Is there such a thing as gluten free oats?

Oats have been a staple in many people’s diets over the centuries. Usually consumed at breakfast and packed with fibre, oats are easy to make either hot or cold.
Plus, you can add a variety of other ingredients to enhance nutrition such as raw honey, berries, dried fruits and spices.

So – can you get gluten free oats?

Technically – you can’t call Oats Gluten-Free in Australia.

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye & barley and other similar grains, which can cause adverse health effects in individuals with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.  Studies show that oats are in fact naturally free from gluten.
The contamination comes pre-dominantly through the processing & supply chain of farm to table.

Gloriously Free founder Kylie’s father was a grain farmer in Central Queensland, where he grew a variety of crops, wheat, oats & barley. “We used the same harvesters, storage bins & trucks during the processing of the grains. And when the grains arrived at the mills for processing, once again they generally process all sorts of grains throughout their plants. This is where the gluten contamination comes from.”

Here in Australia, whilst we have many oat farmers, one of the main problems is accessing a mill that can steam and roll the oats in a dedicated facility. Ensuring that the oat is uncontaminated from the gluten found in other gluten grains. Gluten is sometimes present in many packaged oat products due to the high prevalence of cross-contamination both in the field and in the processing facility. Often times, oats are grown and processed alongside gluten-rich foods such as barley, wheat and rye, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Pure, uncontaminated oats may test to nil gluten. Kylie imports non-contaminated oats from the USA into Australia and tests EVERY single batch to ensure there is NIL gluten detected. “Great lengths are taken from the time the seed is sown at GF Harvest in the USA , our dedicated suppliers, to the packaging of the products here in Australia. All processing is done in a gluten free facility.” She also publishes all the gluten test results on her website, for every load they import.

“Gloriously Free Oats are certified gluten-free in various nations of the world, and our oats test nil gluten contamination here in Australia. However we are still unable to be labelled gluten-free due to current Australian labeling restrictions, which we are working with Monash University researchers to update.”

“It is important to us here at Gloriously Free Foods that we provide Australian consumers with oats that are free from the contamination of the gluten found in wheat, rye or barley. “Oats they can trust.”

Can you eat oats if you are a Coeliac?

“Evidence shows that uncontaminated oats are well tolerated by most people with coeliac disease. However, in some people with coeliac disease, oat consumption can trigger a potentially harmful immune response. Please note that the absence of symptoms when consuming oats does not necessarily indicate they are safe – bowel damage can still occur despite the absence of symptoms. It is recommended that individuals who wish to consume oats as part of their gluten-free diet do so under medical supervision to ensure appropriate review and safety.” Coeliac Australia

Gloriously Free Oats are uniquely grown and processed in certified facilities that are free from the contamination from the gluten found in wheat, rye, spelt and barley grains. They are sourced from the USA where they use minimal impact growing techniques and crop exclusion zones. Their oats seed is sourced from a heritage seed and has a unique roasted creamy flavour that comes from their unique shelf stable mill processes and production line that is free of the top 8 allergens.

If you have a serious coeliac condition or gluten intolerance, please seek advice from your healthcare professional before consuming.

Transitioning to a gluten free diet? Read our essential guide to GF
Or read our first steps to going gluten free