Do You Need to Worry About Gluten in Paper Plates and Straws?
Breaking down a new study with the help of a celiac dietitian
Over the past couple of months, you may have seen some social media posts claiming disposable paper plates, cutlery, and straws could contain gluten and be dangerous for celiacs.
I’m always cautious when I come across alarming information like this (especially when it’s posted by content creators, not health experts).
The source of these fear-mongering posts was a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that looked at potential gluten transfer from biodegradable foodware to gluten-free foods.
I reached out to Selena Devries, RD, a British Columbia-based celiac dietitian, and asked her to break down how the study was conducted and explain whether celiacs really need to be concerned about this or if it’s a non-issue.
Keep reading for all the details!
Table of contents:
What is biodegradable tableware, anyway?
How was the study conducted?
What did the results of the study show?
What should celiacs watch out for—and what’s not a concern?
What if you have symptoms after eating off of paper plates?
What is biodegradable tableware, anyway?
Before diving into the study, it’s important to understand what biodegradable tableware is and what it’s made of.
Biodegradable, or compostable, plates, cutlery, cups, and straws are a more eco-friendly alternative to plastic, which explains why they’re starting to gain traction.
Devries explains that in the EU, where this particular study was conducted, wheat bran-based biodegradable items are more available than they are in North America (although they’re still quite rare).
“Wheat bran contains the harmful gluten protein—and when items are made from it, it’s assumed to not be safe,” she says.
Devries points to previous research published in European Food Research and Technology that shows gluten transfer from wheat bran-based items could pose a risk for celiacs.
She also notes that wheat bran items like plates or cutlery have a very unique look, so they’re easy to spot. “They are a much darker rich brown vs. the almost beige color you would expect from a normal paper plate,” she says.
On the other hand, wheat straw doesn’t contain the harmful gluten protein and is much less likely to transfer gluten content to your food, explains Devries.
This is something backed by scientists from European celiac associations. You can watch what the experts from these organizations have to say on this topic in this webinar:
Devries also made an Instagram video a couple of years ago that goes into detail about wheat straw and why you probably don’t have to worry about it if you have celiac disease. She also answers users’ questions about wheat allergies in the comments.
In her video, she notes that Gluten-Free Watchdog has even tested some plates and straws made with wheat straw and found them to be under 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten and celiac-safe. (Here’s one such test result from Gluten-Free Watchdog.)
How was the study conducted?
According to Devries, this new study assessed if there would be potential gluten transfer from biodegradable materials to gluten-free food items.
The researchers looked at a total of eight different compostable tableware derived from sugar cane, palm leaf, and different wheat-based materials.
This included cups, straws, and dishes made from biodegradable materials from manufacturers in the European Union. “An important note here is that these items are not available in North America,” says Devries.
This particular study didn’t specify the type of wheat used to produce most of the tableware items, with the exception of one wheat pulp-based dish.
“Notably, this wheat pulp dish was found to be completely safe for individuals with celiac disease throughout the study,” says Devries. “Wheat pulp is made from wheat straw stalks, which aligns with previous research suggesting that wheat straw-derived products are typically gluten-free.”
For the study, the researchers first tested all eight tableware items for gluten content to determine whether the products themselves contained detectable gluten before any food was added.
They then placed gluten-free food on each item and assessed whether gluten transferred to the food, explains Devries.
What did the results of the study show?
“Encouragingly, seven of the eight items tested were completely safe for individuals with celiac disease,” says Devries. “These biodegradable products did not contain harmful levels of gluten, nor did they result in significant gluten cross-contact when gluten-free food was placed on them.”
Although several of the tested products were primarily derived from wheat, only one item—a plate—contained significant gluten levels (over 20 ppm) prior to food contact.
“This same plate was also the only item that led to significant gluten transfer (over 20 ppm) to gluten-free foods,” says Devries. “The liquids used in the study, including vegetable cream and milk, posed the greatest risk for harmful gluten exposure.”
A few interesting facts about the unsafe plate that was tested: “The plate with unsafe gluten levels was marketed as ‘eatable’ and had a noticeably different appearance compared to typical paper plates,” says Devries.
This plate was much deeper and darker in color than the typical light beige hue commonly seen in standard paper products. Additionally, when liquids were added, the plate swelled and gradually disintegrated.
“Overall, the findings suggest that most wheat-derived biodegradable tableware products currently available are safe for individuals with celiac disease,” says Devries.
What should celiacs watch out for—and what’s not a concern?
If you’re ever offered an “edible” plate, Devries says it would be wise to pause and question its safety. And if the plate is a rich, dark brown color distinctly different from the typical beige paper plate, you should avoid it, she adds.
However, this isn’t really a concern for anyone living in North America since this type of plate is currently only available in the EU, says Devries.
Although it’s sold on Amazon with a one-month delivery date, Devries says it’s not available in North American stores. So, you’re probably not going to come across this sort of plate outside of Europe at this time.
You also don’t need to be worried about the standard paper plates and straws commonly found in stores and coffee shops—those are safe for people with celiac disease, says Devries.
What you absolutely should steer clear of as a celiac, though, is wheat-based pasta straws (yes, this is really thing!). “Straws made from pasta are not safe and should be avoided by individuals with celiac disease,” says Devries.
What if you have symptoms after eating off paper plates?
If you’re anything like me, you probably come across people on social media claiming that they’ve been “glutened” by everything from beauty products to paper plates. But it’s best not to jump to conclusions.
Here’s the deal: “It’s important to remember that many things can cause symptoms, and gluten should not automatically be blamed,” says Devries. “This is especially true if you continue to experience persistent symptoms despite carefully following a gluten-free diet.”
You may assume you’ve been “glutened” by something when you experience symptoms, but it’s absolutely possible something else is going on unrelated to gluten.
Devries uses coffee as an example. “For some people, coffee can trigger reflux, stomach pain, or even diarrhea,” she says. “In these situations, the symptoms are not related to gluten but to how the body responds to coffee itself.”
The bottom line: “If you believe you’re reacting to paper plates or straws, it’s important to consult with a celiac-specialized healthcare professional, such as a dietitian or doctor, so you can get the help to feel better,” says Devries.
Have you seen the posts about gluten in paper plates and straws? What are your thoughts now after learning about the study results?
Sources:
Selena Devries, RD, a British Columbia-based celiac dietitian
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2025 73 (44), 28386-28394. “Potential Transfer of Toxic Gluten from Biodegradable Tableware to Gluten-Free Foods: Implications for Individuals with Gluten-Related Disorders.” https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c07516
European Food Research and Technology. Volume 250, pages 2711–2718, (2024). “Gluten migration from biodegradable food contact materials poses a risk to celiac disease patients.” https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-024-04570-4
Association of European Coeliac Societies. Can Biodegradable Food Packages contaminate Gluten Free Food?
Gluten-Free Watchdog. Wheat Straw Products. https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/category/wheat-straw-products/59
Celiac Self-Care. 5 Most Common Questions About Cross-Contact, Answered.
Celiac Self-Care. PSA: You Don’t Need to Use Gluten-Free Beauty Products if You Have Celiac Disease.
Celiac Self-Care. How to Order Coffee When You Have Celiac Disease.
Great info as usual!!
thanks for mentioning about the pasta straw (and stirrers) - some places think they are doing something sustainable/environmentally friendly by offering these instead of plastic stirrers for straws - but not something someone with celiac disease can use!