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    Home » Paleo Lifestyle

    Is Honey Gluten Free?

    Nov 14, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    November 14, 2023 by Beth Leave a Comment

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    is honey gluten free written over jar of honey, dipper and flowers
    is honey gluten free? written over jar of honey, dipper and flowers
    is honey gluten free? written over jar of honey, dipper and bee

    Is honey gluten free? Yes, it’s naturally gluten free. However, there is always a risk of cross contamination during manufacturing. If you’re sensitive to gluten, there are a few things to watch out for.

    honey dipper drizzling honey into jar of honey with flowers

    Does honey have gluten?

    The short answer is, no. Honey is a naturally gluten free product. However, not all honey is the same. It really depends on where honey comes from plus how and where it’s been processed.

    Generally raw honey is as close to honey from the hive as you will get in stores. It’s the least processed honey and does not contain any additives which makes it the least likely to contain gluten from cross contamination.

    However, it’s very important that you always read the ingredients on the products that you purchase. Just because something like honey would logically only include one ingredient, doesn’t make it so. You’d think that you wouldn’t need to dig deeper into the ingredients. But cheaper versions of honey may be heavily processed and cut with corn syrup or barley malt extract. All of which could contain gluten. And in the case of barley malt extract, definitely contains gluten.

    jar of honey with dipper, bee and flowers

    There’s also the risk of cross contamination if the honey isn’t processed in a gluten free facility. If you’re extremely sensitive to gluten even trace amounts of gluten could cause issues.

    Brands can and will change their manufacturing process/ingredients without notice so it’s best to be vigilant regarding ingredients and packaging.

    If you have a gluten intolerance or suffer from celiac disease, then it’s best to read labels, research brands and use only those products which you trust.

    bee landing on lanvender

    What is honey?

    Honey is the nectar of flowers that is made by bees. Bees collect the nectar and then bring it back to the hive. They regurgitate the nectar and pass it to the hive bees which process the nectar. The process of continued regurgitation is what creates the honey. Try not to think about honey being bee vomit too much otherwise it just won’t taste as sweet.

    Bees produce honey as food for their larvae and for themselves during long winters or lean periods. Luckily, they generally produce too much which is why we get to enjoy it as well.

    bee landing on lavender

    Does honey have health benefits?

    In moderation, yes, honey does have nutritional value and health benefits. While honey is most commonly thought of as a natural sweetener, it’s been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.  

    While honey does have a very high fructose content (about 45%) and contains about 64 calories per tablespoon, it also containers a range of micronutrients (like sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, niacin, vitamin c, and riboflavin, just to name a few!) [source]

    Historically, honey has been used in wound care, to treat coughs, and has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties. [source]

    close up of bee resting on lavender flower

    Is honey safe for celiac sufferers?

    People that suffer from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, can generally consume honey if it hasn’t been contaminated with gluten. The concern with honey is for those with celiac disease is the risk of honey cross contamination.

    The Risk of Cross Contamination

    Cross contamination is a huge issue for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

    jar of honey with dipper, bee and surrounded by flowers

    Honey is at risk of cross contamination during manufacturing. While honey should be a single ingredient product, mass production and manufacturing can introduce trace amounts of gluten into a product. If the honey isn’t produced in a dedicated gluten free facility or even a gluten free line, then there’s opportunity for gluten to contaminate the product.

    Keep in mind that if you are purchasing local honey that is bottled in the beekeeper’s home kitchen, there’s a chance that it could also contain gluten. If the kitchen is not gluten free then trace amounts of gluten could end up in your honey.

    It’s best to follow the same guidelines and take the same precautions you would with any other food to ensure that whatever honey you purchase is gluten free.

    bottles and jars of gluten free honey

    Brands of honey that are considered gluten free

    At the time of writing this post (November 3, 2023), these brands offer gluten free honey. However, please keep in mind that brands change their manufacturing processes and ingredients often and without notice. Please check and read labels before you make a purchase.

    Here are the brands that are certified gluten free:

    • Comvita: According to the company website and packaging, their honey is certified gluten free.
    jar of peace river honey with green top

    Here are brands that manufacture their honey in allergen free facilities:

    • Beekeeper’s Natural: According to their customer service, all their products are made in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified facility, that do not contain any nuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy or gluten. The exception is their lozenges, which are manufactured on equipment used to process dairy, tree nuts, peanut, coconut and soy protein.
    • Mike’s Hot Honey: According to their website, their products are not manufactured in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, wheat or soy. They are also gluten-free.
    • Bee Harmony: According to their website, their products do not contain wheat, crustacea, eggs, fish, peanuts, milk, tree nuts, soybeans, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites, lactose or Yellow 5 (tartrazine). Bee Harmony Honey facilities do not process or store anything containing gluten.
    • Manukora: According to their customer service, ‘Manukora is not certified but our honey is produced in a non-allergen facility where there is zero risk of cross-contamination.’
    jar of bee harmony honey with more gluten free honey in background

    Here are brands that manufacture their honey in gluten free facilities:

    • Peace River Honey: According to their customer service, their products and facility are gluten free.
    • Sue Bee (Sioux Honey and Aunt Sue’s): According to their website, their honey is manufactured in a gluten free facility.
    • Capilano Honey: According to their website, no gluten-containing products are handled or stored in their packing facilities.
    • Glory Bee Honey: Their quality assurance department sent me a gluten free statement which said ‘the honey manufactured by Glory Bee is naturally gluten free and in nature or formulation does not contain wheat, wheat varieties (i.e., spelt, and kamut), rye, barley, cross-bred hybrids (i.e., triticale or oats). Since this product is not certified gluten-free and we do not test for gluten, we do not guarantee this product as gluten-free. Any certified gluten free products will be identified as certified gluten free. Our honey processing facility does not process any gluten containing products. No gluten containing products are stored in the processing facility. Our finished, sealed products are stored in a warehouse with gluten containing products. The chance of cross contact in the handling of gluten containing products is highly unlikely.’
    • TJO Bees: According to their owner (he responded personally), their honey is processed in a gluten free facility.
    • Wedderspoon: According to their customer service, their honey is processed and packaged in a gluten free facility.
    • Greenbowus: According to their customer service, the honey is processed in a gluten free facility.
    • Heavenly Organics: According to their customer service, their ‘facility is gluten free.’
    jar of gluten free honey with black lid

    Here are the brands that only produce honey.

    • Manukora: According to their customer service, their ‘Manuka honey is entirely raw, free from additives, and it is processed in a facility exclusively dedicated to honey production, with no other food items present.’
    • Cox’s Honey: According to their customer service, ‘the only thing we package in our facility is our honey. But we cannot say it is certified gluten free or processed in a gluten free facility.’
    • Local Hive: According to their customer service, ‘all Local Hive Honey is processed in a plant which doesn't produce anything else besides honey. So no gluten touches anything here at any time.’
    • Y.S. Organic Bee Farms: According to their customer service, ‘None of our products have gluten ingredients.  We only make bee products at this facility, so there are no products that have gluten.’
    • Steens: According to their customer service, ‘our honey is gluten free. However, we are not certified with this. Our honey contains no added ingredients and is just honey straight off the comb. We do not produce any other foods in our facilities apart from our honey.’

    Please keep in mind that this isn't a complete list of gluten free brands. I reached out to dozens of brands, and these are the brands that either responded or had gluten free statements on their websites by the time of publishing this post.

    bottle of local hive honey on white background

    FAQs

    • Is raw honey gluten-free? Raw honey is honey that has not been pasteurized or heated. It also means that it has been diluted with corn syrup, sugar or another sweetener. Raw honey is only filtered to remove debris or pieces of honeycomb. Raw honey is the closest to the hive as you can get. If raw honey is processed in a gluten free environment, it’s most likely to be gluten free.
    • Is honey powder gluten free? Honey powder is dehydrated honey. However, it’s almost never just honey. It usually contains additional ingredient like corn syrup or maltodextrin. The additional processing and ingredients mean that there is more opportunity to introduce gluten into the product. It’s a good idea to only use a product that clearly states its certified gluten free, made in a gluten free facility and does not contain additional ingredients.
    • Is buckwheat honey gluten free? Buckwheat is gluten free. Despite the name, buckwheat is not even a grain or related to wheat. It’s classified as a flowering plant or pseudo grain. Therefore, it’s safe to consume buckwheat honey on a gluten free diet if it’s certified gluten free or processed in a gluten free facility.
    • Is flavored honey safe on a gluten free diet? Flavored honey can be an issue when on a gluten free diet. If the flavoring contains grains, then it’s likely to also contain gluten. Also introducing any other ingredients into honey can increase the likelihood of cross contamination. It’s best not to assume that a honey product is gluten free. It’s important to read the label, packaging and look past marketing terms to ensure that it’s safe for you to consume.
    • Is clover honey gluten free? Clover honey is made from the nectar of clover flowers and is gluten free. Again, be sure that the product is either certified gluten free or processed in a gluten free facility.
    • Is Manuka honey gluten free? Manuka honey is made from the nectar of the Manuka trees flowers which are exclusive to Australia and New Zealand. The Manuka tree and flower are gluten free and the honey produced is naturally gluten free. However, like with all other honey, be sure that it’s either certified gluten free or produced in a gluten free facility.
    pieces of toast and mason jar with lemon honey marmalade

    Honey Recipes

    Honey is a wonderful substitute for refined sugar. Besides the health benefits, it has an amazing, rich flavor. If you’re looking to avoid gluten and enjoy honey, here are a few of my favorite recipes:

    Sweet Recipes

    • Lemon Honey Marmalade
    • Honey Lavender Marshmallow
    • Homemade Tigernut Butter
    • AIP Black Cherry Ice Cream
    • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
    • AIP Cranberry Sauce

    Savory Recipes

    • Char Siu Sauce
    • Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
    • Vietnamese Pickled Vegetables
    • Sautéed Persimmons
    • Sweet Potato Glass Noodles Stir Fry (Japchae)
    mugs of instant pot apple cider

    Baked Goods

    • AIP Blueberry Muffins
    • AIP Zucchini Bread
    • No Bake Strawberry Pie
    • AIP Banana Bread
    • AIP Pumpkin Bread
    • AIP ‘Chocolate’ Chip Cut Out Cookies

    Drink Recipes

    • Sparkling Honey and Lemon Cider Mocktail
    • Honey Lavender Kombucha
    • Easy Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch
    • Rose Latte
    • Lavender Milk Tea
    • Instant Pot Apple Cider

    Love seeing my delicious photos? You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

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    Did you enjoy this post? I love hearing your thoughts on my posts so please comment below.

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