Can I eat oats on a gluten free diet?

Whether you can eat oats on a gluten free diet can be confusing and is one of the most frequently asked questions…

Oats naturally don’t contain gluten. They contain avenin, which is a similar protein to gluten which most people with Coeliac Disease can tolerate.

Why are oats labelled gluten free?

Oats are frequently harvested alongside wheat, rye and barley which means that there is a significant risk of cross-contamination. Oats labelled gluten free have been harvested and prepared to avoid cross-contamination and can only be labelled gluten free if they test at less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.

Oats are high in soluble fibre which can maintain a healthy gut, and contain B vitamins

The latest research suggest oats can be introduced to a gluten free diet at any stage. Only a small percentage of people with coeliac disease have an immune response to avenin.

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