Is Fonio Gluten-Free and Safe for People with Celiac Disease?

Celiac.com 03/10/2020 - One question we get a lot at celiac.com is: Is fonio gluten free and safe for people with celiac disease? Fonio is a highly nutritious African grain that is gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease.

Our recent article on fonio talks about its origins, and how it is traditionally grown only in the Sahel region of Africa — a narrow belt that runs south of the Sahara and north of the savannah from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.

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Fonio high in nutrients, and is rich in fiber, protein, amino acids, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. Fonio has a slightly nutty flavor, produces excellent gluten-free flour, and works well for baking. Fonio can also be eaten alone like couscous or quinoa. 

Another good thing mentioned in the article is the fact that a new state-of-the-art processing plant in Senegal in West Africa, coupled with a pasteurization and quality control plant in North Dakota will likely raise annual exports of fonio, and help to make this gluten-free grain much more familiar to people with celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity.

So, yes, fonio is gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. 

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