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Study finds gluten in more than 50% of gluten-free pasta, pizza dishes

April 7, 2019 - from the IFT and Publishahead:

"According to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, more than half of gluten-free pizza and pasta dishes in restaurants tested positive for the presence of gluten, and about one-third of supposedly gluten-free foods had detectable gluten."

"The researchers used data uploaded by users of the portable device Nima Gluten Sensor which restaurant patrons use to test foods. The manufacturer supplied 5,624 food tests by 804 users over 18 months. The research showed 32% of tests revealed detectable gluten in dishes that were supposed to be gluten-free. Gluten-free pasta samples were positive in 51% of tests; gluten-free pizza contained gluten for 53%. Gluten was detected in 27% of breakfasts, 29% of lunches, and 34% of dinners."

"There are limitations to the data, noted the researchers. Users may have uploaded results that surprised them the most. Additionally, the device is very sensitive. To be labeled gluten-free in the United States, a product must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm). “The device can detect levels as low as 5–10 ppm." The researchers suspect "that gluten-free foods are inadvertently contaminated."