Is spelt safe for a wheat-free or gluten-free diet?
Posted on March 11th, 2009 by alison
Many people believe that if you can’t eat wheat, then it is okay to eat spelt. It is said that spelt is easier on the digestive system than wheat and so it has been called a “wheat alternative.” Spelt products, including bread, were even labeled as “wheat-free” prior to 2006. What happened in 2006? That’s when the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) took effect and food manufacturers were required to list the top 8 allergens on their labels. As a result, products using spelt and kamut had to put “wheat” on the label. Why? Because they are wheat!
Spelt is an ancient grain that is a sub-species of wheat. People who are allergic to wheat probably cannot tolerate spelt and should avoid it, although some wheat-intolerant people say that they are able to tolerate spelt.
People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should NOT eat spelt (also known as “farro” or “dinkel”) because it contains GLUTEN. Same goes for Kamut, triticale, emmer and einkorn — all of these are cereal grains that have been marketed as “wheat alternatives.” All are in the wheat genus, however, and have biological names starting with “triticum,” the Latin word for wheat.
So, bottom line, if wheat is off-limits for you, then it’s best to stay away from spelt!
Read more about the gluten-free diet.
Ha! I knew it! When people hear I’m gluten intolerant they always say “Oh, well have you tried spelt? It’s not wheat.” And I always give them a funny look and say “Uhhhh….” because my doctor wrote spelt down as one of the wheat grains to avoid. So now I know and I can say “No, of course not you fool! Spelt is wheat!” Haha thanks!
Thank you for reminding people of this. I am still quite distressed by a radio program I heard last week in Humboldt County, CA, on a station from Ashland, OR. The program featured a “nutritionist” who apparently works as a nutritional counselor in the Ashland area. During the interview/show, she claimed she has “celiac’s disease” [sic] and that people with “celiac’s” can’t eat “hybridized” wheat, but “non-hybridized” forms of wheat are fine, such as spelt and kamut. She also cited rye bread as an acceptable alternative for celiacs! I am distressed that not only did they give this ignorant woman air time, but that she apparently makes her living counseling people with special dietary needs. It’s so depressing that even with all the info, so much dangerous misinformation is still being given to people. Thank you, Alison, for being such a consistent voice of reason.
I am horribly gluten intolerant and get VERY sick when I eat any wheat, organic or not. I CAN tolerate Spelt and Kamut and have tried it with great success. Apparently, I am just intolerant to man’s hybridization of wheat, not the wheat that hasn’t been fooled around with. That woman on the radio was not ignorant. It is worth a try for anyone. I would much rather be eating homemade spelt bread than rice muffins anyday!