Various types of meat.
There is no gluten present in meats that have been slaughtered and packaged but not processed in any way. There may be gluten in meat or meat products that have been processed. This includes sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and anything packed in sauce. This is because wheat flour and grains are often used as fillers or binders in packaged products. For many snack foods, there is also the potential for cross-contamination with other meat products and equipment that contain trace amounts of gluten.
Hot dogs, which often contain gluten.
The proteins that make up gluten are not naturally present in animal meat, as they are mainly of plant origin. This means that there is no gluten in meat that has not been processed. The only exception to this would be meat that has been contaminated by equipment or surfaces that are also used for gluten-containing products, but it is extremely rare for gluten to be transmitted in this way.
A butcher can prepare gluten-free sausages at the customer’s request.
Some people with celiac disease are concerned about eating meat from animals fed grains that contain gluten. The idea is that part of the gluten proteins can reach the muscle tissue of the animal. Scientifically, the body breaks down gluten into amino acids that are used to build muscle, so gluten has no way of getting into meat. While there is no scientific evidence that gluten shows up in meat from grain-fed animals, some with celiac disease still report feeling sick after eating it.
Any type of meat that has been canned, except plain steaks, should be checked for additional ingredients. Items that contain gluten may not have obvious names and include hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, malt, and vegetable gum. If a piece of meat appears to have been processed or marinated and there is no ingredient list, the only two options are to ask the butcher what is in it or to avoid the meat altogether.
There can also be gluten in meat that is part of a mix or that has been ground and frozen. This includes products like pre-made hamburger patties, frozen packaged ground meats, hot dogs, and pre-seasoned mixes. All have the potential to contain gluten and should be assumed to contain gluten unless the packaging indicates otherwise.
Pure meat that has been cut and packaged will be gluten-free as long as there is no cross-contamination, although any meat that has been prepared or processed in any way should be viewed with suspicion. People who are gluten intolerant should beware of all packaged meats and avoid them if a proper ingredient list cannot be found. There are few laws regulating the list of gluten in foods, so it’s probably better to be overly cautious than to get sick from gluten in meat.