Is cheese gluten-free? Almost always, here’s what to check

Almost always, yes. Natural cheese is made from milk, cultures, salt and rennet, and contains no gluten: cheddar, mozzarella, feta, parmesan, brie and the rest.

What to check

• Grated and shredded cheese: anti-caking agents are usually potato starch or cellulose, but check the ingredient list for wheat.
• Processed cheese, cheese spreads and cheese sauces: can contain wheat flour, starch or beer.
• Beer-washed and ale-soaked cheeses: the rind can carry gluten from the beer.
• Blue cheese: read the ingredient list; if wheat or barley were used, they have to be declared.
• Breaded or fried cheese (halloumi fries, mozzarella sticks, saganaki): the coating and the fryer.

Eating out

A cheese board is usually easy: ask for it without the crackers touching the cheese, and use a clean knife. Fondue and cheese sauces are often thickened with flour or made with beer, so ask.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Shared fryers and gluten
• Label Lab: check an ingredient list
• Is chocolate gluten-free?

Sources: Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less), EU Regulation 828/2014, Coeliac UK, NHS. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.