Is molasses gluten-free? Yes

Yes. Molasses is gluten-free. It’s the dark syrup left over from refining sugar cane or sugar beet. In the UK, black treacle is very similar.

What to check

• Gingerbread, parkin and baked beans often use molasses; the flour, oats or sauce around it are the things to check.
• Barley malt syrup is a different product and contains gluten. A label that just says “malt syrup” usually means barley.

Keep reading

• Is sugar gluten-free?
• Is malt extract gluten-free?
• Is maple syrup gluten-free?

Sources: EU Regulation 1169/2011 (Annex II: cereals containing gluten), Coeliac UK, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less). Checked 28 September 2026. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.