Despite the Name, Maltodextrin Does Not Contain Malt

When diagnosed with Celiac Disease, we are taught to read labels for sources of gluten. Sources of gluten contain wheat, rye and barley, and their derivatives. We consistently reference barley malt, as it is often overlooked. However, please know that while the names are similar, maltodextrin and malt are not the same thing. 

What is Maltodextrin?

Per Healthline, “Maltodextrin is a white powder made from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat. Even though it comes from plants, it’s highly processed. To make it, first the starches are cooked, and then acids or enzymes such as heat-stable bacterial alpha-amylase are added to break it down further. The resulting white powder is water-soluble and has a neutral taste.”

Is Maltodextrin Made from Wheat?

Yes, maltodextrin can be made from wheat. (However, it is most frequently made from corn.) Per Gluten Free Watchdog, “Under FALCPA, if an FDA-regulated food product contains maltodextrin and the maltodextrin contains protein derived from wheat, the word wheat must be included on the food label (e.g., maltodextrin (wheat).

If you don’t see the word wheat on the label of an FDA-regulated product containing maltodextrin, the food product does not contain wheat protein as an ingredient.” 

Maltodextrin is Highly Refined and Considered Gluten Free

However, even if maltodextrin is made from wheat, it is generally considered safe on a gluten free diet. Per the Gluten Intolerance Group, “Maltodextrin is made through enzymatic hydrolysis using water, enzymes, and acids to break down the starch in the source vegetable or grain. The resulting product is a white powder made up of chains of sugar molecules and no gluten proteins, even when derived from gluten-containing grains.”

Beyond Celiac and the National Celiac Association also state on their respective websites that maltodextrin is considered to be gluten free, even if the grain source is wheat. Allergic Living states maltodextrin as gluten free in their article “Gluten Free or Not? 10 That Can Stump Even the Most Informed.” (Written with Shelley Case, R.D.) 

Maltodextrin is One of Many Additives Deemed Gluten Free

Maltodextrin is among many food additives which are considered gluten free. The National Celiac Association article, “Ingredients People Question on a Gluten Free Diet includes a table of multiple additives people ask about.

Choose Your Sources Wisely

A WebMD article on maltodextrin states, “If you have celiac disease, be careful about eating foods with maltodextrin. The powder has traces of gluten if its source is wheat.” Listen, I’ve used WebMd in the past. However, I think of WebMD like a primary care physician. They know a little about a lot. For Celiac Disease information, I prefer sites that specialize in my disease. 

Verify Facts that Make You Anxious/ Afraid

Reading food labels can be very intimidating. When you’re trying to keep you and your family safe, you want to be informed. However, I want to caution us when we see something on social media that immediately makes us afraid. Before you make a knee jerk reaction, check with other trusted resources to verify that information.

Also, as I’ve mentioned previously in my article about navigating the internet, be cautious of accounts that may play on your emotions. Posts that intentionally cause anxiety and fear tend to get higher engagement because of immediate shares. Be informed, but don’t allow yourself to be manipulated. 

What other ingredients have you been baffled by? Leave me a note in the comments. 

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What is Malt?

In the United States, we think of malt is strictly being made from barley. However, technically any grain that undergoes a malting process can be called “malt.”

From Wikipedia – “Malt is a germinated cereal grain that has been dried in a process known as “malting”. The grain is made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air.”

Any Gluten Free Grain Can Be Malted

While wheat, barley and rye are most used in the process, other grains can be used to make malt. For example, Bard’s Beer malts sorghum for their gluten free lager. Teff and buckwheat can be malted for beer as well. Grouse Malt House even malts corn. Once I saw a malted buckwheat in a gluten free cereal.

Please understand that gluten free grains, which undergo malting, are gluten free. Products made with gluten free malted grains are therefore safe to consume on a gluten free diet.

Is Malt Gluten Free?

The answer to this depends on where you live. In the United States, the word “malt” on a food label means it contains barley. Regardless of gluten parts per million, the FDA states nothing made with barley or barley malt can be declared gluten free. End of story. The same applies for Canada, as Shelley Case mentions in her article “What is Malt?”

However, in the UK, the rules are different. Consider Coeliac UK’s post on “What is Barley Malt Extract?” They state that barley malt extract can be eaten in small amounts. However, the amount of barley malt extract is not declared on packaging, simply its presence. Therefore, people in the UK are advised only to eat those foods labeled gluten free.

Barley Malt Testing with ELISA

However, how does one test for gluten products containing barley malt? The Gluten Free Dietitian explains the issue in her article about barley malt extract. She states “It is very tricky to test for barley contamination in food.” Why? Barley malt extract undergoes hydrolysis. She further explains it in this article about Sandwich ELISA testing and Hydrolyzed Gluten.

What is hydrolysis? In an Explanation of Hydrolysis by The Balance, “hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water is used to break down the bonds of a particular substance.” However, current methods testing complete gluten peptides, not fragments. This is why NIMA cannot detect gluten.

FDA, Barley Malt, and Gluten Free Labeling

In August of 2020, the FDA made a ruling on fermented and hydrolyzed foods. This ruling declared that foods with a gluten free label MUST show ingredients are gluten free PRIOR to hydrolysis or fermentation.

This rule covers fermented foods such as beer, and hydrolyzed foods such as barley malt. In plain English, this means beers creatd with gluten grains CANNOT be labeled gluten free. (Look at you, Omission.)  The ruling discusses compliance for distilled vinegars.

What about soy sauce? Soy sauce, a sauce made from fermented soy and wheat, cannot be labeled gluten free unless the ingredients test under 20 ppm, prior to fermentation.

On the Q&A for Gluten Free Food Labeling, it states “Also, if the soy sauce is made using a gluten-containing grain that is processed to remove gluten resulting in the presence of less than 20 ppm gluten prior to the fermentation process, then it can bear a “gluten-free” claim.”

In the Federal Register, where the FDA responds to comments left by concerned individuals, please know they still state “we are clarifying that the final rule does not require testing of ingredients.”

However, they ” estimate that most manufacturers (75 percent) already have a gluten control SOP that includes testing.” The register also proposes methods to manufacturers for accurate testing. Manufacturers must comply with these guidelines by August 13, 2021.

For more on this topic, please see Gluten Free Watchdog’s series of posts on the FDA’s Final Rule. 

A Better Test for Detecting Gluten in Malted Barley?

A few years ago, researchers started developing tests that may better detect gluten in malt. Analyst Michelle Colgrave wrote a paper, highlighting the research she did using “liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry.” This type of test measures things on a molecular level, and can recognize gluten fragments. Read more about it in this Forbes article.

What Contains Barley Malt?

One finds barley malt in many expected places, such as malt powder in Whoppers candy and the powder to make ice cream malted shakes. However, one also finds barley malt in Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Beer, some Lindt chocolates, and more.

If you must eat a gluten free diet, it is important to read all ingredient labels. Years ago a product made in the UK, but sold in the US, was incorrectly certified gluten free by an organization. This is why it’s always important to read ingredient labels. Especially of products made in a foreign country.

Bottom Line

If you live in the United States, any product that simply states malt, malt vinegar, or malt extract, is derived from barley. Therefore, is it not safe for consumption for those who are on a gluten free diet. However, beers and other foods made with malted gluten free grains, such as malted sorghum or malted teff, are safe for consumption.

Originally Published December 2019

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I love Aldi. They sell many gluten free, money saving, products. However, I remembered a notice on the Gluten Free Watchdog Facebook page about a bratwurst they sell. They label these sausages as “gluten free.” However, they also list “beer” as an ingredient.

Now, in the United States, the FDA denies a gluten free label to anything that contains malt as an ingredient. Unless made from 100% gluten free grains, most beers in the world do not meet that criteria. However, this product falls under the jurisdiction of the USDA, not the FDA. Why? Because it contains meat. Therefore, I contacted Tricia Thompson a.k.a Gluten Free Watchdog on what to do.

She directed me to this article on her website, that outlines the steps on reporting a misbranded gluten free product to the USDA.

At the time I spotted this, our country found itself in the midst of a government shutdown. Therefore, many USDA employees lacked a job, or the income which which to perform it. I called the phone number she listed, but an automated reply stated the service was not available. Therefore, I turned to the power of the internet, and contacted the various parties involved with my facial misbranding concerns.

How to Report a Concern to Aldi, Online

I used Aldi’s online contact form to report my facial misbranding concern, first. If at all possible, I attempt to connect with the immediate business. I have done so in the past with success. Often, it accomplishes things quickly. I used their online comment system, filling out my complete concerns, and uploading the pictures I took. It took me less than 10 minutes to do. They impressed me by calling my back the same day! They listened to my concerns, gave me a claim number, and told me the supplier would get in touch with my. (To date, they have not.)

Reporting Facial Misbranding, Online, to the USDA

I used the online USDA reporting system Gluten Free Watchdog told me about. Like the Aldi system, I found it easy AND QUICK to use. It only took my information, and did not allow me to upload pictures. Surprisingly, the USDA promptly emailed me and asked me for more information. They requested a list of information, and I took time to address each one. Below is the bulk of the email I sent them, about the facial misbranding of the Aldi sausages.

“My concern about the misbranding / mislabeling is that while this item is marked “gluten free” by Aldi, it contains beer. While I know that the FDA definition of “gluten free” is not necessarily also delegated by the USDA, it is my understanding that the USDA feels that meat and poultry producers should follow this law. Per FDA regulations, nothing can be declared gluten free if malt is an ingredient, even if that product tests to under 20 ppm. Being that Aldi prices are relatively cheap, I am highly doubting that these Aldi Beer Bratwurst are made with beer that originated from non-gluten grains. Also, these sausages are imported from Germany, and did not originate in the United States. This gets trickier, because Europe’s definition of “gluten free beer” is different than the US. The US does not allow “gluten removed” beers to be labeled as gluten free, where as Europe does. Also, Germany is now making beer with an altered form of barley called “Kebari” that I don’t think is approved for US consumption. It may be possible that the beer in these brats is made with that.

No Establishment Number?

The USDA asked for the establishment number (inspection number) for the sausages. However, Aldi imports these sausages from Germany. They are not inspected in the United States. Foreign products sometimes utilize a different numbering system. After a minute or two of online research, I discovered that the “EV-717” Vet. Control No traced back to a plant in Germany. This number specifically relates to the plant where HoWe’s sausages were produced.

Interaction with HoWe’s

While neither Aldi nor the USDA directed me to do so, I contacted HoWe. Their website states all their products are gluten and lactose free. Therefore, I emailed them inquiring “What is the grain source of that beer? Is the beer made with only gluten free grains, or does it contain malted barley?” Their first reply simply stated that the ingredients and product test to under 20 ppm of gluten. I replied to their email, asking them to answer my original question. They replied, “We can confirm, that the beer does not contain malted barley.” But what will the USDA say?

Response back from USDA –

Two weeks after submitting my facial misbranding the concern, I received the following response from the USDA

“Dear Margaret,

Thank you very much for the additional information, and for your patience. Upon investigation, we determined that the product is not expected to contain a level of gluten that would pose a risk to public health. However, the company will be required to remove the “gluten free” claim from the label. Please find attached a formal letter regarding the outcome of your case.” (emphasis mine)

It takes a village, friends. The government is understaffed, underfunded, and some manufacturers are uneducated. The USDA & FDA don’t need us to be their enemies. They need us to be their eyes and ears. We need to continuously encourage them to do the right thing. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?

If you need to report a packaged food item, that contains gluten AS AN INGREDIENT (not a may contain statement), use this link to contact the FDA. Gluten Free Watchdog also shares what to do whenspot a labeled gluten free food that contains gluten.

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What is Gluten Free Candy Sushi?

My husband is a saint. Not only is he a middle school teacher, but he also hosts an after school anime club for 7th and 8th graders. In his free time. After already teaching all day. He’s totally my hero.

I jump in as his sidekick and weekly buy and/or prepare snacks for the kids. I started making these gluten free candy sushi years ago and they have become a “must have” with this students every year! Whenever these ingredients pop up, it’s a sure sign to the end of the school year!

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT Gluten Free

The recipe isn’t all that difficult, really. It consists of three things: a “rice ball,” candy fish, and fruit rolls for the “nori.” The base for the “rice ball” for the gluten free candy sushi is your basic marshmallow crisped rice treats. I will share the one I used, that was on the packaging. However, you can use whatever recipe that you want. Now as a reminder, regular Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. Why? Because they contain barley malt. However the following brands make crisped rice cereal that does NOT malt.

Gluten Free Crisped Rice Cereals

* Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal (certified GF by GFCO)
* One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps (certified through NSF)
* Barbara’s Organic Brown Rice Crisps (tested to be under 20 PPM, not certified)
* Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice (no outside certification, Malt-O-Meal / Post GF product listing)
* Aldi Millville Crispy Rice (no outside certification, verified through company)

Tips on Forming Your Crisped Rice Balls

So a few tips on making the “rice ball” portion of your gluten free candy sushi. First, melt your butter and marshmallows on low. You want to achieve a creamy marshmallow “fluff” that will evenly coat your cereal.

After stirring in the cereal, I suggest waiting approx 4-5 minutes to form your “rice balls.” Why? Well, one IT’s HOT! But secondly, you need to let some of the marshmallow firm up for the “rice balls” to hold their shape. Also, I used two sandwich bags, over my hands, to form the “rice balls.” Keeps my hands from getting all gross and sticky.

Which Candy Fish are Gluten Free?

So, let’s talk fish. Candy fish, that is. I used Swedish Fish, because that is what I know to be gluten free. It is listed on the Celiac Disease Foundation General Candy List as being gluten free as well.

Kroger sells their own store brand of candy fish. The ingredient list contains no ingredients that include gluten. It lists “natural & artificial flavor,” however as Tricia Thompson states in her article about flavoring extracts, the manufacturer would have to list if it is made from wheat, rye or barley on the label.

Wholesome! makes organic “DelishFish,” which are certified by GFCO. They’d be another great option for these gluten free candy sushi. Finally, I bought the Welch’s Berry Fruit Rolls, which specifically state gluten free on the box. Plus, the dark purple makes it a closer color match to actual nori! (Welch’s no longer makes this product. Now I use Fruit by the Foot.)

Adding Candy Fish To Your Crisped Rice

Next, you simply place a fish on top of your formed gluten free candy sushi rice ball, wrap a strip of fruit roll around it, and immediately impress everyone you know. I find it works best to start with the fruit roll at the underside of the “rice ball,” pull it over the top and reconnect it on the bottom. T

hese would be great for an underwater theme party, of a fun kid dessert to go with any Asian meal. (For sure, they’d go great with a lunch of onigiri!) Of course, they become the perfect sweet treat when watching your favorite Studio Ghibli film. If you haven’t seen Ponyo, it’s a must. You’ll never be able to say the word ham again without laughing!

Other Gluten Free Marshmallow Treats

Looking for other great marshmallow based treats? Make these Gluten Free Scotcheroos from My Gluten Free Kitchen!  Maybe these Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Crispy Rice Treat Ice Cream Sandwiches from my friend Amanda at Eat At Our Table are more your style?

Of course, if you’re really brave, you can try making your own homemade marshmallows, like these from Christina Lane at Dessert for Two. Looking to avoid gelatin all together? Then try this spread that my friend Michelle made for her S’mores Sandwich Cookies!

Print

Gluten Free Candy Sushi

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 10 oz pkg mini marshmallows
• 6 oz 7 cups Gluten Free Crisped Rice Cereal
• 24 candy fish
• 1 box Welch’s Berry Fruit Rolls

Instructions

• Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat, and add marshmallows. Continue to melt over low heat until it becomes a creamy mixture. 
• Add in cereal and stir well to coat all of the cereal. Allow to cool 4-5 minutes before attempting to form rice balls. 
• I use two sandwich bags as “gloves” to handle the marshmallow crisped rice “dough” to form into egg-shaped portions. You should be able to make 23-24 rice balls. Place on a platter. If you have a deviled egg tray, it is PERFECT for this treat. 
• Once all of the rice balls are formed, top each one with a candy fish and a strip of fruit roll. You should be able to use one fruit roll to complete 3-4 gluten free candy sushi. I find it best to start wrapping the candy sushi rice ball from the underside, pull it over the candy fish, and then connect it to the bit of fruit roll on the bottom.

** This page contains Amazon affiliate links.**

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A Very Scary Halloween

Halloween. When you live with a food allergy or food sensitivity, what frightens you more than costumes is candy. Does the candy in question contain your allergen? Did manufacturers produce this sweet on a shared line with an allergen? Does this candy contain undeclared gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, malt, and rye? What recently scares me most is faulty info based on the NIMA gluten sensor.

Halloween was unique for me in 2017. My husband and I drove a 20 foot Uhaul from Michigan to South Dakota, with our car in tow. (Confession – He drove. I “navigated.”) We chose to spend our vacation helping our friends move all their belongings 800+ miles away, due to a new job. No costumes for us. No decorated van passing out safe treats from our Teal Pumpkin Project – inspired stash of goodies. Therefore, I vicariously enjoyed Halloween through social media. From the comfort of the Uhaul (oxymoron?), I perused Instagram.

What is a NIMA Partners Gluten Sensor?

We were somewhere in the plains of Minnesota, between Rochester and Sioux Falls, when I noticed an Instagram post of a 100 Grand candy bar. What’s a 100 Grand Bar? Imagine a Nestle Crunch with a caramel layer inside. The post showed a 100 Grand being tested with a NIMA.

What’s NIMA?  It’s a portable electronic device that tests for gluten in food. How does it do this? In simple terms, you put in a pea-sized amount of the food you want to test in a capsule. The capsule contains a solution and you place the capsule in the triangular device, and it uses testing methods to detect the presence of gluten.

Not Everything You See Online is Accurate

So, what caught my eye was that results on the NIMA. The Instagram post showed a NIMA with a smiley face. This in theory means that the product is safe to eat. The person posting only had the small miniature 100 Grand Bar, but not the larger bag from which it came. While we plodded along I-90, I did a Google search for a 100 Grand Bar.

I was concerned because all the sites I saw (including Amazon)  stated that the bar contained crisped rice, which are made with “rice flour, sugar, BARLEY MALT, and salt.” For those that may not know, barley malt contains gluten. Therefore, the device should NOT have resulted in a “smiley face.”

I wondered “Did Nestle change their recipe?” My husband, who is completely a saint, agreed to pull off the freeway in Fairmont, Minnesota and let me stop at a grocery store to check. So I wandered into the store, and asked one of the incredibly helpful staff to help me locate one of these 100 Grand bars. Here’s what I found.

Nestle 100 Grand Bars Contain Barley Malt

Yep, barley malt. So I private messaged the owner of the Instagram account that posted the NIMA result. I shared this information. They updated their comments on their account, their blog post, and ultimately removed the image. (Why remove it? People were solely looking at the image of the “smiley faced NIMA” with the candy in question, and not the warning.)

But the question remained. How did this happen? Like any other technology, there can be limitations of use. Below is how NIMA responded (in 2017) as to how this could happen. (Names of other Twitter users blocked out to protect privacy.)

NIMA Sensors Cannot Test for the Presence of Barley Malt

So, there’s our answer. NIMA does not detect barley malt. So in theory, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies will come back with a smiley face.  This also means something with hydrolyzed wheat, such as soy sauce, could come back as being “safe.” This is something that definitely doesn’t bring a smile to MY face. 

What Other Limitations Do NIMA Testing Devices Have?

After a quick visit to the NIMA Partners website, their “gluten manual” states the following limitations

“NIMA Partners has not been validated on medication, cosmetics or non food items.” Therefore, be wary if you see an Instagram influencer use their NIMA to test medications, whether prescription or over the counter. Other NIMA limitations include:

Other Red Flags

In addition, their manual gives additional advice on how to test foods that are thick/ dense, dry/ powdery, and brightly colored. Foods in these categories may return inaccurate results. “Bright foods can interfere with the sensor’s ability to read the result. These foods should also be mixed with water to dilute the coloring.” This includes red foods, such as pizza sauce or marinara. 

Three Things to Remember

1. Ingredient Lists Aren’t Required on Mini Candy Bars

Here’s where the Instagram account that posted the original picture faltered. That person ONLY had one of the 100 Grand miniature candy bars. He / she did not have the larger bag from whence it came, nor did the mini candy bar have a complete ingredient list.

Mini bars, especially those passed out on holidays such has Halloween, do not always have a complete list of ingredients on the wrapper. If you question a food item, and the ingredients are not on the packaging, try to look it up online. ALSO – make sure to read comments on posts as well. Pictures and ratings can be deceptive.

2. Barley & Rye are Not Allergens Under FALCPA

The person who originally posted the image went by the “allergen warning” on the wrapper. The wrapper did not list barley as a potential allergen. Here’s the thing though. It doesn’t have to. Barley, as well as rye, are not one of the Top 9 allergens that must be declared under the FALCPA guidelines. (FALCPA = Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) The Top 9 include wheat, fish, shellfish, eggs, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and sesame. The person that originally posted the 100 Grand bar on Instagram relied on the fact that the allergen warning did NOT list wheat. They falsely concluded it therefore must be free of gluten. 

3. You are Smarter Than Technology

NIMA is a tool one can use to help make decisions about what we eat. However, it is nothing more than that. NIMA is not without its limitations. Results can have errors because a sample is too small, too large, or even because it is red. From above we can see that it can declare a food as “safe” when it is not. Cases have also shown that products can result in an “frown” even when a product is actually gluten-free. Read my thoughts on a restaurant study performed via NIMA testing, for more info. 

My Final Thoughts About the NIMA Partners Gluten Sensor

So here is where I voice my opinion. NIMA has become a controversial issue in the Celiac Disease community.  I try not to share my own opinion about the NIMA too often. Instead I attempt to share facts of how how it performs, and allow you to make your own educated decision. However, based on that evidence, I am not a fan of the device. I fear it leads to more anxiety about eating gluten free, not less. 

Safe Gluten Free Halloween Candy

Many sites exist that offer gluten free Halloween Candy lists. A few examples include- 

• Celiac Mama’s Gluten Free Halloween Candy List (updated Sept 2022)
• GF Jules Gluten Free Halloween Candy List
• Beyond Celiac Gluten Free Halloween Candy List

Do you own a NIMA? What do test with it? What holiday candies do you trust to be gluten-free?

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