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Where can you find gluten?

You can find gluten in the most unlikely places! I’m sure we are all aware that it can be found in pasta, bread and cakes but did you know its also in ice cream, ketchup and stock cubes? That’s why it’s so easy to develop a sensitivity to it. It’s in so many things. Check out the table below for a comprehensive list of where you’ll find it.

Gluten containing grains = wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut and triticale (cross between wheat and rye)

Gluten Containing Foods are:

Batter	Beer / Whisky / Vodka / Gin	Biscuits
Bread inc. bagels / croissants / croutons / crackers / crumpets / naan / tortillas	Breakfast cereals	Breadcrumbs
Cakes	Couscous	Crisps – check label, some are allowed
Flour	Ice cream (wheat)	Ketchup
Mustard	Pasta inc. ravioli / noodles	Pastry
Pizza bases	Pork Pie	Ready meals
Sauces – pre made and includes soy sauce	Sausages – hot dogs	Soups – tinned
Stock cubes	Sweets	Food additives, such as malt flavoring, modified food starch, MSG and others
Medications and vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent

 

Note – wheat products can be called many different things – namely bulgur, durum flour, farina, kamut, semolina and spelt. Oats can also be contaminated with wheat so avoid unless labelled gluten free.

Watch for cross-contamination Cross-contamination occurs when gluten-free foods come into contact with foods that contain gluten. This can occur whilst it is being manufactured or could occur at home if foods are prepared on common surfaces or with utensils not thoroughly cleaned after being used to prepare gluten-containing foods. Another example includes using the same toaster for gluten-free bread and normal bread.

Read the Labels

Care must be taken to read all the labels, just because a product is gluten free it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Please check for high sugar levels and any artificial colours or preservatives. If in doubt, you’re best to leave it and try something else. Don’t forget, it is still a processed food and therefore will be hard for the body to digest.

If you think you are sensitive to gluten don’t just remove it from your diet because if there is a chance that you have celiac’s disease you have to have gluten in your diet in order for a doctor to do the blood test. I would always recommend that you speak to a professional before you make any major dietary changes. If you want to book an appointment please click here or give us a call to discuss it further.