What does gluten-free mean?

Some bread has a sticky part. Gluten-free skips it, so tummies feel better. It can be crackers or noodles. A grown-up checks the label.

Gluten-free means a food is made without gluten. Gluten is a stretchy part found in wheat, barley, and rye. It helps bread feel chewy. Some people get tummy aches or feel sick from gluten, so they eat gluten-free food. It is like picking shoes that fit your feet.

Gluten-free means a food has no gluten, or only a tiny safe amount. Gluten is a protein, a building block in food, found in wheat, barley, and rye. It makes dough stretchy, so bread can puff up and hold its shape. Some people, especially people with celiac disease, get sick when gluten touches their gut, so they need gluten-free foods made from things like rice, corn, potatoes, or beans. Fun fact: the word gluten comes from a word meaning “glue.”