Gluten-free milk is safe for those with celiac disease. Cow’s milk is gluten-free in its natural state, but some dairy products may contain gluten-based additives. Non-dairy milk made from soy, nut, or rice is an alternative. Consumers should check labels and ingredients for gluten-containing additives.
Gluten-free milk is part of a gluten-free diet recommended for people with celiac disease. A protein found in some grains, gluten cannot be fully processed by some people’s digestive systems. This causes an immune system reaction and possible damage to the small intestine. Milk of animal origin does not contain gluten, therefore all cow’s milk is gluten-free as long as it is in its natural state. Consumers should be cautious as some gluten-free dairy products are combined with thickeners and additives that contain gluten.
Cows, goats and sheep naturally produce gluten-free milk. Only when additives derived from gluten-containing grains are included in dairy products, do they cause a reaction in people intolerant to gluten. Dairy products that have malt flavors, vegetable gum, or hydrolyzed plant proteins may contain gluten if these additives are made from wheat or other grains with gluten. Chocolate milk and other flavored milk drinks, some yogurt and sour cream may contain gluten. Homemade chocolate milk, using pure cocoa powder and milk, is gluten-free.
Gluten-free dairy products do not contain grain-based additives. Whole milk, skim milk, and low-fat milk are all gluten-free. Plain yogurt is also gluten-free. The flavourings, thickeners and other additives in flavored yogurt products may contain gluten. Most cheeses are also gluten-free, including natural cheeses like Swiss and Cheddar, as well as some processed cheese foods.
Some people are both gluten intolerant and sensitive to dairy products. Nondairy types of milk made from soy, nut, or rice are an alternative to animal-based dairy products. Cereals that contain the protein gluten include wheat and its varieties such as spelled and durum wheat, rye and barley. Other members of the cereal and nut families are gluten-free and safe for coeliacs. Rice does not contain gluten, so rice milk is a gluten-free milk as long as it is free from wheat-based thickeners.
Other non-dairy products that fit into a gluten-free lifestyle are made with soybeans or almonds. Unflavored and unhardened varieties of gluten-free milk made with soy, rice, or almonds will not cause gluten or milk intolerance reactions. Some varieties of flavored and thickened nondairy milks are specifically made gluten-free and labeled gluten-free. There are many resources available to help people with celiac disease learn about gluten-free food choices.
Some labels indicate whether a dairy or non-dairy product is gluten-free. If the label doesn’t say this, the ingredients may be tested for substances that may contain gluten. Additives that are sometimes made from wheat and other gluten-containing grains include plant proteins, vegetable gum, and modified food starch. These are in addition to the already mentioned additives that could be made from wheat and other grains with gluten.
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