What Is Wheat Allergy?
Wheat allergy is most often reported in young children and may affect up to 1% of children in the U.S. One study found that two-thirds of children with a wheat allergy outgrow it by age 12.1 However, some individuals remain allergic to wheat throughout their lives.
When a person with a wheat allergy is exposed to wheat, proteins in the wheat bind to specific IgE antibodies made by the person’s immune system. This binding triggers the person’s immune defenses, leading to reaction symptoms that can be mild or very severe.
Wheat allergy and celiac disease are both adverse food reactions, but their underlying causes are very different. Wheat allergy results from an adverse immunologic (IgE-mediated) reaction to proteins in wheat and reactions can cause typical allergy symptoms involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and anaphylaxis in some individuals.1
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Antibodies are produced in response to the presence of gluten resulting in inflammation and damage to the lining of the small intestine. Many symptoms involve the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, abdominal pain and bloating). Other symptoms can include skin rashes and disorders that result from nutrient deficiencies.
The estimated global prevalence of celiac disease is 1%, similar to wheat allergy.2
It’s important to work with your physician to determine an accurate diagnosis to prevent short- and long-term complications.
Allergic Reactions to Wheat
Symptoms of a wheat allergy reaction can range from mild, such as hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions can be unpredictable, and even very small amounts of wheat can cause one.
If you have a wheat allergy, keep an epinephrine delivery device with you at all times. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.
Avoiding Wheat
To prevent a reaction, it is very important that you avoid wheat and wheat-containing foods. Always read food labels and ask questions about ingredients before eating a food that you have not prepared yourself.
Wheat is the most common grain product in the United States. Patients with wheat allergy rarely are allergic to other common grains except in some cases, barley. You can still eat a wide variety of foods, but the grain source must be something other than wheat. Look for other grains such as amaranth, barley, corn, oat, quinoa, rice, rye, and tapioca.
A combination of wheat-free flours usually works best for baking. Experiment with different blends to find one that will give you the texture you desire.
Wheat is one of the nine major allergens that must be listed in plain language on packaged foods sold in the U.S., as required by federal law, either within the ingredient list or in a separate “Contains” statement on the package. This makes it easy to see if wheat is present in a food item.
Avoid foods that contain wheat or any of these ingredients:
- Bread crumbs
- Bulgur
- Cereal extract
- Club wheat
- Couscous
- Cracker meal
- Durum
- Einkorn
- Emmer
- Farina
- Farro
- Flour (all-purpose, bread, cake, durum, enriched, graham, high-gluten, high-protein, instant, pastry, self-rising, soft wheat, steel ground, stone ground, whole wheat)
- Freekeh
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Kamut®
- Matzoh, matzoh meal (also spelled as matzo, matzah or matza)
- Pasta
- Seitan
- Semolina
- Spelt
- Sprouted wheat
- Triticale
- Vital wheat gluten
- Wheat (bran, durum, germ, gluten, grass, malt, sprouts, starch)
- Wheat bran hydrolysate
- Wheat germ oil
- Wheat grass
- Wheat protein isolate
- Whole wheat berries
Buckwheat is not related to wheat and is considered safe to eat.
Wheat is sometimes found in the following:
- Glucose syrup
- Soy sauce
- Starch (gelatinized starch, modified starch, modified food starch, vegetable starch)
- Surimi
- Plant-based meat alternatives
Some Unexpected Sources of Wheat
- Baked goods
- Baking mixes
- Batter-fried foods
- Beer
- Breaded foods
- Breakfast cereals
- Candy
- Country-style wreaths are often decorated with wheat products
- Crackers
- Hot dogs
- Imitation crab meat
- Ice cream
- Marinara sauce
- Personal care items (e.g. cosmetics or hair products)
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Potato chips
- Processed meats
- Rice cakes
- Salad dressings
- Sauces
- Sausages
- Spices
- Soups
- Turkey patties
Allergens are not always present in these foods and products, but wheat can appear in surprising places. Again, read food labels—even if you wouldn’t usually expect to find wheat. Ask questions if you’re ever unsure about an item’s ingredients.
