Alcohol & Medication

Alcohol

There are many alcoholic beverages which ARE considered to be gluten-free. Research indicates the distillation process should eliminate any harmful gluten peptides, even if gluten-containing grains were used.  Examples of distilled alcohol include: bourbon, gin, vodka*, scotch & rye whisky. Also considered to be gluten-free: brandy, mead, sherry, port, grappa, ouzo, tequila, rum, and vermouth. However, some manufacturers may add gluten-containing ingredients in the form of added flavorings, which may contain barley malt (watch for caramel coloring also), so any product with added flavoring requires checking. Wine is generally thought to be gluten-free (**see note on wine below), but not wine-coolers, as they may contain barley malt.  Liqueurs or Cordials are made with distilled alcohol & added flavorings and can be gluten-free, but check the label ingredients for certainty, if flavor is added. Sake, made from rice, could be gluten-free but not always, as flavorings such as barley may have been added.  Most Hard ciders are safe, but barley could be added as a flavoring (check out Woodchuck & Crispin as two gluten-free options).

Alcoholic beverages NOT gluten-free are: Ale, non gluten-free Beer, Lagers, some Wine-coolers (look for barley malt as an ingredient -  though there are some wine-coolers which are GF).  Mixes, such as Bloody Mary, Margarita, etc. may contain barley malt.  Be sure to check the ingredients or call the manufacturer.  According to one gluten-free alcohol listing site the GODIVA line and some SMIRNOFF (FMB, Twisted V, Ice) are NOT gluten-free, and as mentioned above, Sake & Hard cider may or may not be gluten-free.

*Note on Vodka: Vodka is controversial.  Though the National Institutes of Health say all distilled alcohol is safe, even if made from gluten, The Celiac Sprue Association recommends against consuming gluten-based vodkas. Smirnoff, Tito’s Handmade are made with corn and are safe, and there are several made from potatoes including: Chopin, Teton Glacier, Cirrus and Luksusowa, Bombora and CooranBong from Australia which are safe.   http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenfreefoodshoppin1/f/Is-Vodka-Gluten-Free.htm

**Note on Wine: Wine by nature is gluten-free, as no grains are added.  There have been numerous debates on whether wines aged in oak barrels sealed with wheat flour paste are safe for Celiacs.  The consensus is – yes.  The majority of Celiacs can consume a variety of wines without experiencing any symptoms. Having said that, there are some who swear they have become sick after drinking a particular wine.  It has been suggested possibly the sulfites in the wine, and not the gluten, may have been the cause of symptoms, as many are sensitive to sulfites.  Yes, the practice of sealing barrels with wheat flour is indeed used, most commonly with aged European wines, though some American vineyards use this method of sealing as well.  Some wine experts believe the barrels are used so frequently, and cleaned in between, that if there were any remaining residue it would be in trace amounts. Many wineries in America, New Zealand & other countries use newer stainless steel barrels, or seal their barrels with something other than flour paste – such wines include Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Bag-in-the-Box wines.  So there you have it.  Now it is up to you to proceed as you wish.  Perhaps you will want to contact a few of your favorite wineries to pose the question to ease your mind, or like many you will continue to drink a variety of wines, without worry.

What you certainly may want to consider is avoiding spirits altogether for a period of time, to give the gut a chance to heal!

And for the Beer enthusiast -  There are several companies (New Planet, Redbridge, Bard’s Tale, Goose Island, Lake Front, Ramapo Valley for Passover Beer, Australia’s O’Brien and the UK’s Greens) which produce a line of thirst quenching gluten-free beers. Instead of using malted barley, other grains such as sorghum are used.

{See GF by Category/SPIRITS for a listing of Beer manufacturer websites}

Medication

Gluten (as a binding agent) may be present in medication & supplements, listed as an ”inactive ingredient”, and unfortunately there is currently no legal requirement of the manufacturer to include the source of gluten on the label, therefore it is imperative to check the ingredients’ label on the product, speak with your pharmacist, and/or call the manufacturer directly.

The following ingredients in medication/supplements should be questioned:

Note: Often when a manufacturer is asked if a product is gluten-free, they will say they cannot guarantee it is, because they are unable to verify if the materials they use from an outside source are, in fact, gluten-free.  At this point, it is a personal choice whether to use the medication.

Visit this trusted website, hosted by a clinical pharmacist, for a list of gluten-free medications, but we always caution ingredients can change at any time so it is best to contact the manufacturer directly: http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/

Also:  Tips from a Pharmacist (article written in 2007) http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/digestive-health/nutrition-support-team/nutrition-articles/PlogstedArticle.pdf

Drug Manufacturers:

http://www.drugs.com/pharmaceutical-companies.html

http://www.therubins.com/resource/drugdirect.htm

Tips: Take your cell phone with you when you head to the pharmacy, so you can call the manufacturer to inquire if a product is gluten-free!  FYI, BEANO (prescribed for gas, etc.) contains gluten. There are other brands available which do not (TUMS, adult only).  Thought you would like to know!