What Has Gluten in It? 12 Food Sources
Life is full of surprises. If you suffer from gluten intolerance symptoms, you should be constantly thinking about what has gluten in it.
A protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, gluten comes in many guises. It can be a filler, a binder, a thickener, and even a protein enhancer. So what has gluten in it? Some answers might catch you off guard. Did you know, for example, that soup, sushi, ice cream, and even ketchup can contain gluten?
We asked several leading dietitians who are experts on the gluten-free diet for what has gluten in it, including some of the most surprising places you may find gluten. This information is especially important if you’re interested in preparing gluten-free recipes. Job 1, after all, is to determine whether you’re unwittingly serving foods with gluten in a recipe that claims to be gluten-free.
Here’s our list of a dozen foods that may contain gluten.
1. Soy sauce
You’d think soy sauce would simply be made with soybeans but not so, says Rachel Begun, MS, RD, a gluten-related disorders expert in Boulder, Colo. Most soy sauce is fermented with wheat; some brands contain nearly equal amounts soybeans and wheat. And look beyond the bottle. Soy sauce is also found in many salad dressings, sauces, marinades (think teriyaki), and packaged and frozen foods. Many tamari-style soy sauces—but not all—are gluten-free.
Look for: Gluten-free tamari (check out Eden organic and San-J brands) and Kikkoman gluten-free soy sauce. Bragg Liquid Aminos is another gluten-free choice, as is Coconut Secret’s Raw Coconut Aminos.
2. Oats
Is oatmeal gluten free? Although oats don’t contain gluten naturally, most conventional oats are contaminated with wheat (or barley or rye) during farming, harvesting, processing, and packing. Seek out certified gluten-free oats, says Marlisa Brown, MS, RD, author of Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free. Gluten-free oats contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. In contrast, some conventional oats have been tested to contain up to 1,800 ppm of gluten.
Look for: Certified gluten-free oats from GF Harvest, Montana’s Gifts of Nature, Cream Hill Estates and Bob’s Red Mill. Gluten-free instant oatmeal is available from Glutenfreeda and Bakery On Main.
3. Chicken stock
Many people don’t realize that wheat can be added to chicken broth, says Suzanne Simpson, RD, clinical nutritionist at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center. Bouillon cubes and soup base mixes also may contain added gluten as a binding agent.
Look for: Gluten-free chicken broth and soups from Imagine, Pacific Foods and Kitchen Basics.
4. Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies
These corn- and rice-based cereals may sound safe but they usually contain malt flavoring made from barley, Simpson says. Is barley gluten free? No, barley has gluten. But Barley is not one of the top eight allergens and does not need to be identified in food labels, so look for cereals labeled gluten-free.
Look for: Kellogg’s Gluten-free Rice Krispies, Erewhon Corn Flakes and Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal, as well as Chex gluten-free cereals.
5. Licorice
Red or black, licorice is off limits. While licorice root does not contain gluten, licorice sticks and licorice candy are almost always made with wheat flour—and quite a lot of it.
Look for: Orgran Molasses Licorice and Gimbal’s Licorice Scotties.
6. Imitation crab
When you order a dish with crab meat—such as sushi, California rolls or crab dip—ask whether it is made from imitation crab, Simpson says. Imitation crab is made from white fish, such as pollock, wheat, coloring and flavoring, all put together to resemble snow crab.
Look for: Sushi made with real crab meat or soft shell crab.
7. Deli meat
Although many deli meats are gluten-free, watch the slicer, Simpson says, since gluten-containing meats may be sliced on the same equipment. Buy pre-packaged deli meats clearly labeled gluten-free or ask the person at the deli counter to change their gloves and discard the first one or two slices of meat from your order.
Look for: Gluten-free meats from Applegate, Boar’s Head, Columbus and Dietz & Watson.
8. Chocolate
Don’t lose heart, chocolate-lovers. Many brands of milk and dark chocolate bars and chips are indeed safe, but to be sure, scan the ingredient list for wheat, barley malt or, simply, malt, Simpson says. Also, beware of any chocolate with “crisps” or “crunch.”
Look for: Labeled gluten-free chocolate from Enjoy Life, Endangered Species, Chocolate and Scharffen Berger.
9. Pickles and other pickled foods
Malt vinegar, which contains gluten, is sometimes used in the pickling process, Rachel Begun says. Although distilled vinegars are gluten-free (the distillation process removes the gluten protein), malt vinegar is fermented, not distilled, so it is not gluten-free.
Look for: Mt. Olive, Bubbies and Heinz pickles.
10. Tomato paste
This pantry staple is usually a safe, single ingredient food. But you should always read labels when it comes to gluten because there are exceptions to the rule, Begun says. Flavored tomato paste (think tomato paste with Italian herbs) can contain gluten.
Look for: Plain tomato paste, including products from Bionaturae, Cento and Muir Glen.
11. “Wheat-free goods”
Products labeled wheat-free aren’t always gluten- free. A case in point: “Wheat-free” pie shells may be prepared with rye flour or spelt and “wheat free” cookies can contain oat flour or barley malt. Under the FDA’s new labeling rule, gluten-containing grains (such as wheat starch) that have been processed to remove gluten may be allowed in gluten-free foods as long as the total gluten content measures below 20 parts per million. This is probably okay for celiacs, but it may be a problem for those with wheat allergies, Marlisa Brown says.
12. The peanut butter jar
Your favorite peanut butter may come gluten-free, but if you have gluten eaters in your household, it probably isn’t anymore. Double-dipping a knife into peanut butter, mayonnaise, mustard, or cream cheese renders otherwise gluten-free foods no longer safe, Brown says.
In addition, don’t use the same toaster for gluten-free and gluten-containing bread. Ditto for hard-to-clean kitchen items like colanders.
Originally published in 2016, this post is regularly updated.
Soy sauce is just one of the foods that those with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease should avoid.
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