The Hidden Sources of Wheat & Gluten

It is no secret that many people today suffer from a gluten intolerance. Whether one has a serious disease like Celiac's, or has a mild intolerance, wheat and gluten can be found in a myriad of food and home products. Those who are trying to heal from gluten intolerances may have a difficult time because gluten is found in medications, kitchenware items, cosmetics and can also be cross contaminated in the kitchen. 

If you notice issues after consuming wheat products, contact your doctor to undergo gluten allergen tests.

Here are the following food sources that contain gluten. 

• USDA Products: The USDA is in charge of meat, poultry and dairy. They are not required to follow FALCPA guidelines; therefore, many products containing dexterity, starch, maltodextrin and modified food starch contain gluten. Products that contain as little as two-percent meat or poultry may contain gluten (think of canned soups). Other boxed / meat products that may contain gluten include, instant milk products, malted milk, hot chocolate mixes, commercial chocolate milk, cheese spreads, blue cheese, sausage containing fillers, hot dogs, beer brats, meat spreads and imitation crab / fish. 
• Gluten Containing Grains: This includes wheat, rye, barley, durum, einkorn, emmer, faro, kamut, semolina and spelt.
• Seasoning / Spice Mixes: Many spice mixes contain gluten as a carrier for the spices. Pure spices do not contain wheat, rye or barley. 
• Extenders / Thickeners: This is used in packaged foods and may contain gluten. An example is "modified food starch."
• Bottled Sauces / Salad Dressings: Many of these products use a stabilizer, wheat protein or a thickener which contains gluten such as vegetable gum, hydrolyzed wheat starch or wheat flour.
• Soy Sauce: This product contains gluten unless otherwise stated. Tamari is gluten free. 
• Malt: Barley malt contains gluten and may be listed on the ingredient label as barley malt, malt, malt extract, or vinegar.  

• Modified Food Starch / Gelatinized Food Starch: Sources of the starch must be identified on a label. Wheat is used a starch, but gluten free options include potato, rice or tapioca starch. Corn starch is technically gluten free, and the FDA regulation imply "starch" as corn starch. If a different source is used it should be identified with the ingredient list on the food label. 
• Hydrolyzed Food Starch: Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant starch (HPP), Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) are not technically gluten free because they can be made with gluten. HVP may be present in bouillon and soup bases.  
• Dextrin: may derive from wheat. The two largest manufacturers of dextrin in the USA use corn starch, which is gluten free. 
  
• Flavorings: Meat products and packaged foods may contain barley malt flavorings. Natural flavoring should be confirmed with the manufacturer to ensure the product in gluten free. 
  
• Caramel Color: Caramel color made in the USA derives from corn. However, if the product was made outside of the USA, it may contain gluten. 
  
• Beverages: Many beverages contain gluten such as instant drinks, fortified wines (Port, Madeira, Muscatel), beer, ale, malt liquor, root beers made from beer brewers may cross contaminate gluten into non-alcohol beers, and some teas may contain gluten. 
  

• ​Medications: Hidden sources of gluten can exist as a filler (non-active) ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Read the label or package to determine the ingredients in the med. Double check with the pharmacist. If the product contains "starch" the source must be identified (remember if it comes from corn, rice, potato or tapioca it is gluten free). Every product contains an 1-800 number. Call and ask, "What is the source of the starch?" and "Is the medication coated with any wheat, rye or barley ingredients?"
• Use glutenfreedrugs.com as a personal source. 
• Personal Care Products: Over the years feminine and household products have had low-traces of wheat and gluten. This includes mouthwash, toothpaste, lipstick, chapstick, shampoo, conditioner, tampons and cosmetics. 
  • Gluten can be found in cosmetics under these labels:
    • Wheat marked as "wheat" or "triticum vulgare"
    • Barley marked as "barley" or "malt" or "hordeum vulgare"
    • Rye marked as "rye" or "secale cereale"
    • Oats marked as "oats" or "arena sativa"

​Information comes from Bastyr Center for Natural Health Nutrition Care Team. 

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