 |
Wheat AllergyAmong the top 8 food allergies, wheat allergy is more common in children than adults. Reactions to wheat can vary widely ranging anywhere from eczema to gastrointestinal symptoms to hives but rarely causes anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction.  Wheat allergy is often confused with celiac disease (spelled "coeliac" outside of the U.S.) which is an autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine reacts to the ingestion of gluten. People with a wheat allergy do not necessarily have to avoid gluten, like those with celiac disease, because wheat has other proteins that cause an allergic response. For more information about coping with celiac (coeliac) disease, visit The Gluten Free Chef. The main proteins in wheat that can cause allergic reactions are albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten with the most common culprits being albumin and globulin. People with a wheat allergy typically can have other grains that contain gluten such as oats, rye and barley. When my son was diagnosed with his food allergies, wheat seemed like the most difficult to manage. So many snacks that toddlers love contain wheat such as cereal, crackers and breads. It wasn't until I learned more that I realized wheat is found in many more foods than I had originally thought. From soups to lunch meats to condiments, wheat seems to be everywhere! Following are some resources to help you manage your wheat allergy. Click on the links below to skip to each topic. Foods Commonly Containing Wheat Ingredients To Avoid
Wheat is found in many food ingredients that you may not suspect. Some of the ingredients listed below may or may not be derived from wheat such as "modified food starch" and "natural flavoring". Modified food starch, which is found in many, many foods is often derived from wheat but can also come from corn. I have called many food companies to clarify this to determine if a food is "safe". With the new labeling laws in the U.S. the label should specify "wheat" but it doesn't hurt to double check just to be safe.Here is a list of ingredients to watch for on food labels (there may be more):
Back to the Top of the Wheat Allergy Page Foods Commonly Containing Wheat
This list is fairly long because wheat seems to be in everything! If you suspect a food might contain wheat or, if you are really sensitive, is produced near wheat contact the food manufacturer to be sure. Here is the list of foods to watch out for:
Return from Wheat Allergy page to Common Food Allergies
|
