Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Citric Acid


Karina

Recommended Posts

KaitiUSA Enthusiast

On many sites it says that Citric Acid is in fact safe at least in the US.

This is from a site I went to:

When citric acid is made in the United States, it is made from sugar cane, sugar beets or corn; however, when it is produced in China, it may be made from wheat.

I'm not sure about other countries because it did not say but I know in the US it is safe according to everything I have read. I have heard it can be derived from wheat in other countries though. When it is made in other countries then I would call and make sure unless the brand doesn't hide it.

Lynne Billington-If you need a good brand of jam...Smuckers will not hide gluten in their products.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



celiac3270 Collaborator

I read two threads on celiacforums (just after you mentioned it) discussing citric acid. The point they're making about citric acid in other countries is that it can be imported and used by companies in the US, even though it contains wheat.....I don't know how this all works or if the company has an obligation to mention that it contains wheat since all citric acid in the US doesn't, etc., etc.

Lynne, have you called the company to verify that the jelly really isn't gluten-free?

KaitiUSA Enthusiast

I guess another thing to do is look and see where it was made. If it was made in the US it's safe otherwise it may or may not be safe.

celiac3270 Collaborator

If it really is a problem, that really complicates things--just one more ingredient we need to call about.... <_<

mommida Enthusiast

This is why being on a gluten free diet is more expensive for me. I will only by brand names that I trust. By that, I mean I can contact the company and get a clear answer. If the company says they can not be responsible for the companies they buy their ingredients from, it is not the company that deserves my business.

Laura

lcmcafee2 Newbie

FYI

In the book WHEAT-FREE RECIPES & MENUS by Carol Fenster, Ph.D. it states on page 244

"Citric Acid" This is always a suspicious ingredient since citric acid can be fermented from corn, beets, molasses, or wheat. While corn is the only source used by manufactures in the U.S., about 25% of the citric acid used in food and drink in the U.S. is imported from other countries and could contain wheat. By the way, Coke and Pepsi use corn in their citric acid."

  • 14 years later...
dc3 Newbie
On 2/16/2005 at 9:27 AM, girlygirl said:

On celiac.com it is stated "Soy and Msg are examples of products that many celiacs have trouble with". I have been reading over and over again that MSG is a problem. Not only is it a problem for celiacs but it is a problem for many people. MSG is not in any way shape or form healthy. Just because something is gluten free doesn't mean that it is always healthy i.e. soda, ice cream,cake, cookies, candy bars, potato chips, etc....

 

On allergiesabout.com:

 

On celiac/gluten intolerance;

 

"Other key words to watch for are farina, flour, caramel coloring, enriched flour, cereal, malt flavoring and extracts, MSG, modified food starch, emulisfiers, stabilizers, distilled vinegar, semolina, durum and tritcale".

 

It seems like many celiacs are asking about some of these ingredients that I have responded to because they may have already had a reaction or suspected something about the additive. I know that NOT everyone will experience a reaction but to just plain say that MSG is not a problem for celiacs at all is not the case.

It is unfortunate that fear of soy has become so popular.  Check out the region around Okinawa, where soy is a foundational food and has been for centuries.  Note that this area is one of the World's green zones where people on average live the longest of all.  This is just one example of an area where soy has been used for a very long time with positive results, or I suppose it is more accurate to say without harmful results.  Of course it is different for those who are medically sensitive to soy derived products and must avoid them.  As for people with Celiac, one must always be aware of cross reactivity and periodic testing is a very good idea.  Celiac is sneaky that way.  For the rest of us, organic, unmodified soy is not only safe to eat, but is an excellent and inexpensive source for a multitude of nutrients.  Thank you for qualifying your statement about MSG.  Personally I tend to avoid additives like MSG that are not actually naturally occurring food, but I reserve any comment beyond my personal preference and will wait for the research to catch up.  I am encountering increasing evidence that you may be absolutely right about avoiding it.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



pikakegirl Enthusiast

After diagnosis and gluten-free diet I became intolerant of many foods and additives. Citric Acid and Ascorbic Acid cause a sharp kidney stone like pain in my lower right side. It took forever to figure out that is what the pain is from, I never had a problem with citrus or citric acid before. Wonder it is from over exposure in lifetime or how it is processed (what it is made from) My bloodwork for Celiac has never faltered since initial diagnosis. Neither has my CRP. Wonder if this is just me or other Celiacs.

PTArt Apprentice

Citric acid is also made from fermented mold, which you may be reacting to. I can’t tolerate it either.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      1

      Natural remedies

    2. - Scott Adams replied to miguel54b's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Gluten and short-term memory.

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Suze046's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Reintroduction of Gluten

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Mykidzz3's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,369
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Nick H.
    Newest Member
    Nick H.
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living, particularly for managing systemic inflammation and its various symptoms, so sharing your story is valuable. Your observation that it may also be helping with bloating is fascinating, as that could point to an overall reduction in inflammation. Thank you for sharing what is working for you!
    • Scott Adams
      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sleep disruption, and digestive irregularity. It's a frustrating and often invisible effect that can make you feel unlike yourself, so that moment of clarity, though born from a tough dominoes match, is actually a powerful piece of self-knowledge. Identifying a specific culprit like that steak strip is a huge win, as it arms you with the information needed to avoid similar pitfalls in the future and protect your cognitive clarity. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this particular set of neurological and physical symptoms; it's a strong reminder of gluten's profound impact on the entire body, not just the digestive system. Supplementation may help you as well.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly consistent with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While a celiac reaction can be more immediate, a sensitivity reaction is often delayed, sometimes taking several days to manifest as your body's inflammatory response builds up; the fact that your symptoms returned a few days after reintroduction is a strong indicator that gluten is indeed the culprit, not a coincidence. Your doctor's advice to reintroduce it was necessary to confirm the diagnosis, as the initial negative celiac test and subsequent improvement on a gluten-free diet pointed strongly towards sensitivity. Many in this community have gone through this exact same process of elimination and challenging, and it's wise to reintroduce gently as you did. Given your clear reaction, the best course of action is likely to resume a strict gluten-free diet, as managing a sensitivity is the primary way to control those debilitating symptoms and allow your body to heal fully.
    • Scott Adams
      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained gluten-containing beer, contaminating your drink. The fact that you didn't react at a clean brewery suggests they may have had more meticulous practices or separate lines, but this is the exception, not the rule. Many in the community have had identical experiences, leading them to strictly avoid draft cider and opt for bottled or canned versions, which are poured directly from their sealed container and bypass the contaminated tap system entirely. Switching to bottles or cans is the safest strategy, and your plan to do so is a smart move to protect your health. PS - here are some articles on the topic:    
    • Scott Adams
      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and less processed, like rice, potatoes, beans, lentils, corn, eggs, and frozen fruits and vegetables—these are nutritional powerhouses that can form the basis of her meals. For the specialty items like bread and pasta, see if your local stores carry smaller, single-serving packages or allow returns if a product causes a reaction, as some companies understand this challenge. Regarding vitamins, that is an excellent next step; please ask her doctor to prescribe a high-quality gluten-free multivitamin, as insurance will often cover prescribed vitamins, making them much more affordable. Finally, connecting with a local celiac support group online can be a treasure trove of location-specific advice for finding the best and most affordable products in your area, saving you both time and money on the trial-and-error process. 
×
×
  • Create New...