A casein- and gluten-free diet involves avoiding all products containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and all products containing casein, a protein found in milk. It may be easy to spot obvious gluten-containing foods, such as bread, pizza and pasta, some foods have hidden gluten disguised as barley malt syrup, malt vinegar, colorings, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or seasonings. It can be equally hard to identify all sources of casein in your diet as it is sometimes an ingredient in foods you would not expect, such as salad dressings or snack crackers. Soda pop often contains a list of ingredients that are not clearly casein- or gluten-free, but if you're on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, most pop is safe.
Significance
You may follow a casein-free diet along with a gluten-free diet as a way to mitigate symptoms of certain conditions, such as autism. People with the autoimmune condition celiac disease, in which consuming gluten causes the body to attack the villi in the small intestine, who are also allergic to milk proteins may also follow a gluten-free, casein-free plan. Many of the ingredients on a can of soda may be unfamiliar, so it can be hard to determine if they are casein- and gluten-free.
Caramel Color
Caramel color in soda is an ingredient that gluten-free, casein-free dieters may question. Caramel color in the United States is almost always made from corn or cane sugar, so it is gluten-free. It can be produced from barley or lactose, which is why it is sometimes warned against when you are on a gluten-free and casein-free diet. Pepsi and Coca Cola both certify their sodas are gluten- and casein-free. Clear sodas and fruit-flavored sodas are usually gluten- and casein-free.
Considerations
Avoid any soda containing malt, barley malt syrup, modified food starch, brown rice syrup or enzymes, as these usually indicate the presence of gluten. Vanilla, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners are safe for gluten-free, casein-free dieters. Many sodas list natural flavorings as an ingredient. Usually, these are made from corn, but gluten-containing grains may be used.
Warning
Before purchasing a product, including soda, thoroughly investigate the ingredient list. Even if it is a soda you have had in the past with no problem, realize that companies can change their ingredient lists due to product availability and cost. If you are highly sensitive to casein- and gluten-containing foods, seek out sodas that carry a certified "gluten-free" and "casein-free" label. if you are not sure about a soda, call the company or skip it. Keep in mind that if you are following a gluten-free, casein-free diet for autism or behavioral issues, the caffeine and sugar in soda can cause hyperactivity, even if they are free of gluten and casein.
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