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Distinction Between Wheat-free And Gluten-free

Momma Bird

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Momma Bird Newbie
Momma Bird
Posted

I'm confused. If I am gluten intolerant, I obviously can't have wheat. So why are some things labeled gluten-free/wheat-free, and others only gluten free. Do I have to find things with both?

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Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Gluten includes wheat, barley, rye, and oats.

Things labeled as wheat-free can still contain barley, rye, and oats. This would NOT be considered gluten free.

Things that are gluten free are always wheat free.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

exactly what guhlia said - gluten free includes three *additional* things besides being wheat free. so wheat free is *not* enough. most things marked gluten free will not say wheat free, because wheat free is just a subset of gluten free, and hence is implied with gluten free.

Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

Since gluten from wheat is the protein in the grain, it is at least theoretically possible for someone with a gluten intolerance to have the other parts of the wheat. I mention this only because there is at least one product on the market as gluten-free that has wheat fiber.

I am not advocating eating such products. There would be a high risk of cross-contamination (unless you know and have confidence in the company).

Also, gluten intolerant is a phrase that some people use to cover classic celiac as well as a classic wheat allergy as well as just a known dietary response to gluten with out a clear diagnosis of the mechanism. Some people on that spectrum could have items that are wheat-free but not gluten-free.

debmidge Rising Star
debmidge
Posted

When you see a product that only states "Wheat-Free" & doesn't state "Gluten-Free" it's a product that people who are avoiding "wheat-only" would want to buy. If you are staying away from from gluten, you must purchase products which are "gluten-free" as "wheat-free" may also contain oat, rye or barley in some form.

It's an important difference. "Wheat-free" is usually for those who have "wheat allergy" or are avoiding only wheat for some reason or another.

"gluten free" is free of wheat BUT

"Wheat free" does not mean "gluten free"

lob6796 Contributor
lob6796
Posted

Yep. My mom said the other day "oh I got Emily some cookies - they are gluten free!" I was all happy and I went to check hte bag out.. and saw WHEAT FREE in big letters. Underneath in small letters it said NOT a gluten free product. Oh well, she tried!

  • 2 months later...
zachsmom Enthusiast
zachsmom
Posted

Only eat gluten free... ignore the wheat free and pretend its gluten... Like the posts said there are other things that are left in the mix when its still wheat free,,, ( like the stuff that makes you ill ,. ) in gluten free its all gone . go always gluten free

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Guest j_mommy
Guest j_mommy
Posted

Alot of Gluten free food is labeled....gluten free/wheat free.....a product labeled like that is gluten free...they are just adding that to make it clearer!

hathor Contributor
hathor
Posted

My theory is that they say "wheat free" on some gluten free items because folks who are allergic to wheat don't necessarily know what gluten is. Why would they have to? They just ("just" :rolleyes: ) have to avoid wheat.

zachsmom Enthusiast
zachsmom
Posted

yeah .. wheat free doesnt mean safe... IF IT DOESNT SAY GLUTEN FREE ..... put it back ...

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

If it says "wheat free," but does not say "gluten free," then more investigation is needed. The definition of "gluten free" has not been decided in the US, and some manufacturers are avoiding the phrase until it is. Read the ingredients carefully, and if there are any questionable ones, call the company. But the product may be fine.

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    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

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      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Food and environmental allergies involve IgE antibodies.  IgE antibodies provoke histamine release from mast cells.   Celiac disease is not always visible to the naked eye during endoscopy.  Much of the damage is microscopic and patchy or out of reach of the scope.  Did they take any biopsies of your small intestine for a pathologist to examine?  Were you given a Marsh score? Why do you say you "don't have intestinal damage to correlate with lifelong undiagnosed celiac disease"?   Just curious.  
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