Mustard is one of the most popular condiments around. With its zippy flavor and range of options from very mild to spicy, it is a welcomed flavor addition to many meals. Its low calorie content and naturally fat-free ingredient list make it even more appealing. You can add it, guilt-free, to a sandwich or a salad, a sauce or a marinade.
But is mustard gluten-free?
In short, read the label every time. Most basic yellow mustards are simply water, vinegar, mustard seed, and a few other spices. These types of mustard are typically fine. But some of the more gourmet types of mustard may include flours or malt vinegar. Malt vinegar is particularly sneaky. Malt vinegar contains barley malt which is a gluten grain, and it is not a distilled vinegar.
Most vinegars made from a gluten grain are distilled which removes the gluten from the finished product. Malt vinegar is the exception.
Note
If you are particularly sensitive to trace amounts of gluten or have reacted to any type of vinegar in the past, you may wish to skip the mustard. Keep in mind that manufacturers are not required to list from which grain source their vinegars are derived. It’s difficult to know if it’s corn or wheat.