One of the Top 8. A food allergy that also is commonly confused with Celiac Disease or gluten-related disorders. However, a wheat allergy is completely different than any autoimmune disease or reaction to the protein of gluten. For example, someone with a what allergy can still eat rye, but not someone with Celiac. The biggest and most clearly important difference between a wheat allergy and an gluten disorder is that fact that it is a food allergy, and not an abnormal autoimmune reaction.
Wheat Allergy: A food protein stimulates the immune system to overreact, causing an allergic reaction that can have potentially fatal consequences. Symptoms include anaphylaxis, swelling, trouble breathing, hives, itching, cough, rash, shock, etc.
Celiac Disease: An autoimmune response to the protein gluten. This is an immune reaction that triggers an attack on the body, not the protein. Thus, autoimmune and not a food allergy.
If you have a wheat allergy, you are usually safe with all other grains but wheat and its derivatives. (Some people (20%) with wheat allergies, in rare cases, are sensitive to other grains as well.) So here is the list for food names and ingredients to look out for and avoid when you have a wheat allergy (not Celiac disease or gluten disorder).
As you can see, the list is very long, but does not contain the same things as the list of no-gluten. Someone with a wheat allergy can’t have wheat grass, yet it is presumed to be safe for someone with Celiac (although I’m still skeptical and like most Celiacs, stay far away)! So to conclude, a wheat allergy is a food allergy. It may be mild or severe enough and require an Epi-Pen. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune response to gluten, triggering an attack on the body (small intestine) and no Epi-Pen or Benadryl will help!
***Check out the other “What To Avoid” posts: Soy – Egg – Dairy – Corn – Celiac Disease***
So tell me:
+ Do you have (or know someone) with a wheat allergy?
+ Random, but I must ask, did you like Play-Doh as a kid? Did you ever eat it? Yes and yes! Well I don’t know if I actually ate it, but I did taste it. Very salty from what I remember! 😛
Sources and more info:
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Denise says
I have recently been diagnosed with a wheat allergy and I’m looking for a bread or bread recipe without wheat. Other glutens are ok.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I’d suggest Udis, Canyon, BFree Foods, Promise, Rudi’s, etc.
Celeste says
What a great resource! Thanks for putting this together.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Celeste!
Sherry says
I didn’t realize so many things had wheat hidden away in the ingredients. That probably makes it tough for those who suffer from food allergies. Great post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks!
Erlene says
I love your allergy posts. I don’t have any allergies, but this info comes in handy for those that do suffer from them. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on Merry Monday.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks! I love putting them together!
theartinpartyplanning says
This is extremely enlightening!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Great!
Jen C says
great list! My son has a wheat allergy, so I find myself explaining this difference regularly.
One item that people are often surprised to find is full of wheat is licorice. No twizzlers here!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I know! Like good n plenty! My mom and I used to love that candy!
Melinda says
I’m allergic to corn, wheat, and rye. So I look for gluten free.
Thanks for the list, it helps me to have a visual.
CAme from Sunday Features today, but I’ve read your posts before.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Well thank you Melinda!
Yea, I like making these visual lists too, even though I know all this myself by heart (and hopefully all veteran allergy/food sufferers!)
Jennifer Abel says
Thanks for sharing on #wednesdayswisdom, I always love your posts
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Okay, thanks!
Anne says
Love the graphic! It’s amazing how many unsuspecting foods contain gluten. Thanks for sharing on Healthy Living Link party.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
No, this is for a wheat allergy.
Anne says
Oops I read it too quickly.
Cassi says
I love wheat so I’d hate to be diagnosed with this allergy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks for sharing?
Steph says
With a family member diagnosed with Celiac 15 years ago, I’m still sometimes surprised at some of the things wheat is a part of. Thanks for your list – it’s a great reminder of some of those sneaky foods. Great job explaining the difference between celiac and allergy too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
A veteran 😉
Thank you so much Steph!
Sue says
This is a great list and so easy to read thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks!
Evolve with Mary says
I love when you share these lists, so interesting. Each one teach one!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, thanks Mary!
Kerri Olkjer says
My husband and one son have a wheat allergy. It’s part of the reason we’re Paleo.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Ah yea! Paleo makes things a bit easier and safer for sure!
julie bishop says
This is very informative …thank you
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks!
Farrah says
I know of a couple people in my life who say they have “wheat sensitivity,” but truth be told, I’m not sure how much I believe em’. (Since it’s unfortunately become all the rage/a fad of sorts to go wheat-free and/or gluten-free. >_>) So many people don’t realize there’s a difference between the two!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea, they don’t! And any vague sensitivity I never believe…just smile, nod, and walk away 😉
Beverley Cheng says
super informative! glad that you could point out the differences 🙂
i dont know anyone with a wheat allergy but when i was a server it was super important as I would get asked all the time!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Anyone in the food industry needs to be educated!
GiGi Eats says
Yep! NONE of these things pass my lips that for sure!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Same 😉
Liz says
Great post – so many people don’t even realize that there is a difference!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I know! It’s so important though!
Bethany says
There are so many things That I didn’t know contain wheat! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
All food allergies really open your eyes!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
I feel like a wheat allergy would be so hard to handle when out in the world because it seems like everything has that warning that it might have been processed in a facility with wheat, etc! As usual I guess real, whole, and unprocessed is best. And I nor my kids have never eaten play doh BUT my cat ate it years ago and got really ill, he actually needed surgery because it blocked his intestines. We stay away from it now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea, a wheat allergy is just like any of the other big food allergies. So severe and life-threatening immediately. That’s what makes the distinction so important!
Haha, play-doh is super salty…and obviously full of scary, “should not be eaten by humans or animals” ingredients!
That’s why people totally make there own now-a-days! I should totally do that 😉
Anne says
Most homemade play doh is made out of flour and cooked! Some part of the recipe may be cornstarch, it’s been awhile since I’ve made any!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, yea, we’d have to use safe flours!
Linda @ Veganosity says
This is good to know. It’s so confusing, yet so important to be aware of if you have friends who have Celiac or a wheat allergy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
The differences matter! It could be life or death.
Emily @ My Healthyish Life says
I don’t know anyone with a wheat allergy, but I see lots of products that say “wheat free” and sometimes, not always, “gluten free” too. I don’t think I ate Play-Douh but I definitely played with it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea! Like the one time years ago, that I always bring up. I bought some brown rice cereal that said “wheat free”, but had barley malt in it, thus not gluten-free and I got sick!