Gluten on the other hand is an elastic protein that is found in wheat. Gluten is formed when moisture is added to flour. Gluten is commonly found in wheat, rye, barley and some oats.
Let’s clear up the main difference between wheat and gluten right away: gluten is a protein found in many grains, including wheat, while wheat is simply a grain that contains gluten. A gluten-free diet will be free from wheat and all grains and processed foods that contain gluten, but a wheat-free diet will not necessarily be free of gluten.
A bread recipe specifically calls for ‘Vital Wheat Gluten.’ My neighborhood mill only has ‘Wheat Gluten’. They could not tell me if there is a difference. Editor: Yes, the two names are used interchangeably.
A gluten-free diet will be free from wheat and all grains and processed foods that contain gluten, but a wheat free diet will not necessarily be free of gluten. A gluten sensitivity is different than a true gluten allergy, also known as celiac disease (2)(3).
Does all wheat have gluten in it?
ALL wheat has gluten in it. Because gluten is in all wheat products, anyone with digestive problems related to gluten should also avoid wheat products.
Another thing we wondered was is wheat starch gluten-free?
In fact, in many cases foods labeled as “wheat-free” contain some gluten. It’s also possible for foods that are labeled “gluten-free” to contain wheat-based ingredients, such as wheat starch. Gluten is found in wheat, and many people think of “gluten” as coming only from wheat.
This of course begs the query “Is there gluten in all foods labeled gluten-free?”
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In fact, in many cases foods labeled as “wheat-free” contain some gluten. It’s also possible for foods that are labeled ” gluten-free” to contain wheat-based ingredients, such as wheat starch. Gluten is found in wheat, and many people think of “gluten” as coming only from wheat.
Is wheat allergy the same as gluten intolerance?
Wheat allergy is not the same thing as gluten intolerance. A wheat allergy is characterized by a heightened immune response to one or more of the proteins in wheat. Just as people have allergies to seafood or peanuts, to name a few, you can be allergic to the proteins in wheat.