Gluten-free at the supermarket in Italy: chains, own brands and what to read on the pack
Gluten-free shopping in Italy works in almost every big supermarket chain, because most of them sell their own gluten-free line: Esselunga (Equilibrio Senza Glutine), Coop (Bene.Sì), Conad (Alimentum Senza Glutine), Carrefour (Carrefour No Gluten), Eurospin (Amo Essere Senza Glutine) and Pam Panorama (Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine). On 14 October 2026 we read 53 products labelled senza glutine on 7 chains' own websites, including the drugstore chain dm, from pasta and bread to crackers and biscuits. On the pack, look for the words senza glutine or the Spiga Barrata (crossed-grain) symbol, then read the ingredients (ingredienti), where frumento (wheat), farro (spelt), orzo (barley), segale (rye) and avena (oats) must be highlighted.
How we checked this page: on 14 October 2026 we read each chain’s own website: its gluten-free line page and, for every product named here, its product page, where we looked for the words senza glutine. Where a site needs a full browser we read it in one. We also read the EU labelling rules on EUR-Lex, the Italian Coeliac Association’s (AIC) pages on the Spiga Barrata and the Prontuario, and the Ministry of Health’s register. This page is about sealed, labelled packs only. Ranges change and differ from branch to branch, so the pack in your hand has the last word. Last checked 14 October 2026.
On this page:
- Which supermarkets in Italy sell their own gluten-free line?
- What gluten-free food does Esselunga sell?
- What is in Coop's gluten-free range, Bene.Sì?
- What is in Conad's gluten-free range, Alimentum?
- What gluten-free food does Carrefour sell in Italy?
- Does Eurospin sell gluten-free food?
- What gluten-free food does Pam Panorama sell?
- Does dm sell gluten-free food in Italy?
- Which chains name a gluten-free range but list no products online?
- Which chains showed no gluten-free line online?
- What do the Spiga Barrata, the Prontuario and the Registro mean?
- How do you read an Italian label in two minutes?
- Where do you find a branch near you?
- Who can help you in Italy?
- Gluten-free supermarkets in Italy: your questions
Which supermarkets in Italy sell their own gluten-free line?
The 10 chains below show gluten-free products or a gluten-free range on their own websites (read 14 October 2026). The table shows what each one calls its line, in its own words, and whether we could find named products online.
| Chain | Its gluten-free line or brand | What we found online | Branches on the HTGF Atlas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esselunga | Equilibrio Senza Glutine | 8 products named below | Yes, Shops tab |
| Coop | Bene.Sì (alimenti celiaci) | 7 products named below | Use the chain's store finder |
| Conad | Alimentum Senza Glutine | 8 products named below | Yes, Shops tab |
| Carrefour Italia | Carrefour No Gluten | 7 products named below | Yes, Shops tab |
| Eurospin | Amo Essere Senza Glutine | 8 products named below | Yes, Shops tab |
| Pam Panorama | Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine | 7 products named below | Use the chain's store finder |
| dm drogerie markt Italia | dmBio (products labelled senza glutine) | 8 products named below | Yes, Shops tab |
| Despar (Despar, Eurospar, Interspar) | Despar Free From | a line page, no product list | Yes, Shops tab |
| Lidl Italia | no line name (Realforno, "also gluten-free") | one line on a brand page | Yes, Shops tab |
| Crai | no line (own brand in AIC's Prontuario) | a poster of products in AIC's list | Use the chain's store finder |
In short: at most Italian supermarkets the gluten-free packs carry the line name and the words senza glutine together, and several lines (Equilibrio, Bene.Sì, Alimentum, Semplici e Buoni) also hold lactose-free or other products, so the words senza glutine are what you look for.
What gluten-free food does Esselunga sell?
Esselunga says on its own site: "La linea Esselunga Equilibrio Senza Glutine offre prodotti per soddisfare le esigenze di celiaci e intolleranti" (the Esselunga Equilibrio Senza Glutine line offers products for the needs of coeliacs and people with an intolerance). Equilibrio is a wider wellbeing brand with lactose-free and other products too, so look for senza glutine in the name. These 8 Equilibrio products showed senza glutine on their Esselunga Spesa Online pages on 14 October 2026; 7 of them also list the Crossed Grain Symbol with an Italian licence code (IT-…):
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Esselunga Equilibrio Spaghetti senza glutine 500 g | spaghetti (corn and rice) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-020 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Penne rigate senza glutine 500 g | penne (corn and rice) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-019 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Piadina senza glutine 3 piadine 225 g | piadina flatbreads | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-022 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Crackers senza glutine 6 x 40 g | rice and corn crackers | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-011 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Mini grissini senza glutine 2 x 62,5 g | mini breadsticks | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-021 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Well flakes fiocchi di riso e mais senza glutine 300 g | rice and corn breakfast flakes | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-017 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Biscotti ai cereali senza glutine 250 g | biscuits (corn, rice, buckwheat, millet) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name; Crossed Grain Symbol IT-211-014 |
| Esselunga Equilibrio Fiocchi di avena 300 g (Contains oats labelled gluten-free.) | oat flakes | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
Source: Esselunga's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
One reason the name matters: Esselunga also sells Equilibrio Well flakes made with frumento integrale and orzo (wholewheat and barley), which carry no gluten-free claim.
What is in Coop's gluten-free range, Bene.Sì?
Coop's gluten-free products sit in its Bene.Sì line, under the category alimenti celiaci (foods for coeliacs) on coop.it. Informatore, the magazine of Unicoop Firenze (one of the Coop cooperatives), wrote on 9 October 2024: "Sono saliti a ben 60 i prodotti senza glutine a marchio Bene.sì" (there are now 60 gluten-free Bene.sì products). Bene.Sì is a wider wellbeing line, so read the pack. Seven of them, each with "prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine" on its coop.it page on 14 October 2026:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Coop Bene.Sì Penne rigate mais e riso senza glutine 400 g | penne (corn and rice) | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Fusilli mais e riso senza glutine 400 g | fusilli (corn and rice) | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Pane casereccio senza glutine 230 g | sliced country-style bread | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Piadina con olio extra vergine di oliva sfoglia sottile senza glutine 2 x 100 g | thin piadina flatbreads | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Mini grissini con grano saraceno e olio extra vergine di oliva senza glutine 150 g | mini breadsticks with buckwheat | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Taralli con olio extra vergine di oliva senza glutine 5 x 35 g | taralli (crunchy savoury rings) | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Coop Bene.Sì Plum cake al cacao con yogurt ripieno alla crema nocciola senza glutine 6 x 45 g | filled cocoa snack cakes | prodotto senza glutine specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
Source: Coop's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
Coop’s site doesn’t show the whole range on one page, so in the store the Bene.Sì name plus the words senza glutine is what to look for.
What is in Conad's gluten-free range, Alimentum?
Conad says: "Conad Alimentum è il tuo alleato quotidiano, una linea che raccoglie prodotti Senza Glutine" (Conad Alimentum is your everyday ally, a line that brings together gluten-free products). The packs read Alimentum Senza Glutine; Alimentum also has lactose-free products, labelled Alimentum Senza Lattosio, so check which one you hold. On 14 October 2026 Conad's online shop found 33 products for alimentum senza glutine. Eight of them:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Alimentum Senza Glutine Spaghetti con mais e riso integrale 500 g | spaghetti (corn and brown rice) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Alimentum Senza Glutine Penne Rigate con mais e riso integrale 500 g | penne (corn and brown rice) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Pane Bauletto Bianco Senza Glutine con pasta madre 300 g Alimentum | white sandwich loaf | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Alimentum Senza Glutine Piadina con olio extra vergine d'oliva 2 x 100 g | piadina flatbreads | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Preparato per pane e pizza Senza Glutine 500 g Alimentum | bread and pizza flour mix | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Cracker con riso e mais 6 confezioni 240 g Alimentum Senza Glutine | rice and corn crackers | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Fette Biscottate 6 monoporzioni 225 g Alimentum Senza Glutine | rusks (crisp toast slices) | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
| Corn Flakes Senza Glutine 375 g Alimentum | corn flakes | senza glutine and specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine in the legal name |
Source: Conad's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
Alimentum covers bread, pasta, breakfast and baking mixes, which makes Conad useful for a self-catering stay.
What gluten-free food does Carrefour sell in Italy?
Carrefour Italia's own line is Carrefour No Gluten, which it describes as a range that combines everyday foods with "la rigorosa garanzia del senza glutine" (the strict gluten-free guarantee). Some of the products sit under Carrefour Classic with No Gluten!* in the name; on the product page the asterisk leads to "Senza glutine specificamente formulata per persone intolleranti al glutine". These are the seven products on Carrefour's line page, each marked Senza glutine on its product page on 14 October 2026:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Carrefour No Gluten Preparato per Pane, Pasta e Pizza 1000 g | flour mix for bread, pasta and pizza | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour No Gluten Preparato Milleusi 1000 g | all-purpose flour mix | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour Classic Pangrattato No Gluten!* 250 g | breadcrumbs | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour Classic Grissini con Olio Extra Vergine d'Oliva No Gluten!* 200 g | breadsticks with olive oil | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour Classic Frollini Classici No Gluten!* 200 g (Contains gluten-free wheat starch.) | shortbread biscuits | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour Classic Frollini con Gocce di Cioccolato Fondente No Gluten!* 200 g (Contains gluten-free wheat starch.) | shortbread biscuits with dark chocolate chips | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
| Carrefour No Gluten 6 Pulmcake con Crema al Cioccolato 6 x 45 g | chocolate-filled yoghurt snack cakes | Senza glutine under Stili di vita (lifestyle), plus specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine |
Source: Carrefour's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
The two shortbread biscuits are made with amido di frumento deglutinato, wheat starch with most of its gluten removed, which EU law allows in a gluten-free food (see the label section below).
Does Eurospin sell gluten-free food?
Yes. The discount chain's own line is Amo Essere Senza Glutine, "pensata per offrire a chi soffre di celiachia o intolleranze una vasta scelta di prodotti" (designed to offer people with coeliac disease or intolerances a wide choice of products). Eurospin also says that every product in the range is checked by AIC, the Italian Coeliac Association, and carries the Spiga Barrata on the pack. Eight of them, each labelled senza glutine on its Eurospin product page on 14 October 2026:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Spaghetti mais e riso senza glutine 500 g | spaghetti (corn and rice) | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Penne rigate mais e riso senza glutine 500 g | penne (corn and rice) | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Pan Bauletto bianco senza glutine 300 g | white sandwich loaf | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Cracker con riso e mais senza glutine 240 g (6 x 40 g) | rice and corn crackers | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Gnocchi di patate senza glutine 400 g (2 x 200 g) | potato gnocchi | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Base per pizza rotonda senza glutine 260 g | round pizza base | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Pangrattato senza glutine 250 g | breadcrumbs | senza glutine in the name and the description |
| Amo Essere Senza Glutine Biscotti ciambelline con miele senza glutine 250 g | honey ring biscuits | senza glutine in the name and the description |
Source: Eurospin's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
Amo Essere is the umbrella name of several Eurospin lines, so look for the words Senza Glutine on the pack.
What gluten-free food does Pam Panorama sell?
Pam Panorama's own line is Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine. In Pam's words: "Con Semplici e Buoni – Senza glutine hai a tua disposizione una linea varia e completamente gluten free" (with Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine you have a varied line that is entirely gluten-free), with pasta, biscuits, cakes, baking mixes, bread and snacks. Semplici e Buoni also has low-fat, high-fibre and no-added-sugar lines, so look for Senza Glutine in the name. Pam's site lists the products on one page, without product pages; seven of them, as named there on 14 October 2026:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Spaghetti riso e mais 400 g | spaghetti (rice and corn) | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Penne rigate riso e mais 400 g | penne (rice and corn) | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Fusilli riso e mais 400 g | fusilli (rice and corn) | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Pane a fette 300 g | sliced bread | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Pane grattugiato con riso e mais 400 g | breadcrumbs (rice and corn) | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Mini grissini 200 g | mini breadsticks | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
| Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine Plum cake 216 g (36 g x 6) | plain snack cakes | Senza Glutine in the product name on Pam's list |
Source: Pam Panorama's own product list, read 14 October 2026.
Pam’s online list is short, so treat it as a sample of what a store may carry.
Does dm sell gluten-free food in Italy?
Yes. dm, the German drugstore chain, also has branches in Italy, and its organic brand dmBio sells products labelled senza glutine. dm Italia's site has no separate gluten-free page; these eight dmBio products showed senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) on dm Italia's product pages on 14 October 2026:
| Product (name on the chain's page) | What it is | Wording on the chain's page |
|---|---|---|
| dmBio Penne senza glutine, 400 g | penne (brown rice) | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Rigatoni BIO di grano saraceno, senza glutine, 300 g | buckwheat rigatoni | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Fiocchi di avena sottili bio, 500 g (Contains oats labelled gluten-free.) | fine oat flakes | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Preparato senza glutine per pane alle carote, 500 g (Contains oats labelled gluten-free.) | carrot bread mix (with gluten-free oats) | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Preparato bio per torta al cioccolato senza glutine, 380 g | chocolate cake mix | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Tabulé senza glutine, 175 g | tabbouleh mix (corn and rice couscous) | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Couscous BIO a base di ceci e lenticchie rosse, 250 g | chickpea and red lentil couscous | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
| dmBio Salatini croccanti BIO senza glutine, 80 g | rice-flour savoury snacks | senza glutine under Caratteristiche del prodotto (product features) |
Source: dm's own product pages, read 14 October 2026.
If you know dmBio from Germany, the Italian packs carry the same brand with Italian wording: look for senza glutine. Our page on gluten-free supermarkets in Germany has dm’s German range.
Which chains name a gluten-free range but list no products online?
Three more chains mention gluten-free products on their own websites but list none we could check product by product:
- Despar (also Eurospar and Interspar) calls its line Despar Free From: “La linea Despar Free From è il marchio per i consumatori con problemi di celiachia o intolleranza a glutine, lattosio e lieviti” (the brand for people with coeliac disease or an intolerance to gluten, lactose or yeast), and says its gluten-free Free From products carry the Spiga Barrata. Its line page names pasta, bread and biscuits but doesn’t say which of them are the gluten-free ones, so read the pack. (Despar Italia)
- Lidl Italia names no gluten-free line. Its Realforno biscuit page says the biscuits are “disponibili anche in versione senza glutine” (also available in a gluten-free version); searches of lidl.it for senza glutine found no product with the claim on 14 October 2026. (Lidl Italia)
- Crai has no gluten-free line, but publishes a poster of its own-brand products listed in the AIC Prontuario 2026 (see the next section), among them a “Pasta senza glutine” range made from chickpea, pea and lentil flour. The poster says the full list is available in the store. (Crai, Prontuario 2026)
Sources: Despar Italia, Lidl Italia and Crai, own websites, read 14 October 2026.
Which chains showed no gluten-free line online?
On 14 October 2026 we found no gluten-free line on the website of PENNY Italia: its list of own brands has none, and the page of its wellbeing brand Welless names fibre, protein and less sugar, not gluten. That doesn’t mean its stores sell nothing gluten-free: read the pack.
What do the Spiga Barrata, the Prontuario and the Registro mean?
The Spiga Barrata (crossed grain) is a licensed symbol run in Italy by AIC, the Associazione Italiana Celiachia. AIC says products that carry it stay within the legal limit of 20 mg of gluten per kg and that it audits every licensed production site once a year. The symbol is licensed across Europe under one AOECS standard; the ones licensed by AIC are red on white or white on red, with a product code that starts with IT, like the IT-211-020 on Esselunga's gluten-free spaghetti.
The Prontuario degli Alimenti is AIC's yearly list of everyday foods it has assessed as suitable for people with coeliac disease: about 16,000 products from about 450 companies in the current edition. The printed, online and app versions are for AIC members; the free open version of the AIC Mobile app still shows the products with the Spiga Barrata.
The Registro nazionale is the Ministry of Health's register of gluten-free foods specifically formulated for coeliacs that the Italian national health service (SSN) can provide, updated every month. AIC notes that not every product on it is in the Prontuario or carries the Spiga Barrata, because both are voluntary for the maker. The monthly vouchers (buoni) are for people with a diagnosis certified in Italy and come through the local health authority (ASL), so as a visitor you buy these foods like any other.
For a sealed pack, the words senza glutine are the claim the law regulates; the Spiga Barrata and the Prontuario are extra checks by AIC, and a pack can say senza glutine without either.
Sources: AIC, pages on the Spiga Barrata, the Prontuario, the AIC Mobile app and vouchers; Ministero della Salute, Registro nazionale; all read 14 October 2026.
How do you read an Italian label in two minutes?
You read an Italian pack in two steps: the claim on the front, then the highlighted words in the ingredient list (ingredienti). EU law makes the second step reliable, because every gluten grain must be named and highlighted.
- Front: look for senza glutine or the Spiga Barrata. Under EU law, senza glutine means no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg (Regulation (EU) 828/2014). On foods made to replace bread, pasta or biscuits it is often followed by specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine (specifically formulated for people intolerant to gluten) or per celiaci.
- Back: find ingredienti and scan the highlighted words, usually in bold. EU law lists wheat (such as spelt and khorasan), rye, barley and oats as cereals containing gluten and requires them to be highlighted in the ingredient list (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011).
- Oats and wheat starch: if you see avena or amido di frumento deglutinato on a pack labelled senza glutine, the maker has used oats or wheat starch specially produced to stay within the limit; see the note below.
- The trace line: può contenere tracce di glutine (may contain traces of gluten) is a voluntary note. On a pack labelled senza glutine, the regulated claim is what tells you the gluten level.
- Still not sure? Run the ingredient list through Label Lab.
| On the pack | In English | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| senza glutine | gluten-free | A regulated claim: 20 mg of gluten per kg or less. |
| specificamente formulato per persone intolleranti al glutine / per celiaci | specifically formulated for people intolerant to gluten / for coeliacs | Added to senza glutine on foods made to replace gluten foods, such as pasta, bread and biscuits. |
| con contenuto di glutine molto basso | very low gluten | A regulated claim, but up to 100 mg of gluten per kg: not the same as gluten-free. |
| Spiga Barrata | crossed-grain symbol | Licensed by AIC on many gluten-free packs. A pack can say senza glutine without it. |
| frumento, grano, farro, kamut | wheat, spelt or emmer, khorasan | All are wheat: gluten grains, highlighted in the list. |
| orzo, malto d'orzo | barley, barley malt | A gluten grain. In Italy, orzo is barley, not the rice-shaped pasta. |
| segale | rye | A gluten grain, highlighted in the list. |
| avena | oats | Only with senza glutine on the pack; see the note below. |
| amido di frumento deglutinato | wheat starch with most of its gluten removed | Allowed in a senza glutine food that stays within 20 mg/kg; see the note below. |
| può contenere tracce di glutine | may contain traces of gluten | A voluntary note from the maker, not regulated. |
Senza glutine on the front plus no highlighted gluten grain on the back: that's the two-minute check.
Two ingredients need one extra thought. Coeliac UK says most people with coeliac disease can eat gluten-free oats, and that a very small number are still sensitive to them. Wheat starch with most of its gluten removed (amido di frumento deglutinato) is common in Italian gluten-free biscuits: EU law allows wheat ingredients specially processed to reduce their gluten in a food labelled senza glutine, as long as the food stays within 20 mg of gluten per kg (Regulation (EU) 828/2014). Products in this guide that contain either are marked in the tables; if you're unsure, ask your dietitian. If you have a wheat allergy, this exception doesn't help you: wheat starch is still wheat.
More on the details: what the crossed-grain symbol means, oats and wheat starch in gluten-free food, what “may contain gluten” really means and how to say gluten-free in Italian. To check an ingredient list on the spot, open Label Lab.
Where do you find a branch near you?
The Shops tab of the HTGF Atlas shows branches of Conad, Esselunga, Carrefour (Market and Iper), Eurospin, Lidl, Despar and dm across Italy on one map, each marked as a shop that sells sealed, labelled gluten-free products. Jump straight to Conad, Esselunga, Carrefour, Eurospin, Lidl, Despar or dm. Coop, Pam Panorama and Crai aren’t on the map yet: use Pam's store finder, Crai's store finder, and for Coop the store finder of your regional Coop cooperative.
Who can help you in Italy?
AIC, the Associazione Italiana Celiachia, is Italy’s national coeliac association; its website is in Italian. It runs the Spiga Barrata licence, the Prontuario and the AIC Mobile app, whose free open version shows the products with the Spiga Barrata. For eating out, AIC members can see its network of trained venues (Alimentazione Fuori Casa) on the app and the website. AIC: the AIC Mobile app and AIC: coeliac disease when travelling (in Italian, read 14 October 2026).
Planning the rest of the trip: places to eat gluten-free in Italy, gluten-free Rome and gluten-free Milan, why coeliacs still can’t eat ordinary bread in Italy, how to shop gluten-free in any supermarket abroad, gluten-free supermarkets in Germany and in the UK.
Gluten-free supermarkets in Italy: your questions
Which Italian supermarkets have their own gluten-free brand?
Esselunga (Equilibrio Senza Glutine), Coop (Bene.Sì), Conad (Alimentum Senza Glutine), Carrefour (Carrefour No Gluten), Eurospin (Amo Essere Senza Glutine), Pam Panorama (Semplici e Buoni Senza Glutine) and Despar (Despar Free From) name a gluten-free own-brand line on their websites, and the drugstore chain dm sells dmBio products labelled senza glutine. We read all of them on 14 October 2026.
Does Eurospin sell gluten-free food?
Yes. Eurospin's own line Amo Essere Senza Glutine includes pasta, bread, crackers, gnocchi, pizza bases and biscuits, and Eurospin says every product in the range is checked by AIC and carries the Spiga Barrata (read 14 October 2026). Stock differs by store, so look for senza glutine on the pack.
What does the Spiga Barrata on an Italian pack mean?
The Spiga Barrata, the crossed grain, is a symbol licensed in Italy by AIC, the Associazione Italiana Celiachia. AIC says licensed products stay within 20 mg of gluten per kg and that it audits every licensed production site once a year. A pack can also be labelled senza glutine without the symbol: the regulated claim is the words senza glutine.
Is senza glutine on an Italian pack the same as gluten-free?
Yes. Senza glutine is the Italian wording of the EU gluten-free claim, which allows no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of food (Regulation (EU) 828/2014). The same rule applies to every pack carrying this claim sold in Italy, whichever chain sells it.
What does "può contenere tracce di glutine" mean?
It means "may contain traces of gluten". It is a voluntary note from the manufacturer, and no EU rule says when it must be used. On a pack that also says senza glutine, the regulated claim tells you the gluten level. On a pack without the claim, it is information to weigh, and your dietitian can help you decide how to treat it.
Can I use the AIC Prontuario as a visitor?
Partly. The full Prontuario degli Alimenti, AIC's list of about 16,000 products, is for AIC members in print, online and in the AIC Mobile app. The free open version of the app shows the products with the Spiga Barrata, and on the shelf the words senza glutine are the claim the law regulates, with or without AIC's list.
Sources (all read 14 October 2026; product pages are linked in the tables): Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 (gluten-free claims); Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 21 and Annex II (allergen labelling); AIC (in Italian): Cosa comunica il marchio Spiga Barrata; AIC (in Italian): Cosa c’è dietro il marchio Spiga Barrata; AIC (in Italian): Il marchio Spiga Barrata in Europa; AIC (in Italian): Il Prontuario; AIC (in Italian): Prodotti specificamente formulati per celiaci e Prontuario; AIC (in Italian): Applicazione AIC Mobile; AIC (in Italian): Assistenza alla dieta; Ministero della Salute (in Italian): Registro nazionale; Ministero della Salute (in Italian): Alimenti senza glutine; Coeliac UK, oats; Esselunga, Equilibrio; Esselunga Spesa Online, ricerca equilibrio senza glutine; Informatore (Unicoop Firenze), Senza glutine…ma con gusto, 9.10.2024; Conad, Alimentum; Conad, spesa online, alimentum senza glutine; Carrefour, No Gluten; Eurospin, Amo Essere Senza Glutine; Pam Panorama, Semplici e Buoni; Pam Panorama, No Glutine No Lattosio; dm Italia, dmbio senza glutine; Despar Italia, Free From; Lidl Italia, Realforno; Crai, prodotti a marchio; PENNY Italia, Welless; HTGF Atlas, Shops tab.
Last checked 14 October 2026. We name chains so you know where to look, not as a recommendation, and no chain pays to be listed. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.
Reviewed against the HTGF methodology: every claim sourced, every listing tiered and dated. This article is practical guidance, not medical advice.
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