Coeliac in Germany

The names gluten hides behind are the same in every country, so we keep them in one place: our hidden gluten ingredients list. This page covers what changes in Germany: the law behind “gluten-free”, what a “may contain” line means there, oats, labels, symbols, help with costs and the national coeliac association.

Germany at a glance

What does “glutenfrei” mean on a German label?

“Glutenfrei” may only be used when the food as sold contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg, under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, which applies directly in Germany and has applied since 20 July 2016.

“Sehr geringer Glutengehalt” (very low gluten) means up to 100 mg/kg, only for foods with specially processed cereal ingredients, so it is not gluten-free. A gluten-free label may be accompanied by “Geeignet für Menschen mit Zöliakie”, while “Speziell formuliert für Menschen mit Zöliakie” is reserved for specially made substitute foods.

Can I eat food that says “kann Spuren von Gluten enthalten” in Germany?

In Germany, as everywhere in the EU, a “kann Spuren von Gluten enthalten” line is voluntary and is not a rule for us: the ingredient list and a “glutenfrei” label (20 mg/kg or less) decide.

EU law makes allergen labelling mandatory only for allergens added on purpose, so a “kann Spuren von … enthalten” line is voluntary information. It must not mislead or be ambiguous, and harmonised EU rules for it were still pending in the Commission’s 2022 notice. Commission guidance, which is not binding, says such labelling should be used only where prevention cannot be applied effectively and the product may present a risk to allergic consumers, and never instead of preventive measures.

The Deutsche Zöliakie-Gesellschaft (DZG) gives the same starting point: check the ingredient list, where gluten or gluten-containing cereals must always be labelled.

Are oats gluten-free in Germany?

Oats in a food labelled “glutenfrei” must be specially produced to rule out contamination by wheat, rye or barley, and contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.

The German coeliac society (DZG) advises introducing uncontaminated oats no earlier than six months after diagnosis, once coeliac antibody levels have returned to normal, with medical support and an antibody check after about three months.

The DZG’s guidance for visitors lists commercially available oats as unsuitable, and asks kitchens to use polenta, flour, flakes such as oats, and semolina only when they are explicitly marked gluten-free.

How do German labels and menus show gluten?

Gluten-containing cereals are a mandatory allergen: Weizen (wheat, including Dinkel, which is spelt, and khorasan), Roggen (rye), Gerste (barley), Hafer (oats) and their hybrids, with narrow exceptions such as wheat-based glucose syrups.

The federal ministry confirms that allergen information is also mandatory for unpackaged food, for example at a serving counter or in a restaurant. Under German rules (LMIDV § 4) it may be on a sign, the menu, a notice or a written or electronic offer. Staff may tell you orally instead, but only if they are properly informed, a written or electronic record of the ingredients exists and you can see it on request, and a clearly visible notice says the information is given orally.

Which gluten-free symbols will I see in Germany?

Licensed gluten-free products in Germany carry the crossed grain symbol, licensed by the DZG, and the DZG’s own advice is to check the ingredients if you cannot find a licensed product.

For flour, semolina, flakes and meal, the DZG advises choosing only products with the DZG-licensed crossed grain, products specifically labelled gluten-free, or products in its database, and it flags a particularly high contamination risk for buckwheat.

Is there help with the cost of gluten-free food in Germany?

German income tax law excludes the extra cost of a special diet from deduction as an extraordinary burden (EStG § 33), so gluten-free food costs cannot be deducted under that rule.

Germany’s medical guidelines for assessing disability (Versorgungsmedizin-Verordnung) give coeliac disease without significant complications on a gluten-free diet a guideline value of GdB 20, with higher values only when the diet persistently does not work; the authority sets a GdB on application. With a recognised GdB of at least 20, the income-tax disability lump sum is 384 euros a year (EStG § 33b).

Who is Germany’s coeliac association?

The Deutsche Zöliakie-Gesellschaft (DZG, dzg-online.de) has a members’ map of restaurants, hotels, bakeries, shops and more with gluten-free options, and visitors can email the DZG their destinations to receive search results from it. It offers a “Bitte an die Küche” card for travellers in many languages.

Its product database, “Einkaufen mit Zöliakie”, is for members and subscribed professionals, is built from manufacturer statements gathered each year, and is valid only for products sold in Germany. Membership is 50 euros per calendar year.

Where can I eat gluten-free in Germany?

For places to eat, the HTGF Atlas has hand-picked gluten-free places in Germany, each with dated evidence. Travelling on? See coeliac in Austria, coeliac in Switzerland, where the rules differ, or the EU rules for Europe. All countries: coeliac rules for every country we cover.