Tip : Look For The Words Gluten
See the words gluten-free on a label, but not seeing a gluten-free certification mark? If a packaged product is regulated by the FDA and labeled gluten-free, it is considered safe for gluten-free consumers. The FDA regulation says that manufacturers are required to comply with the gluten-free definition detailed in their regulation.
The FDA regulation also applies to using the terms no gluten, free of gluten, and without gluten on product labels. If you see any of those terms, and the manufacturer is following the FDAs gluten-free regulations, then the food should be gluten-free.
*A product that is labeled gluten-free may include the term wheat in the ingredient list or in a separate Contains wheat statement, but the label must also include the following statement: The wheat has been processed to allow this food to meet the Food and Drug Administration requirements for gluten-free foods.
If wheat starch is an ingredient in a GFCOcertified product, the wheat has been processed to such an extent that the food meets the GFCO standard of 10 ppm or less gluten.
Foods That Contain Gluten
Gluten may be found in a variety of whole and processed foods, including:
- Grains: whole wheat, wheat bran, barley, rye, triticale, spelt, kamut, couscous, farro, semolina, bulgur, farina, einkorn, durum, wheat germ, cracked wheat, matzo, mir
- Processed grain-based products: crackers, bread, breadcrumbs, pasta, seitan, wheat-containing soba noodles, some veggie burgers and other meat substitutes, cookies, pastries
- Other foodsand beverages: barley malt, malt vinegar, soy sauce, certain salad dressings, sauces or gravies thickened with flour, bouillon and some broths, certain spice blends, flavored chips, beer, certain kinds of wine and liquor, some processed meats.
Because gluten is often used in food production as a thickener or stabilizer, its not always clear whether a particular food contains it.
Whats more, many commercial food operations share preparation equipment with gluten-containing foods. Thus, even if a food is inherently gluten-free, it could be contaminated with gluten during processing.
If you follow a strict gluten-free diet and are unsure about a particular foods gluten status, check the package for a gluten-free label or contact the manufacturer prior to purchasing it.
Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression
An increase in the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety were linked to eating gluten-containing foods, according to a 2014 study published in Alimentary & Pharmacology & Therapeutics. As we know, the gut-brain connection is very much realan unhappy gut can lead to substantial changes in mood.
Read Also: Is Dove Dark Chocolate Dairy Free
Also Check: How To Know If Allergic To Gluten
People With Celiac Disease
A gluten-free diet is necessary for people with celiac disease, an autoimmune response to gluten that causes the body to attack the small intestine, causing belly pain, nausea, bloating or diarrhea. People with celiac disease cant tolerate gluten in any form, and need to follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives. If you have celiac and accidentally eat gluten, youll probably experience the same symptoms you did before you went gluten-free.
Recommended Reading: Are Ice Cream Cakes Gluten Free
Whatadvertisements Next If You Have Gluten Intolerance
If you dont experience any of the above symptoms, then you can heave a sigh of relief and continue eating as much gluten as you want. However, if you are gluten intolerant, then youre going to need to make some serious lifestyle changes to deal with your condition. The first step is to make a comprehensive list of all foods containing gluten. Apart from grain sources, gluten is also found in imitation meats , beer, malt, certain marinades, deli meats and even some lotions and lip balms. Reading food labels should become second nature to you if you want to make sure you arent consuming gluten.
Read Also: Canyon House Gluten Free Bread
Can I Use Condiments From The Same Containers That Have Been Used To Prepare Gluten
The short answer: No!
An explanation: Utensils that are used to spread butter, peanut butter, jelly, mayonnaise, cream cheese and other condiments will expose the product to gluten which can then be spread onto your gluten-free breads, bagels, etc. As a solution, you may find condiments in squirt bottles useful as long as those using the condiments are well aware that they cannot wipe the tip of the squirt bottle on their gluten-containing foods. It is safest to have separate condiments, and to clearly label the condiments that are dedicated gluten-free.
Families may find it helpful to discuss gluten-free kitchen dos and donts and should express the importance of confessing mistakes. If someone accidentally dips his or her knife in the gluten-free jar, it is his or her responsibility to make sure family members or roommates are well aware. A similar situation can happen with dips. If someone dunks a gluten-containing pretzel into the vegetable dip, it is no longer safe for someone with celiac disease to consume.
Read Also: Daves Killer Bread Gluten Free
What Is Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance, which is sometimes also referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity , is a set of uncomfortable symptoms that you experience after consuming gluten.
The most severe form of gluten intolerance is an autoimmune condition called Celiac disease. It makes it difficult for your gut to absorb nutrients and is estimated to affect close to 1% of the population and about 1 in 141 Americans, though many cases are undiagnosed.
Unlike Celiac disease, gluten intolerance does not cause long-term damage to your gut lining. It is estimated to be much more common than Celiac disease, affecting an estimated 18 million Americans.
Common symptoms of gluten intolerance may include:
-
Constipation or diarrhea
You May Like: Substitute For Bread Crumbs
Also Check: Aldi Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Things You Might Not Know About Celiac Disease
How To Determine If A Product Is Gluten
The best way to determine if a product is gluten-free is to contact the manufacturer. Reading labels only tells part of the story you can determine if a food contains gluten by looking at the label, but you cannot determine if it is gluten-free this is true even with the labeling law that went into effect in January 2006: only wheat is specified on the label, not barley, oats, or rye. Very small amounts of ingredients may not be listed on the label products may also be processed with ingredients that are not listed on the label or processed in a facility that also processes gluten-containing products, and this is not always listed on the label.
First thing, check the label to see if it says âgluten-freeâ anywhere. This can be on the front, back, by the ingredients, buried in a paragraph of information about how great the product is, in big letters, in small letters there is no standard. Even if it says gluten-free, you still have to check the label. Some manufacturers consider their products gluten-free, even if they contain wheat, as long as they test at below 20 parts per million of gluten. For some people who only avoid most gluten, this may be acceptable, but for most celiacs it is not.
Read Also: Does Peanut Butter Have Gluten
Recommended Reading: Is Hillshire Farm Beef Polska Kielbasa Gluten Free
Checking Labels For Gluten
Unfortunately, labels dont always just say Gluten and thats the end of it. Gluten comes in all shapes, sizes, and names. Labels dont always say whether something is gluten-free or not. So here is a list of things that contain gluten that you dont want on the label.
ALWAYS AVOID
Oats
ALWAYS AVOID UNLESS LABELED GLUTEN FREE
You should avoid these unless, yes, labeled gluten free OR, for some, you have checked them and they appear to have no gluten. If you are in doubt about whether or not it contains wheat, dont eat it. Dont risk feeling sick for a week.
Breads
Also Check: Gluten Free Substitute For Bread Crumbs
How Do You Know If A Food Is Gluten Free
One of the key elements to finding your gluten-free groove is finding safe foods to eat. For example:
- Who can you trust?
- What restaurants can you go to?
- What foods can you buy in the store?
In a perfect world, we would all eat whole foods and shop the outside aisles of the stores, as the advice goes. But my reality is that I have four kids to feed while working part-time out of the house and working two businesses from my home. So I cannot make everything from scratch. I truly believe we need balance in life. Even balance in our food, and I try my best to do just that.
Also Check: Tyson Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets
Gluten And Health Disorders
Gluten sensitivity will appear in very different ways. Most of the cases involve several symptoms like indigestion, headaches, lack of concentration and even overweight. Gluten intolerance is not a pathology that physicians take into account when it comes to making regular diagnoses.
Many people experience gluten sensitivity on a daily basis without being aware.
Reading Food Labels: What May Contain Vs Contains Means
DISCLAIMER: This content is meant for informational purpose only. We do not provide specific nutritional or medical advice and always recommend you consult a healthcare professional for any symptoms or illnesses you may be experiencing.
People turn to a gluten-free diet for many different reasons. Some do so because they have Celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder triggered when gluten is ingested. Others, like myself, do so because they have non-Celiac gluten sensitivity. For me, living a gluten-free lifestyle, helps control my issues with chronic pain and inflammation. And others turn to a gluten-free diet as they are looking for a healthier way to eat.
Adapting to a gluten-free diet can be a daunting but doable challenge. One of the most important tips for going gluten-free is reading food labels to determine if the ingredients contain any alternative sources of wheat. You may also notice, some food labels will use the terms may contain and contains and today we are going to delve into what these terms mean for you, my fellow gluten-free foodees.
FAST FACT:For a product to be considered gluten-free, it must not have intentional sources of gluten added to it, and any cross-contamination must be less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This is an internationally recognized standard.
Recommended Reading: Gluten And Dairy Free Fast Food
These Medical Conditions Require A Gluten
- Celiac disease This is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten triggers immune system activity that damages the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this damage prevents the absorption of nutrients from food.
- Gluten sensitivity This causes some of the same signs and symptoms associated with celiac disease, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, foggy brain, rash or headache, even though there is no damage to the tissues of the small intestine. Studies show that the immune system plays a role, but the process isn’t well-understood.
- Gluten ataxia This is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten affects certain nerve tissues, and causes problems with muscle control and voluntary muscle movement.
- Wheat allergy Like other food allergies, wheat allergy is the result of the immune system mistaking gluten or some other protein found in wheat as a disease-causing agent, similar to a virus or bacteria. The immune system creates an antibody to the protein, prompting an immune system response that may result in congestion, breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
Your health care team or a dietitian can help you make appropriate dietary choices to maintain a well-balanced diet with the diagnosis of any of these conditions.
What Should I Do If Im Exposed To Gluten
Gluten is in countless foods, drinks and other products. Even if you stick to a gluten-free diet, you might accidentally eat gluten at some point. If you experience side effects from accidental gluten exposure, you can:
- Drink plenty of water to flush out your system.
- Eat small meals that arent spicy or fatty.
- Try ginger or peppermint tea to soothe an upset stomach.
You May Like: King Arthur Gluten Free Measure For Measure Flour
Causes Of Gluten Intolerance:
According to Cleveland Clinic, the exact causes of gluten sensitivity arent fully understood.
What we do know is that:
- Unlike celiac disease, gluten sensitivity doesnt have the intestine damage or typical markers used for diagnoses of that autoimmune disorder.
- Unlike a wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity doesnt have the traits of an allergy.
At a glance, a gluten-free diet often relieves irritating symptoms, suggesting theyre triggered by the gluten protein or other compounds in gluten-containing grains.
Possible causes for negative symptoms:
You May Like: Does Jim Beam Have Gluten
Distilled Beverages And Vinegars
Most distilled alcoholic beverages and vinegars are gluten-free. These distilled products do not contain any harmful gluten peptides even if they are made from gluten-containing grains. Research indicates that the gluten peptide is too large to carry over in the distillation process, leaving the resulting liquid gluten-free. However, some types of alcoholic beverages do contain an unsafe amount of gluten for people with celiac disease, and include those with added color or flavoring such as dessert wines, and those made from barley malt, such as bottled wine coolers. For these, consumers should check the label, and if in doubt, contact the company. Beers, ales, lagers, malt beverages and malt vinegars that are made from gluten-containing grains are not distilled and therefore are not gluten-free. There are several brands of gluten-free beers available in the United States and abroad.
Read Also: My Mo Mochi Gluten Free
What Does The Fda Say About Gluten Free Foods
In August 2013, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new rule for gluten free food labeling. According to this rule, manufacturers that want to label their food gluten free must comply with the FDAs new definition of the term. In order to comply with this definition, the product in question must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. There is no rule that foods must be labeled gluten free and there is no restriction on which foods can carry the label even naturally gluten free foods like fresh produce or water.
Here are a few quick things you should know about the FDAs gluten free food labeling rule:
- This rule applies to all FDA-regulated foods as well as dietary supplements and imported foods subject to FDA regulation.
- The rule doesnt apply to meat, poultry, and unshelled eggs as well as distilled spirits and wines made with 7% alcohol by volume or more.
- Food products may be labeled gluten free if:
- They do not contain wheat, barley, or rye, OR
- They do not contain an ingredient derived from a gluten-containing grain that hasnt been processed to remove gluten, OR
- They do not contain an ingredient derived from a gluten-containing grain that hasnt been processed to remove gluten if it results in 20 ppm of gluten or more.
Favorite Blogs For Gluten
Created by food writer and former pastry chef Daniela Dewar, Baking Backwards is a vegetarian baking blog devoted to recipes for sweet and savory gluten-free treats. Chocolate chip quinoa cookies, , and minty hot fudge cream cakes are just some of the mouth-watering recipes youll find that are all safe to eat on a gluten-free diet.
Read Also: Which Foods Have Gluten In Them
Grain Free Paleo Cinnamon Rolls
Who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls? Especially when they’re fresh out of the oven. While going gluten free may mean you have to adjust your diet, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up your favorite foods. These Grain Free Paleo Cinnamon Rolls show just how easy it is to turn a traditional breakfast into a delicious gluten free one. By using our Grain Free Flatbread Mix, a delicious cinnamon roll batter is created and ready to satisfy all of your breakfast cravings.
