Bushra Griffith
Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses made using blue mold spores called penicillium roqueforti. There is some debate about whether or not certain kinds of blue cheese are gluten-free. While most cheeses are gluten-free, some blue cheeses are injected with mold strains grown on gluten-containing media, such as wheat-based dextrose, barley malt extract, or a mixture of wheat and rye flour. However, the consensus is that it is unlikely that this would cause blue cheese to contain more than 20 parts per million gluten, which is considered safe for people with celiac disease. Sargento, a company that produces blue cheese, states that their product contains wheat gluten, but the source of wheat is unclear. To be certain that a blue cheese is gluten-free, it is important to read the labels and look for a gluten-free label or check for common wheat derivatives and other gluten-containing foods, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, or malt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does blue cheese contain wheat? | Blue cheese is generally gluten-free, but it may contain wheat products depending on the brand and how it is made. |
| Gluten-free alternatives to blue cheese | Brie, Cheddar, Colby, Gouda, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Muenster, Goat cheese, Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, Feta, and Swiss cheese. |
| How to identify if a packaged food item is gluten-free | Check for a "Gluten-Free" label. Check the Allergen Listing for "wheat". Look at the ingredients list for wheat, barley/malt, rye, oat, and brewer's yeast. |
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What You'll Learn
- Blue cheese is generally gluten-free, but some contain wheat products
- Sargento blue cheese contains wheat gluten, but the source is unclear
- Blue cheese is safe for people with celiac disease unless the label says otherwise
- Blue cheese is sometimes injected with mould strains grown on gluten-containing media
- Organic Valley cheese does not contain wheat or gluten in their ingredients
Blue cheese is generally gluten-free, but some contain wheat products
Blue cheese is generally gluten-free, but some varieties may contain wheat products. Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses made using blue mould spores called penicillium roqueforti. These spores may be grown on various mediums, including bread that may be made from 100% rye flour or a mixture of rye and wheat flours.
While blue cheese is usually gluten-free, some varieties may contain wheat products. For example, Sargento states on their website that their blue cheese contains wheat gluten, although the source of the wheat is unclear. Additionally, some blue cheeses may be injected with mould strains grown on gluten-containing media, such as wheat-based dextrose.
It is important to read the labels of packaged or processed cheese products to ensure they are gluten-free. The Celiac Disease Foundation recommends checking for a "Gluten-Free" label and verifying that the product contains fewer than 20 PPM of gluten. If a product does not have a gluten-free label, it is essential to check the ingredients list for common allergens like wheat, barley, rye, oats, or malt.
People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should be cautious when consuming blue cheese, as some varieties may contain trace amounts of gluten. However, the Canadian Celiac Association has added blue cheese to its "Acceptability of Food and Food Ingredients for the Gluten-Free Diet" pocket dictionary, indicating that it is safe for individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Overall, blue cheese is generally gluten-free, but it is always a good idea to read labels and ingredient lists to ensure the product is safe for consumption, especially for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
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Sargento blue cheese contains wheat gluten, but the source is unclear
Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses made using blue mold spores called penicillium roqueforti. Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Danish Blue are some examples of blue cheeses. The question of whether blue cheese contains wheat often arises because it is challenging to get a clear answer.
Sargento, a company that produces blue cheese, states on its website that its blue cheese contains wheat gluten. However, the source of wheat is unclear. If the penicillium roqueforti spores used in the cheese-making process are grown on 100% rye bread, they would likely not contain wheat gluten, and even if they did, the amount would be minuscule. The final cheese product would likely not contain significant amounts of gluten.
The uncertainty surrounding the presence of wheat gluten in Sargento blue cheese may be attributed to the growth medium of the penicillium roqueforti spores. These spores may be grown on various mediums, including bread made from 100% rye flour or a mixture of rye and wheat flours. If the spores are grown on a medium containing wheat, and the spores contain wheat protein, then the cheese could potentially contain wheat gluten.
It is important to note that most cheese is naturally gluten-free, and the presence of gluten in cheese products is typically due to additional processing or cross-contamination during production. People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should carefully read the labels of packaged or processed cheese products to ensure they are gluten-free.
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Blue cheese is safe for people with celiac disease unless the label says otherwise
Blue cheese is generally safe for people with celiac disease to consume, but it is important to check the labels to ensure the product is gluten-free. While most cheeses are naturally gluten-free, some cheese products may contain gluten.
Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses made using blue mold spores called penicillium roqueforti. These mold spores may be grown on various mediums, including bread that may be made from 100% rye flour or mixtures of rye and wheat flours. If the penicillium roqueforti spores are grown on a medium containing wheat, and the spores contain wheat protein, then the final cheese product may contain gluten.
The Canadian Celiac Association tested three blue cheeses and two penicillium roqueforti cultures grown on gluten-containing media, including wheat-based dextrose. The results indicated that the gluten content was below the limit of quantification in these products. The National Celiac Association also states that blue cheese is sometimes injected with mold strains grown on gluten-containing media, but it is unlikely to contain more than 20 parts per million gluten, which is considered a safe concentration for people with celiac disease.
Therefore, it is important to read the labels of blue cheese products to ensure they do not contain wheat, barley, rye, oats, or malt, or for the company to state that their product is gluten-free. Some brands, such as Organic Valley, clearly disclose the additives in their ingredients list and verify that their packaging and processes do not contain gluten from rye, barley, or wheat.
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Blue cheese is sometimes injected with mould strains grown on gluten-containing media
Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses made using blue mould spores called penicillium roqueforti. Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Danish Blue are all examples of blue cheeses. The question of whether blue cheese contains gluten is a difficult one to answer satisfactorily. Most cheese is naturally gluten-free, but some blue cheeses are sometimes injected with mould strains grown on gluten-containing media.
The Canadian Celiac Association tested three blue cheeses and two penicillium roqueforti cultures grown on a variety of gluten-containing media, including wheat-based dextrose, barley malt extract, and a wheat/rye flour mixture. Results indicate that the gluten content is below the limit of quantification in these products. The Canadian Celiac Association has added blue cheese to its "Acceptability of Food and Food Ingredients for the Gluten-Free Diet" pocket dictionary, meaning that it should be safe for people with celiac disease. Even if there are traces of gluten, it is unlikely that blue cheese would contain more than 20 parts per million gluten, which is considered a safe concentration for people with celiac disease.
However, it is important to note that blue cheese can be made with a bacterial culture that comes from glutenous bread grains, typically rye. Sargento, for example, states on their website that their blue cheese contains wheat gluten, but the source of the wheat is unclear. If you are unsure, it is always best to check the labels of packaged or processed cheese and look for a gluten-free label. If there is no gluten-free label, look for ingredients to avoid such as wheat, barley/malt, rye, oats, or brewer's yeast.
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Organic Valley cheese does not contain wheat or gluten in their ingredients
Blue cheese is a general term for veined cheeses that are made using blue mold spores called penicillium roqueforti. The question of whether blue cheese contains gluten or not is a difficult one to answer satisfactorily. This is because it depends on the medium on which the mold spores are grown. If the spores are grown on bread, there is a chance that the spores contain wheat protein. However, it is hard to imagine that purified spores of penicillium roqueforti would contain intact gluten protein.
Organic Valley crafts five varieties of semi-hard and semi-soft cheese from organic, non-homogenized, non-pasteurized milk. Their Grassmilk® Cheese is a semi-hard white cheddar with flower petal top notes and a complex, buttery finish. The milk for this cheese comes from 100% grass-fed cows that are provided with the highest quality fresh organic pasture grasses and legumes. The cows are also supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Importantly, Organic Valley cheese does not contain wheat or gluten in their ingredients. The only ingredients in their Grassmilk® Cheese are grass-fed cultured unpasteurized milk and sea salt.
While most cheeses by themselves do not contain gluten, it is important to read the labels of all packaged or processed cheese before eating it. This is because foods that contain cheese as one ingredient may not be gluten-free. For example, breaded mozzarella sticks are coated in breadcrumbs and fried in the same oil as gluten-containing foods. Additionally, shredded cheese may contain starch or cellulose to prevent the shreds from sticking together. If the cellulose is derived from wheat, this should be stated on the label.
People with celiac disease need to avoid gluten, which is often found in most cereals. While cheese is naturally gluten-free, cheese products may contain gluten. For those who are gluten-intolerant, it is important to check all packaging carefully to ensure that the cheese is suitable to eat.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue cheese is generally considered to be gluten-free, but there is some debate as certain kinds of blue cheese may contain gluten depending on where the mold is grown. Blue cheese is sometimes injected with mold strains grown on gluten-containing media, such as wheat-based dextrose. However, the consensus is that it is unlikely that this would cause blue cheese to contain more than 20 parts per million gluten, which is considered a safe concentration for people with celiac disease.
To be absolutely certain, you can contact the producers of blue cheese and ascertain the growth medium used for their penicillium roqueforti spores. You can also check the product label and ingredients list for any mention of wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients.
Yes, there are gluten-free alternatives to blue cheese available. Some naturally gluten-free alternatives to cheese include avocado and nutritional yeast.
Other types of cheese that are gluten-free in their natural state include Brie, Cheddar, Colby, Gouda, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Muenster, Goat cheese, Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, and Feta.
