Is baking powder gluten free?
Depends on the product. That is what 1 publisher says about baking powder; their exact words are below. Packaged foods differ, so check the label of the product you buy.
What the sources tell us
A reader who had seen recipes calling for gluten-free baking powder asked the National Celiac Association whether some brands contain gluten. Its dietitian answered that the risk with some baking powders is that they may contain wheat starch or wheat flour.[6]
The association advises reading all of the ingredients carefully and choosing baking powder that says gluten free on the label, because those products are required to meet the FDA limit of less than 20 ppm of gluten.[6]
Wheat starch is the ingredient to understand here. The Gluten Intolerance Group says that for someone avoiding gluten, wheat starch could contain gluten unless it is in a product that is certified or labeled gluten-free, in which case the gluten has been processed out. It adds that someone allergic to wheat should avoid wheat starch.[5]
The group also explains that a product labeled gluten-free may list wheat starch or carry a Contains wheat statement, but then its label must also say that the wheat has been processed to meet FDA requirements for gluten-free foods.[5]
The Celiac Disease Foundation notes that wheat-free does not necessarily mean gluten-free. It says gluten-free wheat starch is permitted in labeled gluten-free foods when it has been specially processed to remove gluten proteins and tested to contain less than 20 ppm gluten.[4]
The GFCO list includes Baking Powder from Goldbaum's, Grain Free Baking Powder from Otto's Naturals and Baking Powder Wheat-Free from Allied Blending LP. GFCO counts a product as certified only when it appears on that list and its package carries a GFCO certification mark.[3][1][2]
What the authorities say
"The risk with some baking powders and confectionary sugars is that they may contain wheat starch or wheat flour."
National Celiac Association · Depends · nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/do-baking-ingredients-need-to-be-labeled-gf · fetched 2026-10-23
Certified gluten-free alternatives
Products on the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) list. Each links to its GFCO listing. A product counts as certified only when its package also carries the GFCO mark.
Sources
- [1] products.gfco.org/?s=860007494932 "Grain Free Baking Powder 8oz. SUP Otto`s Naturals 860007494932" GFCO certified product list · fetched 2026-10-23 · no date on page
- [2] products.gfco.org/?s=Baking+Powder+Wheat-Free "Baking Powder Wheat-Free Allied Blending LP 0" GFCO certified product list · fetched 2026-10-23 · no date on page
- [3] products.gfco.org/?s=GB00501 "Baking Powder Goldbaum`s GB00501" GFCO certified product list · fetched 2026-10-23 · no date on page
- [4] celiac.org/gluten-free-living/gluten-free-foods/label-reading-the-fda "Gluten-free wheat starch is permitted in gluten-free labeled foods when it has been specially processed to remove gluten proteins" Nonprofit · fetched 2026-10-23 · no date on page
- [5] gluten.org/2021/01/10/3-tips-for-gluten-free-label-reading "For someone avoiding gluten, wheat starch could contain gluten unless it is i n a product that is certified or labeled gluten-free ." Nonprofit · fetched 2026-10-23 · dated 2023-01-30
- [6] nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/do-baking-ingredients-need-to-be-labeled-gf "The risk with some baking powders and confectionary sugars is that they may contain wheat starch or wheat flour." Nonprofit · fetched 2026-10-23 · dated 2025-07-01