Help for Celiacs and Gluten-Sensitive!
Foods to Avoid - Gluten Containing Foods/ Ingredients
Here are some common ingredients that may contain gluten and should be avoided by those with celiac disease:
Wheat: This includes all varieties of wheat, such as durum, semolina, spelt, farro, and kamut.
Barley: Barley and barley-based ingredients, such as barley malt, malt extract, malt vinegar, and malt flavoring.
Rye: Rye and rye-based ingredients, such as rye flour, rye bread, and rye beer.
Triticale: Triticale is a hybrid grain derived from wheat and rye, so it contains gluten.
Oats: While oats themselves do not naturally contain gluten, they are often cross-contaminated with gluten during processing. It is important to look for certified gluten-free oats if you want to include them in your diet.
Wheat derivatives: Some ingredients derived from wheat may still contain gluten, such as wheat starch, hydrolyzed wheat protein, wheat germ, and wheat bran.
Modified food starch: Unless specified as gluten-free, modified food starch can be derived from wheat and may contain gluten.
If you eat Indian foods like us, this means you can't eat whole wheat roti, puri, any recipe made with Maida flour, naan, parotta, semolina, and all dishes made with wheat flour or maida flour.
Gluten-based additives: Ingredients like seitan, which is made from wheat gluten, and some food additives and flavorings may contain gluten.
It's crucial to read food labels carefully and look for explicit statements indicating whether a product is gluten-free or free from gluten-containing ingredients. Additionally, cross-contamination should be considered, as even small amounts of gluten can be harmful to individuals with celiac disease.
Gluten can also be present in various food additives and ingredients derived from gluten-containing grains. Here are some chemicals or additives that can potentially contain gluten:
Modified food starch: Unless specified as gluten-free, modified food starch can be derived from wheat and may contain gluten.
Maltodextrin: Maltodextrin can be derived from various sources, including wheat. If it is derived from wheat, it would contain gluten unless specifically labeled as gluten-free.
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP): HVP can be derived from different vegetable sources, including wheat. If it is derived from wheat, it would contain gluten unless labeled as gluten-free.
Dextrin: Dextrin can be derived from multiple sources, including wheat. If it is derived from wheat, it may contain gluten unless specifically stated as gluten-free.
Caramel color: While caramel color is typically gluten-free, some manufacturers may use barley malt as a source for caramel color, which would contain gluten.
It’s important to note that gluten-containing ingredients must be clearly labeled on food products in many countries. However, it’s always advisable to carefully read ingredient labels or contact the manufacturer if you have concerns about specific chemicals or additives containing gluten.
Some Chinese sauces may contain gluten. Here are a few commonly used Chinese sauces that may have gluten-containing ingredients:
Soy sauce: Traditional soy sauce is typically made from fermented soybeans and wheat. However, there are gluten-free soy sauce alternatives available, such as tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
Hoisin sauce / Hoi Sin sauce: Hoisin sauce often contains wheat flour as one of its ingredients, making it unsuitable for a gluten-free diet. Look for gluten-free hoisin sauce alternatives or recipes to make your own gluten-free version.
Oyster sauce: Some oyster sauce brands may contain gluten as a thickening agent. It's essential to check the ingredient list or look for gluten-free oyster sauce options.
Teriyaki sauce: Traditional teriyaki sauce may contain soy sauce, which contains gluten. Look for gluten-free teriyaki sauce options or recipes to make your own gluten-free version.
To ensure that the sauces you choose are gluten-free, it's best to check the ingredient labels or reach out to the manufacturer for confirmation. Alternatively, you can look for certified gluten-free versions of these sauces, which are specifically manufactured to be gluten-free.