Amaranth A healthy gluten-free plant similar to grains.

Buckwheat Despite the name, buckwheat is a fruit so it’s gluten free. It is no more likely to be contaminated than any grain, but it is sometimes mixed with wheat flour, so you can’t automatically assume all buckwheat products are gluten free. Always read the label. Buckwheat is nutritious and adds variety to the gluten-free diet.

Caramel color According to the FDA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), caramel color can be made from barley malt. But US companies use corn because it makes a better product.

Citric Acid This ingredient is gluten free.

Dextrin According to the CFR, dextrin can be made from corn, potato, arrowroot, rice, tapioca or wheat. Major dextrin-producing companies in the US say they use corn. However, imported dextrin could be made from wheat.

Flavors Flavors are tricky. It is often difficult to find out what is in a flavoring. But according to the Flavor Extract Manufacturers Association, gluten-containing grains are rarely used in flavoring except in meat products and products that contain meat.

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) or Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
These ingredients should not be confusing. Ten years ago the FDA said food processors had to identify the vegetable or plant by name. So, food labels might list “hydrolyzed wheat protein” (unsafe) or “hydrolyzed soy protein” (safe), for example.

Malt
Although there is a slight chance that “malt” is made from corn, it is almost always derived from barley so it contains gluten.  Malt extract, malt syrup and malt flour are made from barley. So is malt vinegar and it is not distilled, so it could contain gluten.

Oats
When wheat was identified as a cause of celiac disease, rye, barley and oats were also included on the list of toxic grains. But in recent years, several well respected research studies strongly suggest that oats do not belong on the list. However, growing conditions and the appearance of the grain make it very likely that oats are easily contaminated with wheat. Therefore US celiac experts have not yet approved oats for the gluten-free diet.

Oat gum
Oat gum is rarely used as an ingredient. But when it is, it should be gluten free. Gluten is a protein and oat gum is made from the carbohydrate portion of oats. Moreover, researchers now say oats are gluten free.

Quinoa
An ancient grain-like plant from South America that is gluten-free. It is no more likely to be contaminated with gluten than any other gluten-free plant. Quinoa is nutritious and adds variety to the gluten-free diet.

Spices and Seasonings
Pure spices are gluten free. Bottled spices often contain something to keep the spice free flowing. Usually it's silicon dioxide, which is gluten free. If a spice container does not have a list of ingredients on the label, the only thing it contains is the spice indicated.  Seasonings have not been defined by the FDA and therefore could contain anything. Sometimes the contents of a seasoning are included on the label in parenthesis.

Starch
On a food label, starch always indicates cornstarch. That’s the only certainty. Although usually made from corn, modified food starch can be made from wheat. In pharmaceuticals, both starch and modified food starch can be made from wheat.

Vanilla
Vanilla and vanilla extract are gluten free.

Vinegar
Distilled vinegar is gluten free and has always been gluten free. There is no evidence that suggests vinegar might be dangerous for those who follow the gluten-free diet. The only vinegar to avoid is malt vinegar, which is not distilled.

Wheat Starch
Wheat starch is wheat with the gluten washed out. A special grade of wheat starch is permitted on the gluten-free diet in some European countries, but it is not permitted here in the US. That’s because the washing process is rarely complete and wheat starch usually contains residual gluten.

Yeast
All brand-name packaged yeasts sold in the US are gluten free. Autolyzed yeast in a food product is generally considered gluten free. Brewers yeast, when it's a by-product of beer, is not considered gluten free. Brewers yeast nutritional supplements, however, can be made from either brewer’s yeast or sugar. If made from sugar, they are gluten free.