Curry Powder

[Dyang]

A can of curry powder I just bought has:

cumin seeds

fennel seeds

chilli

star anise seeds

coriander seeds

cinnamon

turmeric

mustard seeds

peanuts

white pepper

poppy seeds

Does it contain any gluten? I don't see any wheat, rye, barley or oat.

A site that I visited says one should be very careful about curry powder. Is it because it may contain other things that have gluten?

[queenofhearts]

The ingredients you list are fine, but some curry powders (especially the cheap ones) have starch as an extender or something, hence the warning. Enjoy your curry!

Leah

[gabby]

In Canada, sometimes white and black pepper can contain gluten. Not sure about the US

[psawyer]

According to the Canadian Celiac Association, black and white pepper are gluten free. This refers to pepper purchased as such, or present as an ingredient in another food.

The supposed risk comes from the claim that some restaurants add flour to the pepper in the shakers on the table to prevent sticking. I have heard that story, but don't know if there is any truth to it.

[lovegrov]

No white or black pepper that I know of has gluten. What brand is the curry (sounds like it should be fine)?

richard

[queenofhearts]

According to the Canadian Celiac Association, black and white pepper are gluten free. This refers to pepper purchased as such, or present as an ingredient in another food.

The supposed risk comes from the claim that some restaurants add flour to the pepper in the shakers on the table to prevent sticking. I have heard that story, but don't know if there is any truth to it.

That's a new one-- but in my family, growing up in steamy North Carolina with no air conditioning, we always put a few grains of rice in the saltshaker to absorb the moisture & keep the salt from caking. Flour doesn't sound very practical to me as it would have the same issues of getting sticky & clogging the shaker... but I guess you never know.

Leah

[angel-jd1]

That's a new one-- but in my family, growing up in steamy North Carolina with no air conditioning, we always put a few grains of rice in the saltshaker to absorb the moisture & keep the salt from caking. Flour doesn't sound very practical to me as it would have the same issues of getting sticky & clogging the shaker... but I guess you never know.

Leah

I've heard of the rice. I have also seen a saltine cracker in the shakers in some of the mom and pop cafe's. Always have to be on our toes

-Jessica

[gabby]

According to the Canadian Food Labelling Authority website, spices (including pepper) may contain wheat and therefore may contain gluten.

Open Original Shared Link

Quoted from the site:

Possible sources of wheat

Note: Avoid all food and products that contain wheat in the ingredient list, e.g., wheat germ.

Baked goods and baking mixes, e.g., breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins

Baking powder, flour, icing sugar

Battered/fried foods

Bread crumbs, cereals, crackers

Canned soups, e.g., “thickened” soups, gravy mixes

Coffee substitutes made from cereal

Cross-contamination, e.g., containers, food in deep fryers, utensils

Ethnic foods

Falafel

Gelatinized starch, modified starch, modified food starch

Hydrolyzed wheat protein

Ice cream

Meat, fish and poultry binders and fillers, e.g., deli meats, hot dogs, surimi (used to make imitation crab/lobster meat)

Natural flavouring (from malt, wheat)

Pasta

Pie fillings

Prepared ketchup, mustard

Salad dressings

Sauces, e.g., chutney, soy sauce

Seasonings, spices, e.g., paprika, black pepper

Snack foods, e.g., candy, chocolate bars

They go on to suggest calling the manufacturer.

Hope this helps.

[queenofhearts]

I've heard of the rice. I have also seen a saltine cracker in the shakers in some of the mom and pop cafe's. Always have to be on our toes

-Jessica

Oho-- now that makes a little more sense. Maybe that's how the flour gets in. Jeez, I never thought to check for crackers in the shakers-- it's enough to drive you crackers!

Leah

[psawyer]

The Canadian Government site relates what is legally permitted to happen (i.e., "possible"). The findings of the Canadian Celiac Association are based on investigation into what actually is present in food. Just because the law permits something does not mean it happens. According to the research by the CCA's experts, all pepper sold in Canada, whether at retail or in bulk, contains only 100% pure pepper. That's good enough for me.

[roxanne40]

A can of curry powder I just bought has:

cumin seeds

fennel seeds

chilli

star anise seeds

coriander seeds

cinnamon

turmeric

mustard seeds

peanuts

white pepper

poppy seeds

Does it contain any gluten? I don't see any wheat, rye, barley or oat.

A site that I visited says one should be very careful about curry powder. Is it because it may contain other things that have gluten?

I cook with all of the spices you have mentioned (except white pepper and star anise seeds) at least three or four times/week and have no reaction. I use them with the belief that they are gluten free and have never had a problem. Combined with the two ingredients that I don't know, I'm not sure. Individually, they are very flavorful. You could actually buy ingredients individually and make your own curry powder. Good luck.

[Felidae]

No white or black pepper that I know of has gluten. What brand is the curry (sounds like it should be fine)?

richard

Some cheap brands (no name brands) are processed on the same lines as wheat products, so they have a cc disclaimer on the package.