Are oats gluten free from Australia? Well, yes & no!

Confused about GF oats? Then read on.

This is a common question we receive, and it can be a bit tricky to explain. So, do yourself a favour—relax and take a quick moment to let me clarify.

In Australia, oats cannot be labelled as gluten free. According to Australian food and labelling standards, any product containing oats cannot be labelled “gluten free”. This is much stricter than regulations in places like the US or Europe. Why, you ask? Firstly, due to farming practices involving shared machinery and facilities in mixed grain farming in Australia, grains containing gluten such as wheat, rye, and barley have made Australian-grown oats glutenous. Secondly, oats contain a protein similar to gluten called Avenin, which can trigger a reaction in some Coeliacs similar to gluten. Therefore, in Australia, you will see labels like "wheat free," "low gluten," "gluten tested," or "contaminated free," but not "Gluten Free" or "GF." However, if you do see oats labelled GF, they are most likely imported from Europe.

Gluten Free Oats in Australia - yes they exist!

In Western Australia, there are oats grown with 'nil gluten detected,' which is great news for those who prefer Australian-made products. Merre Granola obtains single-origin oats that are gluten-tested from the field to your pantry. Interestingly, while these oats show no gluten detection, oats labelled as gluten-free in Australia often have higher gluten content. It's quite surprising!

It's crucial to always read the label, particularly for individuals with Coeliac disease.

We can make this using single origin WA oats tested with nil gluten!

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Check out HERE on how to purchase gluten tested MERRE GRANOLA online.