Common Question: How Can Gluten Hide In Ingredient Lists?

Due to my negative Celiac Sprue biopsy, I never thought to contact the local Celiac support groups in my area. For this reason, I began the gluten-free diet on my own, reading labels one food at a time and keeping a food journal to find hidden gluten in the foods I ate.

For years, I researched gluten and gluten-containing ingredients. During this time I noticed a huge discrepancy between different sources. Some ingredients that were always controversial include: carmel color, flavored extracts, alcohols derived from grain, and the term natural flavoring.

Lucky for individuals new to the gluten-free diet, there are now many credible sources regarding gluten-free and gluten containing ingredients:

In the United States go to: http://csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php

In Canada go to: http://www.celiac.ca/EnglishCCA/egfdiet.html

In the United Kingdom go to: http://www.coeliac.org.uk/glutenfree_living/tools_for_choosing_safe_foods/1276.asp#update