Gluten – free food is being constantly scrutinized and inspected. What seems gluten free can suddenly contain gluten after further investigation? There are some very common foods with gluten that patients are already aware of, such as barley, wheat, oats, bagels, crackers, beer, pasta, muffins, etc… However, sometimes gluten ingredients are hidden and this happens when brands change their suppliers or adjust recipes. Common foods with gluten can easily be avoided because they are well known, but what about hidden food containing gluten? Below are the 10 curious gluten foods to avoid:
1. Food which is deemed unsafe can be ‘safe’ flour, such as potato or bean flour, but because of contamination, the factory it is made in might have had traces of other wheat or rye grains on the production table to prevent food from sticking. Sometimes it’s best to verify by checking that the facility is only working on gluten- free foods.
2. Deli meats such as salami, sausage and bologna may also contain gluten so don’t be surprised if the hidden gluten in your hot dog suddenly becomes one of the main causes of stomach bloating after a late night out!
3. Some tomato pastes are actually one of the most surprising yet pretty common foods with gluten. Some yeast products are also known to grow on wheat flour.
4. Mustard actually has some wheat in it as well, but the label sometimes fails to mention this.
5. Blowing gum bubbles may be fun but not be so safe after all! Chewing gum may not contain flour, but can be dusted with it during the final process of manufacturing.
6. Ice cream is another food containing gluten; wheat is added to prevent crystallization.
7. Abbreviated gluten: MSG (monosodium glutamate), HVP (hydrogenated vegetable protein), HPP (hydrolyzed plant protein), and TVP (textured vegetable protein).
8. Pringles potato chips began adding wheat starch to its products.
9. Stabilizers, binders, and vegetable gums are all related to gluten. Some of the ingredients on labels are also disguising gluten with terms such as malt, graham, kamut.
10. Duncan Hines Vanilla Frosting adds gluten to its ingredients as well.
Both common foods with gluten and hidden gluten ingredients are a trigger to gluten intolerance and celiac disease and their numerous gluten side effects: weight loss, bad bowel movement, fatigue, ankle swelling, and more. If progressed, there may be damage to the stomach lining, migraines, and stomach tumors.
Common gluten-containing foods are usually labelled and are much easier to recognize than their hidden counterparts. It is best to be very skeptical and scrutinize labels, especially if one suffers from celiac disease, but even those who are gluten intolerant should be ingredient- savvy and do the research for the sake of their own and their family’s health.
