Is Parmesan gluten free?

[catski]

Yes, it's made of milk...

Sorry to sound thick. I just wondered if they put anything else in it. I think some other cheeses contain gluten don't they?

I would think the only kind of cheese type product that might contain gluten, would be the very processed kind. Bleurghk!

catski - are you concerned about coeliac condition? Many coeliacs cannot tolerate lactose as well as gluten?

I am on a gluten free and lactose free diet. I can tolerate a little bit of Parmesan as it contains very little lactose. Cheese does not have gluten in.

Mozarella, blue cheeses and cottage all contain gluten. Just cant find anything definitive on Parmesan.

Well... normal cheese does not have gluten in unless it is some kind of weird processed kind as nellymoo says.

Beenbeta - no it's for my son who has been on a gf-cf diet due to autism. The gluten side of it is stricter than for coeliacs (as I understand it) - can't even have a molecule of gluten (which is why many 'gluten free' foods are off limits as they contain wheat starch or glucose syrup which can be derived from wheat, which I think are allowed under the Codex rules, but are not suitable for children with autism on this diet). We've recently reintroduced casein back into his diet, but he is still gluten free.

Very interesting. I have a friend who has a son with exactly the same problem. Autistic and gluten intolerant. I strongly believe there is a link between gut permeability and autism.

Cannot imagine how a natural hard cheese could get gluten in though? However, I do know Parmesan has got some lactose as does cottage cheese. Blue cheese have a much higher amount. Are you sure it is gluten you are worried about or is it the lactose?

After asiduous Googling I see some blue cheese may have gluten in if the mould is started with bread.

Yes, that's the one - gut permeability and the opioid excess theory! It's definitely the gluten we are trying to avoid. Re the blue cheese - it's sneaky isn't it? Gets everywhere the little bugger!

I can't find anything which suggests Parmesan contains gluten, and you guys haven't come across it either, so I think it will be ok. Might call the manufacturer though - juuuuuust to double check.

I'm a coeliac, but probably can;t help if the gluten free requirements are more stringent for your DS.

Perhaps start this thread again in the special needs topic, or ask for some more advice on what is and isn't OK over there?

I'm truly shocked about blue cheeses having a gluten content and the mould starter being bread based; I hadn't even considered that.

I know that the Indian cheese paneer isn't GF, but that has some sort of barley content in it. Other than that I thought all cheeses were OK, unless it's something like Stilton with Christmas cake added

Beenbeta, lactose intolerance is normally a temporary condition for undiagnosed or newly diagnosed coeliacs; once the gut has had a chance to recover lactose is normally tolerated OK.

there is always pretend parmesan cheese that you can get in the freefrom section of the supermarket. Not sure what it is, but it is definately gluten as well as lactose free.

LacksDaisies - yes I think I read somewere on MN that eventually the lactose intolerance goes away. Not sure how long though? Do you know?

Eating an occassional ice cream would be my absolute favourite thing to do again if I could. Any milk makes me feel really ill at the moment.

BeenBeta, it can take up to three months for the gut to recover, but for me I was able to tolerate milk a few weeks after being gluten free. But, from onset of chronic symptoms to diagnosis was only a few months for me, so my gut was less damaged than it otherwise might have been.

I've have CD and have never had a problem with any kind of cheese. I stay away from blue though, for the aforementioned mold-started-on-bread reason.

even some bought ready grated cheddar contains gluten - usualy its rice or potato starch but sometimes wheat starch - all used to stop it caking together - so if you eat a jacket spud in a pub, you need to ask about the cheese! Don't know if the same applies to tubs of parmesan, but it WILL be on the ingredients label

some of the processed (cheap) "cream" cheeses contain a small % of wheat protein too - not philadelphia but the cheap "basics" ones

nottirednow - thats really useful info. I didnt know it was possible to buy lactase.

I am stil very very sensitive to milk after 18 months. So is my father who I am convinced has undetected coeliac condition. It is partly/mostly genetic after all.