--- title: "Cereals containing gluten: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "Cereals containing gluten is the EU allergen group for wheat, rye, barley and oats, including spelt and khorasan. Labels must name the grain." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cereals-containing-gluten" --- # Cereals containing gluten Cereals containing gluten is the EU allergen group for wheat, rye, barley and oats, including spelt and khorasan. Labels must name the grain. Also called Gluten-containing cereals, Gluten cereals. Cereals containing gluten is the first of the [EU 14 allergens](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/eu-14-allergens). The group covers wheat (including spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats, their hybrids such as triticale, and products made from them. The UK uses the same list. On prepacked food the label must name the actual grain, such as "**wheat** flour" or "**barley**malt", and emphasize it, not just say "gluten". ## How to use it Read the ingredients list and look for the emphasized grain names. Then think about who you are cooking for: * Someone with [celiac disease](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/celiac-disease) needs to avoid all of these grains, and oats unless they are labeled gluten-free. * Someone with a [wheat allergy](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/wheat-allergy) needs to avoid wheat but may be able to eat rye, barley or oats. Their doctor decides that. A few ingredients made from these grains are processed so far that EU law exempts them from the allergen rules. They include wheat-based glucose syrups (dextrose included), wheat-based maltodextrins, barley-based glucose syrups, and grain used to make distilled spirits. ## Common mistakes * Treating "wheat-free" as "gluten-free". A wheat-free bread can still be made with rye or barley. * Forgetting the wheat family: spelt, durum, semolina, farro, einkorn, emmer, bulgur, couscous and freekeh are all wheat. * Reading a US label as if it followed EU rules. In the US only wheat is a major allergen. Rye, barley and oats are in the ingredients list but are not called out in the "Contains" statement. ## In recipes These grains turn up well beyond bread and pasta. Look out for them in: * Coatings and crumbs such as [panko](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/panko) and batter * Sauces thickened with a [roux](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/roux) or flour, including most gravy * [Soy sauce](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/soy-sauce), which is usually brewed with wheat * Malt vinegar, malt extract and beer, which come from barley * Seitan, which is almost pure wheat gluten * Stock cubes, spice mixes and sausages, which sometimes use wheat flour as a filler If you or someone you cook for must avoid gluten, read the label every time, because recipes change. A doctor or dietitian can explain exactly what to avoid. ## Recipes free from it 1949 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Roasted-Red-Pepper-Hummus-12.jpg)Roasted Red Pepper Hummuswww.skinnytaste.com · 10 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chick-pea-and-roasted-pepper-dip/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lazy-Deviled-Egg-Salad-8.jpg)Lazy Deviled Egg Salad Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 46 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/deviled-egg-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Arugula-Salad-3.jpg)Arugula Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/arugula-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/low-fat-tomato-vinaigrette.jpg)Red Wine Tomato Vinaigrettewww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-red-wine-tomato-vinaigrette/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lemon-Viniagrette-5.jpg)Lemon Vinaigrette Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/lemon-vinaigrette/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Old-Bay-Sheen-Pan-Shrimp-with-Corn-and-Tomatoes-5.jpg)Old Bay Sheet Pan Shrimp with Corn and Tomatoeswww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/sheet-pan-shrimp-with-corn-and-tomatoes/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Roasted-Chickpeas_09.jpg)Roasted Chickpeaswww.skinnytaste.com · 45 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-chickpea-snack-2-pts/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Insalata-Caprese-6.jpg)Caprese Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/caprese-salad/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Arroz-Con-Camarones-12.jpg)Shrimp and Rice (Arroz Con Camarones)www.skinnytaste.com · 45 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/shrimp-and-rice-arroz-con-camarones/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Green-Goddess-Dressing_05.jpg)Basil Green Goddess Dressingwww.skinnytaste.com · 5 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/basil-green-goddess-dressing/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bloody-Mary-Deviled-Eggs-4.jpg)Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 35 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/bloody-mary-deviled-eggs/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Roasted-Asparagus-1-4.jpg)Roasted Asparagus Recipewww.skinnytaste.com · 15 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-asparagus-0-pts/) ## Related terms * [EU 14 allergensThe EU 14 allergens are the foods that EU and UK law says must be emphasized on food labels and declared by restaurants, from gluten to lupin.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/eu-14-allergens) * [GlutenGluten is the stretchy protein network that forms when wheat flour meets water. It gives bread its chew and structure, and too much makes cakes tough.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gluten) * [Celiac diseaseCeliac disease (coeliac disease in the UK) is an autoimmune condition in which gluten damages the gut. Cooking for it means no wheat, rye or barley.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/celiac-disease) * [Wheat allergyA wheat allergy is an immune reaction to proteins in wheat. It is not celiac disease, and some foods labeled gluten-free can still contain wheat.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/wheat-allergy) * [Gluten-freeGluten-free on a label means under 20 parts per million of gluten in the EU, UK and US. Here is what that covers and how to cook gluten-free at home.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gluten-free) * [US major allergensThe US major food allergens are nine foods that must be named on US labels, from milk, eggs and peanuts to wheat, soy and, since 2023, sesame.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/us-major-allergens) [More in diets and allergens](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/diets-and-allergens)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)