Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Where Your Contribution Counts!
    eNewsletter
    Support Us!
  • Chris Bekermeier
    Chris Bekermeier

    Gluten Warning Signs on Packaging

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.
    Gluten Warning Signs on Packaging - Photo: CC--Andrea_Nguyen
    Caption: Photo: CC--Andrea_Nguyen

    Celiac.com 03/06/2013 - The hallmark of a healthy gluten-free diet is a grocery cart filled with mostly unprocessed, single-ingredient foods such as fresh produce, nuts, and meat. This is the easiest way to avoid gluten, as well as the healthiest way to eat. When you do venture into the central aisles of the grocery store, look for gluten warning signs on packaging to help you identify foods that contain gluten.

    Looking for those warning signs is more important than ever because companies are catching on to the growing popularity of gluten-free diets and many are labeling their products gluten-free. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not regulate how or when the designation of gluten-free can be added to food labels. This clouds the decision-making process for people with gluten intolerance that rely on gluten warning signs on packaging to guide them. Without USDA regulation, even products labeled gluten-free may still be processed on equipment that also processes gluten. While this is not a problem for people eating gluten-free as a dietary choice, it can cause issues for people who are gluten intolerant.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    Ingredient Keywords

    Look for warning signs at three places on the ingredient label. The first is underneath the ingredients list, where common allergens such as soy and milk are listed in bold. If wheat is listed there, the product contains gluten.

    The second place to look is the ingredients list itself. The following words may be signs of gluten due to its nature or to cross-contamination:

    • Wheat
    • Malt
    • Wheat starch
    • Barley
    • Oats
    • Soy sauce (made with wheat)

    Even seemingly innocuous products may still contain gluten, so it's important to look at all product labels. For example, yogurt and other dairy products sometimes have gluten-containing thickening agents, many sauces and soups contain gluten, and beer is made with barley hops. 

    The third place to look for gluten warning signs on packaging is at the bottom of the ingredients list. In bold, the packaging will declare whether or not the food was processed on equipment that also processes common allergens, including wheat. Cross-contamination can still cause flare-ups, so these foods should be avoided.

    Safest Foods

    The best way to avoid gluten is to stick to unprocessed, fresh produce and meat. With grains and processed foods, the best way to stay safe generally is to opt for minimally processed foods with few ingredients, or specialized foods. Strategies for gluten-free shopping include: 

    • Foods in the health aisle or in a natural food store are most often accurately marked as gluten-free.
    • Cook what you can at home and take the mystery out of ingredients. Gluten-free bread, for example, can be made at home using the flour of your choice.
    • Do research before shopping - it can save you time and trouble in the long run.

    While reading food labels may seem intimidating at first, after a few shopping trips, you will be a pro at identifying problem foods and cooking gluten-free, while still eating a healthy range of foods.



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Guest Sue

    I have found nuts and seeds to be contaminated with gluten. I react to nuts and seeds even when they state they are only processed with other tree nuts. I don't think nuts should be recommended on a gluten-free diet unless they are ordered specially from a gluten-free distributor.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Kay

    My only "argument" with anything stated in the article, is that sometimes those notices declaring the item was processed on the same equipment as (you name it) appears to me to be a blanket covering for the company against lawsuits, rather than an actual statement of fact.

     

    I have celiac disease, so I can't handle cross-contamination, but I don't summarily eliminate a product from my diet because of that warning. Rather, I consider the product itself, the company, and even past experience with similar products. Can't say it's a sure-fire answer, but it has worked for me.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Beverly

    Posted

    I read labels and if I goof, I will take an unopened package back to the store. What is in a product changes from time to tome, so buyer beware!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest LeeAnne

    Posted

    I have found nuts and seeds to be contaminated with gluten. I react to nuts and seeds even when they state they are only processed with other tree nuts. I don't think nuts should be recommended on a gluten-free diet unless they are ordered specially from a gluten-free distributor.

    I have found too that pumpkin seeds that are processed in a facility that produces wheat is off limits for me.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest LeeAnne

    Posted

    My only "argument" with anything stated in the article, is that sometimes those notices declaring the item was processed on the same equipment as (you name it) appears to me to be a blanket covering for the company against lawsuits, rather than an actual statement of fact.

     

    I have celiac disease, so I can't handle cross-contamination, but I don't summarily eliminate a product from my diet because of that warning. Rather, I consider the product itself, the company, and even past experience with similar products. Can't say it's a sure-fire answer, but it has worked for me.

    Any product manufactured in a facility containing wheat must be cross contaiminated with wheat. It is common sense that the product is more than likely to be laced with wheat.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Diana

    Posted

    Because of the issue of cross-contamination on nuts, I have been rinsing raw nuts before eating them. Sometimes I will then roast them myself because of the added peanut oil which I can't have that is on most roasted nuts.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Christin Meer

    Posted

    We need a celiac safe label on products. It would make life a lot easier

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Chris Bekermeier

    Chris Bekermeier is Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for PacMoore, one of the leading commercial food packaging companies processing dry ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Headquartered in Hammond, Indiana, Pacmore's capabilities include blending, spray drying, re-packaging, sifting, and consumer packaging. His company's site is at: http://www.pacmoore.com/packaging


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 06/08/2007 - On May 30th, federal judge Elaine E. Bucklo dismissed key parts of a lawsuit against McDonalds regarding the gluten-free status of their famous French fries.
    The case, In Re McDonalds French Fries Litigation (MDL-1784), was brought in February 2006, by two Florida plaintiffs on behalf of their autistic daughter who allegedly suffered ill effects from eating McDonalds French fries. At the time, the company claimed that the French fries were gluten-free.
    The lawsuit claimed in part that McDonalds "failure to disclose the fact that their French fries contained gluten constitutes deceptive, unfair, unconscionable, misleading and fraudulent trade practices," and that "McDonalds unfairly and unjustly profited from their conduct. The judge dismissed claims...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 11/09/2011 - The Publix supermarket company recently pulled its fall issue of Publix GreenWise Market magazine, because it included a recipe that was erroneously labeled as 'gluten-free.'
    The company also announced plans to mail a follow-up warning about the recipe to print subscribers.
    The recipe for Orange-Honey Sweet Rolls included wheat germ and yeast, some brands of which contain gluten. The recipe appeared on Page 18 of the magazine.
    Publix's swift and decisive action to correct the mistake shows a strong level of commitment to gluten-free consumers.
    The letter to print subscribers said that "the recipe for Orange-Honey Sweet Rolls, which appears on page 18, calls for the use of gluten-free flour as an ingredient; however, the complete recipe was not intended...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 03/06/2015 - The Kellogg Co. has announced the launch of Eggo Gluten Free Waffles in both original and cinnamon flavors.
    Coming on the heels of General Mill’s move to take Cheerios gluten-free, the announcement marks the latest move by major cereal manufacturers into the realm of gluten-free products.
    Eggo Gluten Free Waffles are available nationwide in the frozen food aisle of grocery stores.
    The gluten-free waffles contain eight vitamins and minerals and are considered an excellent source of calcium and iron, with 25% daily value of each. They also contain 15 grams of whole grains per 70-gram serving.
    Kellogg's is taking special care to make their new gluten-free waffles "delicious and wholesome," and to avoid the pitfall of gluten-free products w...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 10/16/2023 - For Halloween 2023, we've updated out Safe Gluten-Free Halloween Candy list from A to Z with new candy by manufacturers, both large and small, to offer our best, most up-to-date list of safe, gluten-free Halloween candy, along with a list of unsafe candy that contains gluten and should be avoided by people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
    In addition to Certified gluten-free Oreo Cookies, we've included Snyder's Of Hanover's Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks. We've added new gluten-free treats by Albanese, Atkinson candy, Brach's, Canada Candy Co., Dare, Espeez Candy, Fun Sweets Cotton Candy, Gimbal’s Fine Candies, Maynard's, Tangy Zangy, and more!
    We’ve also expanded the manufacturer contact information for easier answers to gluten-free questions. Wh...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - powerofpositivethinking posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      Oh the Anomalies! This Forum Helped My Dog and Me

    2. - SuzanneL replied to SuzanneL's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Weak Positive Test

    3. - cristiana replied to Larzipan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

    4. - Julie Riordan replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      3

      Any ideas for travelling

    5. - Nedast replied to Larzipan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,503
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    PBunny39
    Newest Member
    PBunny39
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • JustGemi
    • Linedancegal
    • Hannah24
      9
    • jessiemariecar
    • Rhonda H
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...