Apricots, and all fruits in their natural states, are not glutenous. Products made with apricots, such as baked goods, syrups and other processed products, may contain gluten as one of the additional ingredients. Canned and dried apricots are only glutenous if their added ingredients contain gluten, as well.
Definition of Gluten-Free Food
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued guidelines for the labeling of gluten-free foods. Foods which contain wheat, barley, rye or any hybrid of those grains are considered glutenous. Products made from apricots may contain these glutenous grains as sweeteners, flours and additives. In the case of gluten intolerance or celiac disease, it is best to always check the label of ingredients for glutenous additives before consuming commercially processed apricot products.
Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease
Many people have an intolerance to gluten or celiac disease. A person with this inherited autoimmune disorder creates antibodies and an immune system response to gluteneous proteins. This reaction to gluten can cause damage to the intestinal lining which in turn prevents the absorption of necessary vitamins and minerals, creating other health problems such as osteoporosis and nerve damage. Celiac disease affects over 1 percent of the American population.
Canned Apricots
The University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center, or UCCDC, lists all unprocessed fruits without additives as gluten-free. Canned apricots are processed, so can become glutenous due to additives used in processing. The UCCDC has published a list of additives which are gluten-free to assist those with gluten intolerance. Some companies, such as Libby's, have committed to labeling their canned apricots for gluten content but other companies still require consumers to do their own research. Look for barley sweeteners which may make canned apricots glutenous. Some apricots are canned in pear concentrate which is gluten-free, while some are canned in Splenda, a brand name for sucralose, an artificial sweetener. The UCCDC lists sucralose as gluten-free; so products containing only apricots, water and sucralose are also gluten-free. Canned goods must be inspected individually for gluten.
Dried Apricots and Gluten
Dried apricots, like canned apricots, are not glutenous naturally. It is only through additives that dried apricots could become glutenous. Most dried apricots contain sulphur dioxide, which is a gluten-free additive. Sweeteners and flour can be added to dried fruit; flour is added so diced dried fruit does not stick together. NutsOnline.com sells diced, dried apricots which contain the added ingredients of sulphur dioxide and rice flour, which would not be glutenous since rice is gluten-free. Most dried apricots sold as "organic" do not contain anything but dried apricots, without the sulphur dioxide. Newman's Organics, for instance, states its dried apricots are gluten-free and lists apricots as the only ingredient. Additionally, Newman's Organics guarantees their dried apricots are processed in a plant which is free of gluten products, eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination of products.
