Conditions & Treatments
- A to Z Guide

Wheat allergy

Disease Information

In-Depth

Which foods contain wheat?

Wheat products are found in many foods. In order to avoid foods that contain wheat, it is important to read food labels.

Which ingredients must a wheat-allergic person watch out for?

Avoid foods with any of the following ingredients:

Bread crumbs
Bran
Cereal extract
Couscous
Cracker meal
Enriched flour
Farina
Gluten
Graham flour
High gluten flour
High protein flour
Spelt
Vital gluten
Wheat bran
Wheat germ
Wheat gluten
Wheat malt
Wheat starch
Whole wheat flour

Other ingredients that may indicate the presence of wheat protein include:

Gelatinized starch
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Kamut
Modified food starch
Modified starch
Natural flavoring
Soy sauce
Starch
Vegetable gum
Vegetable starch

When cooking at home, what can be substituted in place of wheat flour?

One cup of wheat flour equals:

1 cup rye meal
1 - 1 1/4 cups rye flour
1 cup potato flour
1 1/3 cups rolled oats or oat flour
1/2 cup potato four plus 1/2 cup rye flour
5/8 cup potato starch
5/8 cup rice flour plus 1/3 cup rye flour

The following table gives guidelines about which foods are generally safe, and which should be avoided.

Foods	Allowed	Not Allowed
Beverages	Coffee, tea, fruit juices, decaffeinated coffee, carbonated beverages, all milks, cocoa	Cereal beverages, coffee substitutes Beverages made from wheat products: beer, ale, root beer Instant chocolate drink mixes
Breads & Cereals	Ry-Krisp, rice wafers Pure corn, rice, arrowroot, barley, potato, or rye bread made without wheat flour or wheat products Cornmeal, cornstarch, soybean flour, barley flour, oat flour, rice flour, potato starch, arrowroot flour Oatmeal cream of rice, puffed rice, or other cereals made from pure corn, oats, or rice to which no wheat has been added	Whole wheat, enriched, or white bread, rolls or bread crumbs Graham or gluten bread Donuts, sweet rolls, muffins, french toast, waffles, pancakes, dumplings, bread stuffing, rusk, popovers Prepared mixes for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, breads, and rolls Cornbread, potato, or soybean bread, unless made without wheat flour or wheat products Cereals made from farina, wheat, or those with wheat products or malt added Pretzels, crackers Semolina, spelt, or triticale
Desserts	Custards, Bavarian creams Oatmeal, arrowroot, rice, or rye cookies made without wheat products Cornstarch, tapioca, or rice puddings Water or fruit ices, meringues Gelatin	Cakes, pastries, commercial frosting, icing, ice cream, sherbet, ice cream cones Cookies, prepared mixes, or packaged pudding containing wheat flour Graham crackers, donuts
Eggs	Eggs prepared any way without wheat products	Soufflés or creamed eggs made with wheat products
Fats	Butter, margarine, animal, or vegetable fats and oils, cream Salad dressings or gravy prepared without wheat flour or products	Any salad dressing thickened or gravy with wheat flour or products
Fruit	All fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits and fruit juices	Strained fruits with added cereals
Meat, Fish, Poultry	Baked, broiled, boiled, roasted or fried: beef, veal, pork, ham, chicken, turkey, lamb, or fish "All meat" wieners or luncheon meats prepared without wheat flour fillers or wheat products	All breaded or floured meats, meats containing filler such as meatloaf, frankfurters, sausage, luncheon meats, bologna, or prepared meat patties
Milk & Milk Products	Milk, buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, some cottage cheese	Malted milk, milk drink containing powdered wheat cereal or products Cottage cheese with modified starch or other wheat containing ingredients
Potatoes & Substitutes	White and sweet potatoes Rice	Scalloped potatoes Noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pasta products prepared with wheat or semolina flour
Soup	Clear bouillon, consommï¿½, or broth Homemade soups made without wheat products	Cream soups unless made without wheat flour Soups with noodles, alphabets, dumplings, or spaghetti Soy sauce, tamari sauce, granola, or breakfast bars made with soy Soup thickened with wheat flour
Sweets	Corn syrup, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, sugar	Chocolates, chocolate candy containing malt, candy with cereal extract
Vegetables	All fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables, and vegetable juices	Vegetables combined with wheat products Breaded or floured vegetables
Other	Salt, chili powder, condiments, flavoring extracts, herbs, nuts, olives, pickles, popcorn, peanut butter	Malt products, Worcestershire sauce, gravies thickened with wheat flour Monosodium glutamate (MSG), meat tenderizers containing MSG, prepared oriental food seasoned with MSG, Soy Sauce