For those that are newer to gluten free living, or even just a thought for those that have been gluten free for a long time….no gluten ingredients may or may not be safe for celiac patients. Lemme explain.

When a company labels a product gluten free, it means that they adhere to the gluten free labeling laws of that country. In the US, there are three parts to the requirement – no wheat, rye, barley or crossbreeds of these grains, no ingredient derived from these grains that has not been processed to remove gluten, and the final product must contain less than 20ppm of gluten.

Some companies are dedicated gluten free companies, like Against The Grain, Udi’s, and Feel Good Foods. There are many, many more companies that are dedicated gluten free, these are just a few of my favorites. I am confident that I can grab these products without looking and know they are gluten free.

Other, typically larger companies, offer products that are gluten free and not gluten free. When a company that labels some products gluten free and others not gluten free, there is a reason. If the product has no gluten containing ingredients, there is a reason that product is not labeled gluten free. For example, many Lay’s products are labeled gluten free. Cool Ranch Doritos do not have any ingredients that jump out as gluten containing but are not labeled gluten free. I don’t know the reason for no gluten free label, but I’m trusting they know more about their ingredients and labeling than I do. Bob’s Red Mill is another example.

Some companies don’t label any of their products gluten free. I’ve never found a gluten free label on Kroger branded products. (There may be some, I haven’t found them.). This is where the company may have a policy of not labeling gluten free to avoid liability or they truly aren’t sure if their product is gluten free. It is up to you whether you trust this company or not.

For me, I stick with certified gluten free or labeled gluten free products. It just offers peace of mind.

#celiac #glutenfree #celiacdisease #coeliac #celiacawareness #gluten#allergy #glutensensitive #againstthegrain