Wheat and Gluten - You Won't Believe Where They're Hidden in Foods

There are many food items on the market thatHowever, even if there's no wheat starch, there
contain wheat or wheat gluten, but you'd nevermay still be gluten from other sources.
guess it from looking at them. Of course, the firstNatural and/or Artificial Flavorings - Flavorings
step to finding hidden wheat or gluten is readingcommonly used are barley, malt or rye
the labels, and when reading the labels, you havederivatives, and sometimes hydrolyzed plant
to know what you're looking for. There are a lotprotein is used - all contain gluten.
of ingredients that contain wheat or gluten thatStarches - Used as a thickener or binding agent.
you might never suspect.In the US, starch refers to corn. Other starches
Here is a list of some ingredients that must bemust be identified by plant type.
avoided:Dextrin - Another thickener, made from corn,
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein or Hydrolyzed Vegetabletapioca, rice, potato or wheat. If made from
Protein (HPP or HVP) - The problem here is thatwheat, it should be identified as such.
the plant source is not identified - it might beSpices - While individual spices don't contain gluten,
wheat. New laws require that the plant sourcespice mixtures may have wheat starch used as a
must be identified.binding agent. If so, it will be noted on the label.
Modified Food Starch - While there's noThese ingredients were once suspected of having
requirement for identifying the plant source, itgluten, but are now considered gluten free.
does need to specified if wheat starch is used.