"Gluten-free" and "celiac-safe" are not the same. Gluten-free describes ingredients; celiac-safe describes whether a food is actually safe for someone with celiac disease. Here's the difference, why it matters, and how to tell them apart.
Blue corn is just as gluten-free as yellow corn — the color doesn't change the grain. But cross-contact and mixed-grain recipes still matter for celiac safety.
Calidad tortilla chips are labeled gluten-free and made from simple corn ingredients, but they aren't certified. Here's what that means for celiac safety.
Cazo de Oro tortilla chips are corn-based, but gluten-free status is flavor-dependent and the brand isn't certified. Which varieties to trust and which to skip for celiac.
Chi-Chi's makes a specifically gluten-free white corn tortilla shell, but also sells wheat flour tortillas. Which Chi-Chi's products are safe for celiac and which aren't.
The chips at Mexican restaurants are usually corn — but shared fryers, flour tortillas, and busy kitchens make them rarely celiac-safe. How to eat out safely.
Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, but shared griddles, dusting flour, and mixed production lines create real risks for celiacs. Learn which brands are certified safe and how to order safely.
Do corn flakes contain gluten? Kellogg's Corn Flakes contain barley malt flavoring and are NOT gluten-free. Learn why corn cereal hides gluten and which certified brands are celiac-safe.
No — Pringles contain wheat starch and are NOT gluten-free in any flavor. Learn why a potato chip contains wheat and which chip brands are safe for celiac disease.
No — Kellogg's Rice Krispies contain barley malt syrup and are NOT gluten-free. The GF brown rice version was discontinued in the US. Safe alternatives inside.
No — Twizzlers are made with wheat flour and are NOT gluten-free. Neither is most licorice. Learn why candy hides wheat and which sweets are safe for celiacs.
No — couscous IS wheat. It's made from semolina, the same flour as pasta, and is never safe for celiac disease. Learn safe swaps: quinoa, millet, and GF couscous.
Usually NOT — most imitation crab (surimi) uses wheat starch as a binder, making California rolls risky for celiacs. Learn the rare GF brands and sushi safety.
Nacho Cheese Doritos have no gluten ingredients, but Frito-Lay won't certify them and warns of cross-contact. Other flavors may contain wheat. Read each bag.
Plain potatoes are gluten-free, but most restaurant fries are NOT safe for celiac disease due to shared fryers, coatings, and seasonings. Learn which fries are safe and how to order.
Most corn tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free, but shared fryers and flour contamination are serious risks. Learn which brands are certified safe and why restaurant chips are rarely safe for celiac.
Chick-fil-A is not safe for people with celiac disease. They offer a GFCO-certified bun and a dedicated waffle-fry fryer, but the kitchen is shared and cross-contact is unavoidable.
Chipotle is not safe for people with celiac disease. The open assembly line shares utensils and gloves with flour tortillas at every order, so cross-contact is unavoidable.
Dunkin' is not safe for people with celiac disease. The entire shop is a bakery — flour and donut handling contaminate the environment, and there are no safe food items.
Olive Garden is not safe for people with celiac disease. Period. A 'gluten-sensitive menu' in a bakery-style Italian kitchen cannot be made celiac-safe.
Panera Bread is not safe for people with celiac disease. The name says it all — this is a bakery-cafe built around wheat bread, with flour-saturated prep surfaces.
Starbucks isn't a celiac-safe environment, but plain coffee and espresso are low-risk. Here's what you can safely order—and the drinks and food to avoid.
Cheerios are not celiac-safe. General Mills uses mechanical sorting, not the purity protocol, and major celiac organizations (CDF, Beyond Celiac, GIG) recommend against them. Choose certified purity-protocol oats instead.
Does bacon contain gluten? Plain bacon is naturally gluten-free, but flavored types, curing agents, and cross-contact can hide gluten. See which bacon brands are celiac-safe and what to check on the label.
Traditional beer is NOT gluten-free and is never safe for celiac disease. Learn about gluten-removed vs. dedicated gluten-free beers, which brands to trust, and why 'low gluten' claims can be dangerous.
Plain butter is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. However, flavored butters, butter substitutes, and cross-contact can introduce gluten. Learn which butter brands are safe and what to watch for.
Plain cream cheese is naturally gluten-free, but flavored varieties and some brands may contain gluten additives. Learn which cream cheese brands are safe for celiac disease and what to watch for on labels.
Gin is distilled from grain. The celiac-safe default is naturally-GF spirits or grape/potato/corn-based gins like G'Vine, Cold River, or Ungava.
Plain hummus is naturally gluten-free, but some flavored varieties and restaurant preparations may contain hidden gluten. Learn which hummus brands are safe for celiac disease and what to watch for.
Most ketchup is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. Learn which brands are verified safe, what ingredients to watch for, and why malt vinegar is the hidden risk in some varieties.
Most mayonnaise is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. Learn which brands are verified safe, what to watch for in flavored varieties, and how to avoid hidden gluten in mayo-based foods.
Most mustard is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. Learn which varieties are safe, why some specialty mustards contain gluten, and what to watch for on labels.
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but most oatmeal is contaminated with wheat during farming and processing. Learn which certified brands are safe for celiac disease and how to choose oats that won't trigger a reaction.
Most peanut butter is naturally gluten-free, but some brands add gluten-containing ingredients or have cross-contact risks. Learn which peanut butter brands are certified safe for celiac disease.
Plain popcorn is naturally gluten-free, but movie theater popcorn, flavored varieties, and some microwave brands may contain hidden gluten. Learn which popcorn products are safe for celiac disease.
Yes, plain rice is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. However, flavored rice, rice mixes, and restaurant rice dishes often contain hidden gluten. Learn what to watch for.
Most salsa is naturally gluten-free and safe for celiac disease. Learn which salsas are safe, what hidden ingredients to watch for, and how to navigate salsa safely at restaurants.
No, traditional sourdough bread is NOT gluten-free and is NOT safe for celiac disease. Fermentation does not remove gluten. Learn why sourdough myths persist and find certified GF alternatives.
Most soy sauce contains wheat and is NOT safe for celiac disease. Learn which brands are certified gluten-free, how to read labels, and safe alternatives for cooking and dining out.
Tequila is naturally gluten-free and one of the safest spirits for celiac disease. Learn why 100% agave tequila is safe, what to watch for in mixtos, and which brands to trust.
Distilled vodka is theoretically gluten-free, but many celiac patients react to grain-based vodkas. Celiac-safe default: vodka made from potatoes, grapes, or corn.
Whiskey is made from gluten-containing grains. Distillation removes gluten in theory, but reactions are documented. Celiac-safe default: naturally-GF spirits like tequila, rum, or potato vodka.
Pure wine is celiac-safe. Learn about the actual risks: wine coolers, flavored wines, and rare barrel-aging concerns.
Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains malt vinegar (from barley) and is NOT gluten-free. Learn which brands are safe for celiac disease and how to find certified alternatives.
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