Celiac disease is a disorder of the digestive system controlled by eliminating gluten from the diet, according to the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, or NIDDK. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their small intestines become inflamed, damaging the villi responsible for nutrient absorption. Gluten is a protein found in a number of different foods.
Grains and Baked Goods
Gluten is found in any food containing wheat, barley or rye. This includes foods containing einkorn, spelt, kamut, emmer, wheat starch, wheat bran, cracked wheat, hydrolyzed wheat protein and triticale. Baked and prepared foods with gluten include wheat bread, white bread, rye bread, pasta, crackers made with wheat flour, rolls, bagels, English muffins, pancakes, stuffing, pizza, couscous, scones, some breakfast cereals, all bran, muesli, most cookies, cakes, candies and malted drinks made with barley.
Flours with gluten include graham flour, bromated flour, durum flour, enriched flour, self-rising flour and semolina flour.
Meats
Some processed meats contain gluten. These include sausage, luncheon meat and self-basting turkeys, according to the Gluten Free Chef. Hot dogs and salami may also contain gluten. Anyone who has celiac disease needs to carefully read food labels and food ingredient lists to avoid foods with gluten. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires all foods containing wheat to be clearly labeled. This does not, however, include all other sources of gluten.
Snack Foods
In addition to sweets and crackers, some chips may be a source of gluten in the diet. These include plain and flavored potato chips and seasoned tortilla chips, according to NIDDK.
Additional Foods
A number of processed foods contain gluten. These include soups, gravies, imitation fish, French fries, vegetables in sauce and rice mixes. Condiments can also be a source of gluten, including mustard, salad dressing, soy sauce, brown rice syrup, malt vinegar and sauces. Communion wafers are made from wheat and contain gluten.
Food Ingredients
When reading a food label to avoid gluten, do not eat any foods listing the following as an ingredient: flavorings, food starch, thickening, glucose syrup, matzo meal, fillers, TVP, caramel color, bran, seasonings or malt.
