Distillery Under Fire for Labeling Vodka and Gin as "Gluten-free"

I think this labeling IS helpful. Some vodkas etc. have additives that might make them not gluten free (like flavorings). If all spirits were labeled it would just make it easier. We aren't all food experts. And we have all had the experience of finding gluten in something that should be naturally gluten free.

I think this labeling IS helpful. Some vodkas etc. have additives that might make them not gluten free (like flavorings). If all spirits were labeled it would just make it easier. We aren't all food experts. And we have all had the experience of finding gluten in something that should be naturally gluten free.

Oops. I meant to say a PhD chemist, not physicist, in my above comment. Here is the link to explain why ALL alcohol made from glutenous grains contains gluten:

I find this article very interesting and I think the company should be allowed to label the product gluten-free. I myself have been ill after drinking Baileys, which contains whiskey.

This is a quote from Baileys' website "The ingredients used in Baileys are Gluten free. On the basis of this and to the best of our knowledge there are no traces of Gluten in Baileys. As we are not qualified to give medical advice persons requiring a Gluten free diet should consult their medical adviser before consuming Baileys."

I note that they say "to the best of their knowledge", which, to me, indicates that they do not run tests for gluten.

Another article I found interesting is from 2009 by No Gluten, No Problem. They are indicating that the problem with gluten found in spirits is from after distillation. The gluten gets in the product via cross-contamination and distillation practices by the company.

My personal opinion is that there could be trace amounts and that the distillation process makes alcohol safe only for "most coeliacs" and therefore is deemed gluten free by all organisations. The only time I would contradict this is if a product is solely using naturally gluten free ingredients and not making any other gluten containing ingredients in their factory.

I was diagnosed a hyper-sensitive coeliac (by The Royal Free Hospital in London) and cannot tolerate any trace amounts. They advised me, as I was still ill after 1 year of a gluten free diet, to avoid anything that contained the Codex Wheat Starch (Codex Alimentarius), which I knew nothing about at the time. I find the coeliac organisations and companies promoting products that are safe for "most" coeliacs an absolute insult to the coeliacs that cannot tolerate these foods or drinks of which a high proportion contain some form of gluten. Now in the UK they do not even have to declare it on the label, if it is 20ppm or less, as it is considered safe!! So, I have to eat something and then get extremely ill and then I know it contains a small amount of gluten.

I would like to ask that if everyone who is hyper sensitive like myself, please campaign to whomever you can to get coeliac/celiac disease graded as they have done with other diseases. For example, Grade/Type 1 for those who are hyper sensitive, Grade/Type 2 for "most coeliacs", Grade/Type 3 for medically diagnosed gluten intolerance or allergy. I think that this will help all of us whatever our Grade/Type, ensure that organisations and companies treat us all as individuals and not place us under their "umbrellas" and hopefully manufacturers will label their products accordingly.

I have to agree with Sue here. I get tired of reading labels. If it is gluten free, I love to see it big on the front. So much easier.

I also think the labeling is helpful. Makes shopping easier.

Misleading

I think this labeling IS helpful. Some vodkas etc. have additives that might make them not gluten free (like flavorings). If all spirits were labeled it would just make it easier. We aren't all food experts. And we have all had the experience of finding gluten in something that should be naturally gluten free.

Sue is absolutely correct. I had a terrible experience with one shot of a root beer flavored vodka (not from consuming too much, I should add) and researched later (since the label indicated nothing) only to find that the additive did contain gluten. Similar with other foods that should be "naturally" gluten free, all spirits are NOT created equal. If something is truly gluten free, and the manufacturer wishes to attract a consumer who cares about such things (like me and my non-celiac family members and friends who support my special needs), PLEASE feel free to label it as such!!

I have reactions to distilled alcohols in the past. I don't believe that distilling ingredients removes the effect. I had selectively removed beer and certain vodkas from my diet long before I heard about gluten intolerance. I just knew that if I drank them, I would be sick.

I was amazed when I finally figured out that the vodkas I had eliminated long before knowing anything about gluten, were those that were grain based. Potato vodka didn't have the same effect.

I would like to know if my alcohol is made with gluten containing ingredients because it MAKES a difference to me.

I welcome the labeling, as I have found that one cannot assume that a product that should logically be gluten free actually is. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease in Ireland, I was informed by the dietitian that Smirnoff Vodka (the most commonly available brand there) was not gluten free due to some aspect of the way it was processed. I have also been told that some whiskey distillers add small amounts of barley mash into the finished product to enhance the flavors, although I imagine this practice must be rare. Also, when flavorings are added to distilled spirits, there is usually no information about ingredients, let alone potential allergens, listed on labels.

Oops. I meant to say a PhD chemist, not physicist, in my above comment. Here is the link to explain why ALL alcohol made from glutenous grains contains gluten:

They are mistaken, as distillation removes all traces of gluten.

I am not going to argue about the presence of gluten in vinegar or alcohol products, but I have a bad enough allergy to wheat and grains to react badly to any vinegars or alcoholic drinks that have been made from grains. So I would like to see more labeling, but since gluten free only imparts some information, would rather see grain free on labels as well.

I DEFINITELY still react to the distilled final product when gluten containing ingredients are used. So do many other sensitive celiacs like me. It would be nice to not have to call each company and/or do tons of 'net research to find out which drinks I can tolerate. I'm all for labeling that tells me not only about ingredients but also manufacturing and chance of CC right on the label. Wouldn't that be refreshing... Kind of like a nice cold mixed drink.