Vinegar & Distilled Products

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

This was buried in another post...so I decided to break it out

Distilled products (vinegar or booze) are a little confusing. Currently, the opinion is that distilled items are OK. It is believed that the gluten molecules are too big to make it thru the distillation process - thus filtered out. You do have to be careful of what may be added AFTER the distillation process that may change it's GF status.

Does Distillation Remove All Gluten?

Most vinegars in the US are not made from wheat, but rather corn, potatoes or wood. Heinz white vinegar as it is distilled from corn. This is what we use.

Below are a bunch of links.

http://www.nowheat.com/grfx/nowheat/primer/iheard.htm

http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind9902C&L=celiac&P=R2863

http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind9902D&L=celiac&P=R89

http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind9904B&L=celiac&P=R2576

All the scientific evidence available agrees that distilled vinegars and
alcohols do not contain gluten.

Distilled Info from Celiac.com

Are Distilled Vinegars Made from Wheat Safe?

White vinegar or just plain vinegar are typically distilled, and, if so, are gluten-free. Distilled vinegar can be distilled from wheat, corn, potatoes, beets, wood, apples and many other things. Most in the USA are not made from wheat, but are instead made from corn, potatoes or wood, which are all safe (Heinz white vinegar is distilled from corn). Distilled vinegars that are made from wheat are probably gluten-free because of the distillation process described in Frederik Willem Janssen's article on this site.

Distilled vinegar made from wood are gluten-free. Wood-based vinegar is often the vinegar used in processed foods.

Flavored vinegars are made with white, distilled vinegar, and flavorings are then added. Some of these may also not be gluten-free (the cheapest vinegars are used since the flavors are masked by the herbs and flavoring).

Malted vinegars are usually not gluten-free.

Red and white wine and balsamic vinegars are gluten-free.

American Dietetic Association Revises Its Gluten-Free Guidelines - Distilled Vinegar is Safe for a Gluten-Free Diet

But I Heard That It's Not Safe To Eat...Distilled Vinegar, Rice, Vinegar

The Gluten Free Dietitian - Tricia Thompson's explanation of distilled vinegar
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

bump for TEC. There might be something here to use
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2341

Thanks for the bump, Al!

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

YW!

I noticed some of the links don't work. Sad

I noticed I pretty much duplicated the links here and on your post. Smile

Good luck!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

bump
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

bump due to the discussion on vodka
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

Thanks. I am still a little confused, or rather, not sure I can test on my body.

I read that distillation renders a product gf, but did read somewhere that people were reacting to vodka distilled from gluten grains, if the vodka wasn't triple distilled.

I am not ready to test myself, yet. I don't know how sensitive I am.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

Some people do say they "react" to distilled grain alcohol. What that reaction is...don't know. If you're not comfortable drinking it - it's best not to do it.

I believe Smirnoff is triple or maybe quad distilled. I also think Smirnoff is corn based...

http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-Smirnoff_Vodka_80_proof/content_196821159556

Thanks for making me remember this! A waitress at my local Outback said Smirnoff Vodak is not GF. I differed with her. I had forgotten till right now that it's corn based!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

voix · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

Yea, it is corn. I read that there was some sort of Smirnoff cooler or something that was not gf, but the vodkas were fine. That is an easy one to remember is gf and is easily available.

I don't think I have ever had a vodka made from potatoes, actually. I think that is sort of ironic.

I rarely drink right now, but unfortunately, I did drink Ketel One on the one day that I tested some other item and did react to something.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8135 Location: WI, USA

Correct Smirnoff Ice is not GF in the USA because it's malt based. Smirnoff Ice in Canada was GF because it was vodka based. I can't say if that is the case for Canada now however.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa