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Table of Contents
Reading Labels
Gluten Ingredients
May Contain Gluten
Check These Labels
Gluten-Free Foods
Symbols
Frequently Asked Questions
People who need to avoid gluten usually know to check food labels for “wheat.” You may need to read labels more carefully, though, to find other ingredients that contain hidden gluten.Barleyand rye, for example, are also gluten-containing grains.
Other ingredients to check for include grains that are forms of wheat or made from wheat, such asspeltand farina. Also look for colorings, flavorings, or other additives. These can contain wheat. Be aware, too, of Latin names for different types of grains that might be used on labels instead of the English names.
This article explains how you can identify hidden sources of gluten in foods and what you should know about gluten-free certifications.
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Why Reading Labels Is Important
Unlike food allergens, manufacturers are not required to disclose gluten on food labels. They only need to name each ingredient, and it is not always clear which ingredients contain gluten and which do not.
Wheat is not the only source of gluten in food. Barley and rye are also gluten-containing grains. This can make it very difficult to choose “safe” products if you have extremegluten sensitivity.
Sometimes, gluten-containing ingredients are listed under their scientific names, which are in Latin. The following terms represent the most commonly used Latin terms for the three types of gluten-containing grains: wheat, barley, and rye. If you see any of these, the product contains gluten:
What Is Gluten, Which Foods Include It, and How to Tell Celiac Disease vs. Sensitivity
Ingredients That Always Contain Gluten
The following terms represent ingredients that always or almost always contain gluten:
Ingredients That May Contain Gluten
Depending on the source, the following ingredients could potentially contain hidden gluten. The FDA requires food manufacturers to list wheat-containing ingredients on their labels. However, other gluten-containing grains potentially could be used to make some of these ingredients.
You’ll need to check with the manufacturer to find out for certain whether or not a food that includes one or more of these ingredients are safe on a gluten-free diet:
An Overview of the Gluten-Free Diet
Check Labels on These Foods
Some foods are obvious sources of gluten. For example, unless labeled gluten-free, bread and pasta always contain gluten.
Certain other foods are much more likely to contain gluten than others. Always check the product label when buying these foods:
Foods That Don’t Have Gluten
Some foods are naturally gluten-free, though they may be packaged with other ingredients that contain gluten. It is always best to check the label even when buying naturally gluten-free products. In general, however, these foods are usually safe:
8 Gluten-Free Whole Grains (And Why You Should Eat Them)
Gluten-Free Symbols
A food with no gluten-containing ingredients still can becross-contaminatedwith gluten during processing. This is why it’s extra important to pay attention to labels if you have extremegluten sensitivityand to only choose foods certified gluten-free.
In August 2013, the FDA announced a new rule for gluten-free food labeling. According to the rule, manufacturers must ensure that their products contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten in order to carry the “gluten-free” label.
Some gluten-free advocates insist that the FDA standard is inadequate and that symptoms can develop at 10 ppm and lower. Countries like New Zealand and Australia have already embraced a certification standard of less than 5 ppm.
There is no standard symbol for gluten-free foods. Manufacturers can simply print “gluten-free” on their label as long as it is truthful. Moreover, there is not one certification method in the United States.
Several other organizations offer certification, each with its own tests and standards for acceptable gluten levels. These include:
The Gluten Intolerance Group’s Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is one example of an organization that offers certification to foods with less than 10 ppm of gluten.
For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, choosing a product with the GFCO label, for example, can make all the difference between good and less-than-good digestive health.
Summary
If you’re trying to follow a gluten-free diet, you need to be aware of ways gluten can be hidden in foods. This includes products containing wheat, barley, or rye. Less obvious gluten-containing ingredients include natural and artificial flavorings, hydrolyzed proteins, and additives made of wheat.
According to the FDA, a product can be labeled gluten-free even if it contains a very, very small amount of gluten. Even a trace, though, may be too much if you’re highly sensitive. Private organizations certify products that have minimal amounts of gluten. You can check the standards these companies set in an effort to lower your risk of exposure.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to the Celiac Disease Foundation, you should be careful about using or handling certain items that may contain gluten. Read labels or check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure about:Lip gloss, lip balm, and other cosmetics that are applied on or near the mouthToothpaste and other dental care itemsVitamins and herbal and nutritional supplementsMedications(both prescription and over-the-counter)Play-Doh (including homemade playdough that contains wheat flour)Communion wafersLearn MoreGluten-Free Makeup BrandsWith vigilance. If you have celiac disease, you need to be aware of the possibility of gluten making its way onto kitchen items such as toasters, colanders (for example, when used to drain pasta), cutting boards, flour sifters, and containers in which foods containing gluten have been stored. Even condiments like mayonnaise can be contaminated if a knife used to spread it on bread is then dipped back into it.Learn MoreHow Celiac Disease Is Treated
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, you should be careful about using or handling certain items that may contain gluten. Read labels or check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure about:Lip gloss, lip balm, and other cosmetics that are applied on or near the mouthToothpaste and other dental care itemsVitamins and herbal and nutritional supplementsMedications(both prescription and over-the-counter)Play-Doh (including homemade playdough that contains wheat flour)Communion wafersLearn MoreGluten-Free Makeup Brands
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, you should be careful about using or handling certain items that may contain gluten. Read labels or check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure about:Lip gloss, lip balm, and other cosmetics that are applied on or near the mouthToothpaste and other dental care itemsVitamins and herbal and nutritional supplementsMedications(both prescription and over-the-counter)Play-Doh (including homemade playdough that contains wheat flour)Communion wafers
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, you should be careful about using or handling certain items that may contain gluten. Read labels or check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure about:
Learn MoreGluten-Free Makeup Brands
With vigilance. If you have celiac disease, you need to be aware of the possibility of gluten making its way onto kitchen items such as toasters, colanders (for example, when used to drain pasta), cutting boards, flour sifters, and containers in which foods containing gluten have been stored. Even condiments like mayonnaise can be contaminated if a knife used to spread it on bread is then dipped back into it.Learn MoreHow Celiac Disease Is Treated
With vigilance. If you have celiac disease, you need to be aware of the possibility of gluten making its way onto kitchen items such as toasters, colanders (for example, when used to drain pasta), cutting boards, flour sifters, and containers in which foods containing gluten have been stored. Even condiments like mayonnaise can be contaminated if a knife used to spread it on bread is then dipped back into it.
Learn MoreHow Celiac Disease Is Treated
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Gluten-free labeling of foods.Biesiekierski JR.What is gluten?J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:78-81. doi:10.1111/jgh.13703Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Gluten-free labeling of foods.Biesiekierski JR.What is gluten?J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:78-81. doi:10.1111/jgh.13703Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Gluten-free labeling of foods.Biesiekierski JR.What is gluten?J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:78-81. doi:10.1111/jgh.13703Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Gluten-free labeling of foods.
Biesiekierski JR.What is gluten?J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;32 Suppl 1:78-81. doi:10.1111/jgh.13703
Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.
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