You may need to avoid wheat gluten for any of a variety of reasons including Celiac disease, skin conditions, mood disorders and allergies, according to Free From Magazine. Eating a gluten-free diet can be difficult, as many foods contain wheat gluten. Dummies.com reports that wheat gluten appears under many different ingredient names, including flour, semolina, durum, farina, bulgur, spelt, seitan, kamut, matzo and cake flour. Knowing which foods contain wheat gluten can help prevent potentially serious reactions.
Breads
Most types of bread and similar products, including rolls and bread crumbs, contain wheat gluten. You should also beware of breads made out of alternative flours like pumpernickel and rye, according to TheGlutenFreeChef.com.
Pastries and Snacks
Most pastries, including donuts, bagels, muffins, scones, cookies and biscuits, are made from wheat flour, which contains gluten. Pastry flour and pie crust contain wheat gluten, as do graham crackers and graham cracker crumbs. Dry-roasted nuts may also contain gluten.
Pasta and Pizza
Most pastas, such as spaghetti, macaroni and lasagna, are made out of semolina flour, which contains wheat gluten. Pizza dough is also usually made out of wheat flour. Alternative products are made out of corn, rice or barley flour, but read the ingredient list closely, as some may still contain wheat gluten.
Other Foods and Drinks
Breakfast cereals, including muesli, bran and bran flakes, Wheat Chex and multi-grain flakes, often contain gluten. Other foods containing wheat gluten include pancake and waffle mix, crackers, puddings, stuffing mix, crumble toppings, beer and malted drinks. Some other types of alcohol are also made from fermented grains, which can make them unsafe for people who must avoid gluten.
Flavorings and Hidden Ingredients
Hidden ingredients often contain gluten, even though they may not be labeled as such. The only way to know for certain if these ingredients contain gluten is to check with the manufacturer or check if the packaging says the food is gluten-free. Some ingredients that may contain hidden gluten include artificial flavoring, caramel color, modified food starch, soy sauce, emulsifiers, natural flavors and colors, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, gravy, tocopherols, smoke flavoring and non-dairy solids.
