Nutritious Cereal Grasses Without Gluten

by Vic Shayne, PhD

Once in a while we receive a call regarding the cereal grasses (alfalfa, wheat grass, barley, oats, etc) contained in some of our products. These plants are nutritious and contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, fiber and chlorophyll, to name a few important substances. People need to know if they contain gluten. This is a valid question. Our cereal grasses are harvested in the jointing stage, or when the plant is very young and just peeking out of the ground. At this point, the plant is not developed like full-grown wheat plants. So they have not developed gluten either. Here is a statement I found from a gluten expert that may be of some reassurance if gluten causes you difficulties:

“According to information from USDA research chemists, specializing in wheat gluten and cereal proteins and a statement from the American Association of Cereal Chemists, gluten is found only in the seed kernel (endosperm) and not in the stem and grass leaves. If the grass is cut from a growing plant and does not include the seed kernel, it should be safe for persons with gluten intolerance to use.” — Cynthia Kupper RD CD, 
Executive Director, Gluten Intolerance Group

This statement was made at the April 2004 meeting of the Celiac Support Group and was published by the University of Virginia Health System.