Food that is labeled “wheat-free” sometimes contains spelt as the primary replacement for wheat flour.
If you are allergic to wheat, can you eat spelt? Maybe.
If you have celiac, can you eat spelt? NO!
Spelt is related to wheat, although it is not identical to modern wheat. Some people who are allergic to wheat may be able to tolerate some spelt, or a lot of spelt. Personally, I can tolerate some, but not too much and not too often.
Spelt does contain gluten in it so it is not suitable for celiacs.
So when food is labelled as “wheat-free”, always double check for spelt!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am on a wheat free gluten free diet at the moment. I have had tests for coeliac but they were normal, but if I eat wheat or gluten i am ill with diarrhoea and stomach pains and heartburn. my doctor has told me to stick to a gluten free diet and i have been buying bread at the supermarket called Freefrom. It is good but has to be toasted to taste ok. I was told by my local shop that they got fresh wheat free gluten free bread delivered by the baker three times a week and there is someone else in my village who gets it too. I have found out it is spelt bread and just discovered that spelt is not gluten free or wheat free. I enjoy the bread but do end up with terrible heartburn and indigestion after eating it, and thought it was what i was putting on it that was causing the problem. I wonder if it is because it is not wheat or gluten free. My daughter is on a gluten free diet due to suspected coeliac (she’s been like this since birth) and she was told only today that spelt is not gluten or wheat free. Is this right, and is there a bread I can buy that is gluten free and wheat free.
You have discovered the hard way that spelt contains gluten. It may have less gluten than wheat, and be of a slightly different type, but celiacs should not eat it.
As for you, if you are not celiac, go by how you feel. Sounds like spelt is off-limits for you.
There are lots of different types of gluten-free bread available. A lot of it is really very good. Shop around at different health food stores etc.
One thing to keep in mind about your tests – if you were off gluten for a long time before having them, they may not be normal. Some tests miss mild forms of celiac.