Not Sure If This Is The Right Board, But What Is The Deal With "natural Flavoring"?

[Buffheart 0]

On the "Unsafe food list" I printed here it said something about natural flavoring possibly containing gluten depending on what it is made from, but I didn't really understand fully what it said because I was kind of confused. Can someone explain?

[psawyer 706]

It is possible for gluten to hide in flavoring, but it almost never does. Wheat must be explicitly labeled. The possible concern is barley.

Shelley Case, RD, in her book Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide says,

It would be rare to find a "natural or artificial flavoring" containing gluten because: (a) hydrolyzed wheat protein cannot be hidden under the term "flavor," and ( barley malt extract or barley malt flavoring is almost always declared as "barley malt extract" or "barley malt flavoring." For this reason, most experts do not restrict natural and artificial flavorings in the gluten-free diet.

[Buffheart 0]

So I shouldn't worry? I was just concerned because I have seen foods labeled "gluten free" that also have natural flavoring listed as an ingredient, so I was concerned.

[psawyer 706]

I personally don't worry. If you see "gluten-free" on a label where there is a questionable ingredient, you can assume that the food is actually gluten-free.

Here's a list of companies that have a clear gluten policy. If you don't see "wheat, rye, barley, barley malt, oats" on the labels, its not there, or hidden in "flavors, starches, etc." http://www.glutenfreeindy.com/foodlists/index.htm This makes shopping MUCH easier.