Is it gluten-free?

Quick, sourced answers to the most common "is X gluten-free" questions. Each page gives a definitive verdict, the caveats that matter, and the exact label phrasing to look for. Scan any product with GF Scanner to verify in seconds.

It depends

Are oats gluten-free?

Oats are naturally gluten-free, but standard oats are almost always cross-contaminated with wheat during growing, harvesting, and milling. O…

No, contains gluten

Is soy sauce gluten-free?

Most traditional soy sauce contains wheat as a primary ingredient and is not gluten-free. Safe alternatives are tamari (usually wheat-free)…

It depends

Is tamari gluten-free?

Tamari is usually gluten-free — it's traditionally brewed from soybeans without wheat, unlike regular soy sauce. But "usually" isn't "always…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is maltodextrin gluten-free?

Maltodextrin is gluten-free despite its name. In the United States it's almost always made from corn, rice, or potato, and even when derived…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is dextrin gluten-free?

Dextrin is usually gluten-free. It's most often made from corn, tapioca, or potato, and while wheat-derived dextrin does exist, US FALCPA ru…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is modified food starch gluten-free?

Modified food starch is usually gluten-free. In the US, it's most often made from corn, and if wheat is used, FALCPA requires "wheat" to app…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is cornstarch gluten-free?

Cornstarch is gluten-free. It's made from the endosperm of corn kernels and contains no gluten proteins. Major brands (Argo, Clabber Girl, B…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Are natural flavors gluten-free?

Natural flavors are usually gluten-free. Under US FALCPA, any wheat used in natural flavors must be disclosed on the label. Barley and rye a…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is caramel color gluten-free?

Caramel color is gluten-free. In the US and Europe it's almost always made from corn, cane sugar, or beet sugar — not wheat or barley. Even…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is citric acid gluten-free?

Citric acid is gluten-free. Despite the name suggesting citrus fruit, commercial citric acid is produced by fermenting the mold Aspergillus…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is MSG gluten-free?

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is gluten-free. Commercial MSG is produced by fermenting sugar from corn, sugar beet, or sugar cane — never from…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is xanthan gum gluten-free?

Xanthan gum is gluten-free. It's produced by fermenting sugar (usually from corn, soy, or dairy) with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.…

It depends

Is yeast gluten-free?

Yeast is usually gluten-free — but the source matters. Baker's yeast, active dry yeast, instant yeast, and nutritional yeast are all gluten-…

No, contains gluten

Is malt vinegar gluten-free?

Malt vinegar is not gluten-free. It's brewed from barley malt and retains detectable gluten, which is why Celiac Disease Foundation and Beyo…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is distilled vinegar gluten-free?

Distilled vinegar is gluten-free — even when made from wheat or barley. The distillation process removes gluten proteins below the FDA's 20…

No, contains gluten

Is beer gluten-free?

Most beer is brewed from barley malt and contains gluten — unsafe for celiacs. Gluten-free beers made from sorghum, rice, millet, or buckwhe…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is vanilla extract gluten-free?

Vanilla extract is gluten-free. It's made from vanilla beans steeped in distilled alcohol, and distillation removes any gluten from the alco…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is chocolate gluten-free?

Pure chocolate is naturally gluten-free — cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk contain no gluten. The risk is in what's added: barley malt f…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is corn gluten-free?

Corn is naturally gluten-free. Plain corn, cornmeal, corn flour, popcorn, and hominy contain no gluten proteins. The main risks are flavored…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is rice gluten-free?

All pure rice is naturally gluten-free — white, brown, jasmine, basmati, arborio, wild rice, and sticky rice. The main risks are flavored ri…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is quinoa gluten-free?

Quinoa is naturally gluten-free. It's a pseudo-grain (actually a seed) from a plant unrelated to wheat, barley, or rye. The main risk is cro…

Yes, usually gluten-free

Is buckwheat gluten-free?

Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free despite the "wheat" in its name. It's actually a pseudo-grain related to rhubarb and sorrel, not wheat. P…

No, contains gluten

Is couscous gluten-free?

Couscous is not gluten-free. Despite looking like a tiny grain, traditional couscous is actually small pasta balls rolled from semolina whea…

No, contains gluten

Is spelt gluten-free?

Spelt is not gluten-free. It's an ancient wheat variety (Triticum spelta) that contains the same gluten proteins as modern wheat, including…

No, contains gluten

Is seitan gluten-free?

Seitan is not gluten-free. It's made from vital wheat gluten — the wheat protein that celiacs must avoid — and is effectively pure gluten sh…

Scan any product for an instant answer

GF Scanner is an iOS app that scans barcodes and ingredient labels to detect gluten in seconds. It's free to download, includes 1 free barcode scan and forever-free offline ingredient-label text scanning, and offers a free trial for Pro barcode scanning and AI analysis. It works on packaged foods worldwide and supports 33 languages.

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