Hidden names for wheat on ingredient labels
Wheat appears as semolina, durum, spelt, farro, emmer, einkorn, kamut, triticale, bulgur, couscous, seitan, panko and vital wheat gluten, among others. On most US packaged foods the label must also say "wheat". Remember that avoiding wheat isn't the same as avoiding gluten: rye and barley contain gluten but aren't wheat.
Forms of wheat
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Durum, semolina | Hard wheat and the flour made from it, used in pasta |
| Spelt, emmer, einkorn, farro, kamut | Ancient and heritage wheats |
| Triticale | A cross between wheat and rye |
| Bulgur, couscous | Processed wheat grains |
| Seitan, vital wheat gluten | Concentrated wheat protein, used in meat substitutes |
| Breadcrumbs, panko | Made from wheat bread |
| Wheat starch, wheat germ, wheat bran | Parts of the wheat grain |
| Hydrolyzed wheat protein | Processed wheat protein, used in flavorings and cosmetics |
Wheat allergy vs gluten
Wheat is one of the 9 major allergens. Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and their crossbreeds. So:
- If you avoid wheat, rye and barley may be fine for you, but check with your doctor.
- If you avoid gluten, you need to avoid rye and barley too, and malt made from barley.
See what "gluten-free" means on a US label.
Let SafeScan do the matching
SafeScan lists wheat as a major allergen and gluten as an extended allergen. Pick whichever applies to you, or both, and every scan checks for all the names above.
This guide is general information based on US labeling rules, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or allergist about your own allergies, and always read the label on the package in your hand.
Track wheat and gluten separately
SafeScan treats wheat as a major allergen and gluten as an extended allergen, so you can track either or both. It matches spelt, semolina, farro, seitan and other wheat names automatically.
Download on the App StoreFree to download for iPhone and iPad. No account needed, and your profiles and scan history stay on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is spelt wheat?
Yes. Spelt, along with durum, emmer, einkorn, farro and kamut, is a type of wheat.
If a food is gluten-free, is it wheat-free?
Not always. Under FDA rules, a gluten-free food can contain wheat starch that has been processed to remove gluten, if the final food has less than 20 ppm gluten. People with a wheat allergy may still need to avoid it.