Updated September 2024
Wheat allergy is an immune system response to the proteins in wheat. Most children with wheat allergy will grow out of their allergy in childhood. An allergy to wheat is sometimes seen for the first time in adulthood.
People (almost always adults) who have exercise induced anaphylaxis often have wheat dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis. This means if they eat even a small amount of wheat, it can trigger a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) when the wheat is eaten up to 6 hours before exercise or sometimes even 4 hours after exercise.
Food ingredients that are made from wheat but do not need to be listed on food labels in Australia include:
- The wheat that is present in beer or spirits.
- Glucose syrups made from wheat starch and that:
- have been subject to a refining process that has removed gluten protein content to the lowest level that is reasonably achievable; and
- have a gluten protein content that does not exceed 20 mg/kg.
- Alcohol distilled from wheat.
Food Alerts to your inbox
What foods and products contain wheat?
Avoidance of wheat is important if you have a wheat allergy. People with wheat allergy may be able to eat other cereals such as rye, barley and oats if they are not allergic to them.
People with a wheat allergy may be able to tolerate caramel colour, dextrose, glucose powder and glucose syrup which are all made from wheat. Speak to your allergy specialist about whether you can have these ingredients.
Wheat can be found in many foods and as an ingredient in many products. For example, most playdough contains wheat.
Download our food allergen card to your phone or print a copy and put it on your refrigerator at home. This allergen card contains examples of the foods and products that may have wheat.
REMEMBER: You cannot tell what ingredients foods contain by looking at them, smelling them or tasting them. ALWAYS read labels when eating packaged food and when eating out, ALWAYS tell people preparing and serving food you have a food allergy. ASK about food content after you have told them about your food allergy.
To make eating out a little easier, A&AA has developed a chef card. You can write or print your allergens on the card. When telling the wait staff at a cafe or restaurant about your allergies, hand over your chef card and ask it to come back with your specially prepared meal.
Wheat allergy is different to coeliac disease and gluten intolerance
Coeliac disease is not a food allergy. It is an autoimmune disease that is not life threatening but can cause serious long term health problems. People with coeliac disease must avoid all foods that contain gluten. For more information visit Coeliac Australia.
Read more information about food allergy versus food intolerance here.
Downloads
More about food allergies
Food allergy
Learn more about different food allergies, triggers, signs and symptoms and more.
Living with allergies
Learn more about living with allergies, daily management, what to do in an emergency and more.
Wheat food alerts
View AllRelated posts
More information on wheat allergy can be found on the ASCIA website.
Information on food intolerance can be found on the ASCIA website.
For information on coeliac disease visit the Coeliac Australia website.