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) and soy sauces explicitly labeled gluten-free, such as San-J Tamari, Kikkoman Gluten-Free, or coconut aminos.
When it's safe
- The label says "gluten-free" or the bottle is a certified gluten-free tamari
- The ingredients list water, soybeans, and salt — without wheat
- You're using coconut aminos (wheat-free and soy-free)
When to avoid it
- The ingredients list "wheat" (true of most Kikkoman regular, La Choy, and generic soy sauces)
- You're at a restaurant — assume soy-based sauces contain wheat unless confirmed otherwise
- The product is labeled "shoyu" without a gluten-free claim (shoyu traditionally contains wheat)
Not sure about a specific product?
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.
Download FreeFrequently asked questions
Is tamari gluten-free?
Tamari is traditionally made without wheat and is usually gluten-free, but not always — some modern tamari includes a small amount of wheat. Only buy bottles labeled gluten-free or certified by GFCO.
Is Kikkoman soy sauce gluten-free?
Regular Kikkoman contains wheat. Kikkoman sells a separate Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (green cap) and Gluten-Free Tamari that are safe — look for the explicit gluten-free label.
Is coconut aminos gluten-free?
Yes. Coconut aminos are made from coconut sap and salt, with no wheat, soy, or gluten. It's a common soy sauce substitute for celiacs.