What Ingredients To Look For On Labels (new At This!)

[Disney323]

Our 16 mo. old DS was just dx and I started reading labels yet I have no idea what to look for (the obvious being wheat) but what other ingredients to steer clear of? Is there a list out there?

TIA

[Lisa]

Yes, on the home page here you can find a list of safe ingrediences and fobidden ingrediences. I believe it is listed on Site Index.

That would get you off to a good start.

[FeedIndy]

That list is really long and most of it comes down to 4 things-wheat, barley, rye and malt. There are a lot of additional "no-nos" that are wheat-based, but in the US if it doesn't say wheat in the ingredients it has to have the "contains wheat ingredients" warning on the label.

[happygirl]

Anything with wheat is required by the Food Allergen Labeling Law of 2006 to be listed clearly. So if you see something with modifed food starch, but doesn't say wheat anywhere---then it is not derived from wheat. Before, they weren't required to list it, so we wouldn't know if the MFS was wheat derived or not.

After that, its oats, rye, barley/malt (malt is usually derived from barley). There is a list of companies that state that not only do they list all wheat, but they will clearly list any gluten (i.e., it might say natural or artificial flavorings, but unless it says wheat/rye/barley/malt/oats, they are not 'hidden').

Check out this topic that has a good list of reliable companies. Luckily, it covers "most" of the big brands...some of them (like Unilever) own everything! The first, second, and last posts have what you will need. Open Original Shared Link

Best of luck. Let us know what we can do to help, and if you are looking for "replacements" for an item that has gluten....we can find it for you!!!!

Laura

[Disney323]

Thank you so much for your advice girls! I honestly don't know what I would do without this site! We haven't had to make or purchase any gluten free items as of yet because ds needs to be eating it until his biopsy next week. I just want to be prepared what to look for. Thanks again!

[vampella]

Just remember that reading lables is GREAT but you have to call thhe companies too. I found a soup that the ingreds said was gluten free but upon calling the company it was not.

So just be careful.

Good luck