Is farro gluten-free? No, it’s a type of wheat

UPDATED=2026-09-28READ=2 MINREVIEW=HTGF EDITORIAL

No. Farro contains gluten. “Farro” is the Italian name for three old types of wheat: emmer (farro medio), einkorn (farro piccolo) and spelt (farro grande). All three are wheat, and all contain gluten.

What to know

  • “Ancient grain” and “heritage wheat” don’t mean gluten-free. Older wheats still contain gluten.
  • Farro turns up in salads, soups and “grain bowls”, often in Italian and health-food menus. Ask what the grain is.
  • Swaps with a similar chew: brown rice, buckwheat groats, whole sorghum or quinoa.

Keep reading

Sources: EU Regulation 1169/2011 (Annex II: cereals containing gluten, namely wheat such as spelt and khorasan wheat, rye, barley, oats), 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.

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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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