Gluten, a mixture of proteins found in grains like wheat, rye, spelt, and barley, is popping up in some surprising places. We all know about the usual culprits of course, but there are many gluten-containing food items which people might not know about.
To help, here are five foods that you (probably) didn’t know contained gluten:
1. Miso
A delicious staple in Japanese cuisine, unfortunately, it is also made with fermented soybeans and grains, including wheat, barley, and rye.
2. French fries
While many restaurants believe that their fries are gluten-free, any deep-fried food item may be exposed to cross-contamination unless an exclusive gluten-free fryer is used. The temperature of the oil is generally not hot enough to denature the gluten proteins.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt in its purest form, is very much gluten-free, as it’s made with milk that is fermented with probiotic bacteria until it is thickened to the right consistency. However, many companies use thickeners which are derived from gluten sources.
4. Chocolate
Pure roasted cacao beans contain no gluten, but pure roasted cacao beans are as unsweetened as they are pure, which doesn’t appeal to most consumers. As a result, many brands use wheat or barley malt as sweetener.
5. Candy
Many candies contain traces of a variety of allergens. Barley, in particular, is a major ingredient in flavouring and sweetening candies.
This January, Canada’s largest gluten free event will be in Vancouver for one weekend only. Taking place January 16 and 17, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, join in the fun of discovering, sampling, and saving on hundreds of gluten free products, while learning from leading experts. For more details, for more information visit GlutenFreeExpo.ca.
Image: Gluten Free Expo
New this year is the Gluten Free Dining Festival – a restaurant focused extension of Vancouver’s Gluten Free Expo and city-wide celebration of food. These community dining events are an opportunity to discover Vancouver’s mouth-watering gluten-free menus for a tempting price. Joining this year are: Iki Japanese Bistro (yes, even their tempura is gluten free!), Smallflower Bakery and Sandwich Shop (100% gluten free menu & amazing fresh baked bread!), plus Zend Conscious Lounge. More details at: Glutenfreeexpo.ca/dining-festival/
HOT TIP: The Expo is giving away some free tickets and other prize packs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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