Gluten

Gluten is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour. It is added to strengthen doughs or raise protein content.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

These are extracted from foods or derived from them industrially: refined sugars made from starch, isolated proteins and fibres, modified starches and oils. NOVA calls them "substances of no or rare culinary use", the other defining sign of an ultra-processed food.

Where it turns up

Gluten appears in 1,772 of the 40,000 products on this site (4%).

Breads 307 of 2,388 products
Sliced breads 94 of 389 products
Bagel breads 61 of 91 products
Wheat breads 58 of 228 products
Meat analogues 50 of 511 products
Multigrain sliced breads 37 of 59 products

Products containing gluten

Showing the 60 most popular of 1,772.

How the NOVA classification works