Is oat milk gluten free?

This is a very interesting question, as many of us are choosing plant based milks now rather than dairy milk. Oats are a bit of a conundrum for anyone who must eat gluten free – sometimes they are gluten free, and sometimes they’re not. It often depends on how they are processed, since any cross contamination can make a gluten free product suddenly unsafe for us to consume!

So then, is oat milk gluten free? Let’s find out!

Does oat milk have gluten?

The answer is: SOMETIMES oat milk is gluten free. But, sometimes it totally is not. Always check the package, and see if it has been verified gluten free. If it has, it might be safe for you to consume. (See more information on why this is the case, below.)

If it’s not clearly labelled as certified Gluten Free then you shouldn’t use it. I know it’s not the easy answer you were hoping for, but at least there are some varieties of oat milk that state clearly on their packaging that they have been tested and are gluten free.

Gluten free oat milk – Brands

More and more brands are offering gluten free oat milk. The brands I could currently find that are certified gluten free include:

  • Oatly – A very popular oat milk brand! We’ve also heard that the Oatly Barista is amazing for making gourmet coffee drinks at home, such as lattes or cappuccinos. It would probably also make delicious hot chocolate of course.
  • Silk
  • Chobani

Be really careful of generic type oat milks that don’t say anything about being gluten free! You should always see a big GF sign on the container of milk. And if you’re Celiac, you have to be even more careful than that!

Can all Celiacs drink gluten free oat milk?

This is a tricky question, to be honest. I have some friends whose son is Celiac, and he kept getting sick when eating even certified gluten free oats or oat milk. So, if you personally find that even certified gluten free oat milk makes you feel ‘off’ or worse, you might be better off avoiding it altogether.

This same couple said their son’s doctor said that some Celiacs really can’t handle any oats. This is likely due to the inherent problem of cross-contamination that occurs with oats. If you’re Celiac, you might want to avoid most oat products. It’s something that is different for each person – definitely ask your health care practitioner about it as well.

Is oat milk dairy free?

Yes! As a plant based milk derived from rolled oats, it is a milk that can be enjoyed by vegans AND vegetarians. And, of course those who have lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy.