When your child has a food allergy, he or she must follow an allergen-free diet. This means your child can't have the food they are allergic to, or any products containing that food. The items that your child is allergic to are called allergens.
A wheat allergy is the immune system's abnormal response to the protein found in wheat. Wheat products are found in many foods. To stay away from foods that contain wheat, it is important to read food labels. Foods regulated by the FDA must follow the federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). This requires that food labels put wheat in the list of ingredients on products that contain any wheat. Some manufacturers voluntarily include statements such as "may contain wheat" or "may be made in a facility with wheat."
The lists below may not contain all food and personal care products that could contain wheat. But they can help guide your food decisions. It is up to you to carefully read all food labels.
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Allowed
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Not allowed
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Drinks
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Coffee, tea, fruit juices, decaffeinated coffee, carbonated drinks, all milks, cocoa
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Cereal drinks, coffee substitutes
Drinks made from wheat products: beer, ale, root beer
Instant chocolate drink mixes
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Breads & cereals
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Rye crackers, rice wafers
Pure corn, rice, arrowroot, barley, potato, or rye bread made without wheat flour or wheat products
Cornmeal, cornstarch, soybean flour, barley flour, oat flour, rice flour, potato starch, arrowroot flour
Oatmeal, cream of rice, puffed rice, or other cereals made from pure corn, oats, or rice, with no added wheat
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Whole wheat, enriched, or white bread, rolls, or bread crumbs
Graham or gluten bread
Donuts, sweet rolls, muffins, French toast, waffles, pancakes, dumplings, bread stuffing, rusk, popovers
Prepared mixes for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, breads, and rolls
Cornbread, potato, or soybean bread unless made without wheat flour or wheat products
Cereals made from farina, wheat, or those with wheat products or malt added
Pretzels, crackers
Semolina, spelt, or triticale
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Desserts
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Custards, Bavarian creams
Oatmeal, arrowroot, rice, or rye cookies made without wheat products
Cornstarch, tapioca, or rice puddings
Water or fruit ices, meringues
Gelatin
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Cakes, pastries, commercial frosting, icing, ice cream, sherbet, ice cream cones
Cookies, prepared mixes, or packaged pudding containing wheat flour
Graham crackers, donuts
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Eggs
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Eggs made any way without wheat products
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Souffles or creamed eggs made with wheat products
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Fats
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Butter, margarine, animal, or vegetable fats and oils, cream
Salad dressings or gravy made without wheat flour or products
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Any salad dressing or gravy thickened with wheat flour or products
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Fruit
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All fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits, and fruit juices
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Strained fruits with added cereals
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Meat, fish, poultry
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Baked, broiled, boiled, roasted, or fried: beef, veal, pork, ham, chicken, turkey, lamb, or fish
"All meat" hot dogs or lunch meats made without wheat flour fillers or wheat products
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All breaded or floured meats, meats containing filler, such as meatloaf, frankfurters, sausage, luncheon meats, bologna, or prepared meat patties
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Milk & milk products
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Milk, buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, some cottage cheese
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Malted milk, milk drinks containing powdered wheat cereal or products
Cottage cheese with modified starch or other wheat-containing ingredients
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Potatoes & substitutes
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White and sweet potatoes
Rice
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Scalloped potatoes
Noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pasta products prepared with wheat or semolina flour
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Soup
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Clear bouillon, consomme, or broth
Homemade soups made without wheat products
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Cream soups unless made without wheat flour
Soups with noodles, alphabets, dumplings, or spaghetti
Soup thickened with wheat flour
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Sweets
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Corn syrup, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, sugar
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Chocolates, chocolate candy containing malt, candy with cereal extract
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Vegetables
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All fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables, and vegetable juices
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Vegetables combined with wheat products
Breaded or floured vegetables
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Miscellaneous
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Salt, chili powder, condiments, flavoring extracts, herbs, nuts, olives, pickles, popcorn, peanut butter
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Malt products, Worcestershire sauce, gravies thickened with wheat flour
Monosodium glutamate (MSG), meat tenderizers containing MSG, prepared Asian food seasoned with MSG, soy sauce
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