it can be made from malt syrup although this appears to be rare. When in doubt, double-check or go without.
Soy sauce is usually fermented from wheat and is therefore not safe on a gluten free diet.
Pharmaceuticals and Medications may contain gluten and there are currently no requirements for labeling gluten found in these items. Confirm the ingredients with your pharmacist.
Cosmetics and Personal Hygiene Anything that can be ingested through your mouth can be a source of gluten. This applies to, but is not limited to, Chap Stick, lipstick and toothpaste. Play Doh contains gluten. Even bug spray and sunscreen can have gluten in them. Gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin, but how many times have you gotten sunscreen in your mouth?
Other Places where Gluten can be Hidden: Gluten can be hidden in many different places. Frequently overlooked foods that may contain gluten include:
- Beer
- Brewers’ yeast, when it is a by-product of beer, is not considered GF.
- Broth
- Brown rice syrup
- Breading and coating mixes
- Communion wafers
- Croutons
- Energy Bars
- Flour or cereal products
- Fried foods – can be contaminated from being fried in oil that has fried something with gluten in it.
- Imitation bacon
- Imitation seafood
- Licorice
- Marinades
- Matzo
- Panko
- Pastas
- Processed luncheon meats
- Salad dressings
- Sauces, gravies
- Seasoned rice mixes
- Seitan (made from wheat gluten and can be found in vegetarian meals)
- Self-basting poultry
- Soup and soup bases
- Stuffing, dressing
- Thickeners (Roux)
- Vegetables in sauce
- Veggie Burgers
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