Surprising Foods Containing Gluten (2024)

Eating a gluten-free diet means a new approach to food. A gluten-free diet often means not eating most grains, pasta, cereals, and processed foods. This is because they often contain wheat, rye, and barley. You’ll need to become an expert at reading ingredient labels on packages.

If you have been told by a healthcare provider that you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy and need to adhere to agluten-free diet, check the labels of all foods if the packages aren’t specifically labeled as gluten-free. Gluten can be found in food items you'd never suspect.

    Get Help On Healthy Eating

    From disease-specific nutrition advice to weight loss and diet expertise, Franciscan Health's registered dietitians are here to help.

    Foods Containing Gluten

    Here are some foods likely to contain gluten:

    • Beer, ale and lagers
    • Bouillon cubes
    • Brown rice syrup
    • Candy
    • Chips
    • Communion wafers
    • Couscous
    • Deli meats
    • Flavored coffees and teas
    • French fries
    • Gravy
    • Hot dogs, salami and sausage
    • Ice creams and gelato
    • Imitation fish
    • Matzo
    • Meat substitutes
    • Oats
    • Rice mixes
    • Rye
    • Sauces
    • Seasoned tortilla chips
    • Self-basting turkey
    • Soups
    • Soy sauce
    • Vegetables in sauce

    Watch For These Gluten Sources On Labels

    Read food labels for these terms for hidden sources of gluten:

    • Brown rice syrup
    • Einkorn
    • Emmer
    • Farina
    • Faro
    • Graham
    • Hydrolyzed wheat protein
    • Kamut
    • Malt extract
    • Semonila
    • Spelt
    • Udon
    • Wheat bran
    • Wheat berries
    • Wheat germ
    • Wheat starch

    Other Surprising Sources of Gluten

    Other non-food items that contain gluten include:

    • Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
    • Skin care products
    • Toothpaste
    • Vitamins

    Surprising Foods Containing Gluten (1)

    Surprising Foods Containing Gluten (2024)

    FAQs

    What foods surprisingly contain gluten? ›

    Foods Containing Gluten
    • Beer, ale and lagers.
    • Bouillon cubes.
    • Brown rice syrup.
    • Candy.
    • Chips.
    • Communion wafers.
    • Couscous.
    • Deli meats.
    Aug 7, 2020

    What famous foods have gluten? ›

    Breads and Pastries: croissants, pita, naan, bagels, flatbreads, cornbread, potato bread, muffins, donuts, rolls.

    What food is really high in gluten? ›

    Processed foods that often contain gluten
    • Beer, ale, porter, stout (usually contain barley)
    • Breads.
    • Bulgur wheat.
    • Cakes and pies.
    • Candies.
    • Cereals.
    • Communion wafers.
    • Cookies and crackers.

    Are rice krispies gluten-free? ›

    You may think that classic Kellogg's Brand Rice Krispies are gluten-free because rice is a naturally gluten-free grain, but they are made with malt flavoring. The malt is derived from barley which is a gluten-containing grain. Therefore, they are definitely NOT gluten-free!

    Do any fruits have gluten in them? ›

    Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free.

    Are potatoes gluten? ›

    The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. Potatoes aren't grains, they're a type of starchy vegetable. That's good news for people who can't tolerate gluten because they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

    What are the worst foods for gluten? ›

    In general, avoid the following foods if you have celiac disease: Cereals, breads, or other grain products that include wheat, rye, barley, or oats. This includes white or whole-wheat flour (including cookies, crackers, cakes, and most other baked goods), semolina, couscous, bread crumbs, most pastas, and malt.

    What condiments contain gluten? ›

    Condiments such as soy sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, and gravy are often made with gluten containing ingredients, such as wheat, wheat starch or malt flavoring. Be sure to double check ingredients on condiments and sauces or look for gluten free varieties.

    Are eggs high in gluten? ›

    Eggs are naturally gluten-free. Any gluten present in a hen's diet is completely broken down during the hen's digestive process, meaning there is no gluten that makes it way to the egg.

    Does peanut butter have gluten? ›

    It's important to know that peanuts, peanut butter, peanut flour and peanut oil are considered naturally gluten-free foods.

    What are the first signs of being gluten intolerant? ›

    Here are some of the symptoms of gluten sensitivity:
    • "Brain fog." This is the most common characteristic of gluten sensitivity. ...
    • Headaches or migraines. ...
    • Dizziness.
    • Acne or rashes. ...
    • Joint pain or numbness. ...
    • Diarrhea, gas or constipation.
    • Distended stomach or bloating.
    Apr 12, 2016

    What foods secretly contain gluten? ›

    Watch for gluten in veggie burgers, sausage, bacon and crumbles, along with imitation seafood and seitan. “Many of these products use fillers that contain gluten, which can act like a glue to hold ingredients together and provide an elastic texture,” explains Taylor.

    What are unusual symptoms of gluten? ›

    Some people experience symptoms found in celiac disease, such as “foggy mind”, depression, ADHD-like behavior, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, bone or joint pain, and chronic fatigue when they have gluten in their diet, yet do not test positive for celiac disease.

    What foods are surprisingly gluten-free? ›

    Treats that are surprisingly gluten-free
    • Plain tortilla or potato chips: Keep in mind that seasoned chips may contain wheat starch.
    • Plain chocolate: Read ingredients as some chocolate bars contain wheat-based wafers.
    • Ice cream: Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are safe bets. ...
    • French fries: Potatoes are gluten free.
    Apr 13, 2023

    What are major foods to avoid if you have a gluten intolerance? ›

    You should avoid the following foods if you're on a gluten-free diet:
    • Grains that contain gluten. Gluten is found in many grains, including: ...
    • Pasta and noodles. Avoid wheat-based pasta, including: ...
    • Packaged snacks. ...
    • Meat substitutes. ...
    • Baked goods. ...
    • Bread and pastries. ...
    • Sauces and condiments. ...
    • Drinks.

    Do some potatoes have gluten? ›

    The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. Potatoes aren't grains, they're a type of starchy vegetable. That's good news for people who can't tolerate gluten because they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

    What condiments have gluten in them? ›

    Condiments such as soy sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, and gravy are often made with gluten containing ingredients, such as wheat, wheat starch or malt flavoring. Be sure to double check ingredients on condiments and sauces or look for gluten free varieties.

    Does anything naturally have gluten? ›

    “Gluten is a protein found in the wheat plant and some other grains,” explains Rajagopal. Gluten is naturally occurring, but it can be extracted, concentrated and added to food and other products to add protein, texture and flavor. It also works as a binding agent to hold processed foods together and give them shape.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6354

    Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

    Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

    Birthday: 1996-12-09

    Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

    Phone: +2296092334654

    Job: Technology Architect

    Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

    Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.