Quinoa - is it gluten free?

[GIDGET]

Have a friend who is gluten free. Planning a BBQ/lunch do at our place in a couple of weeks time - so doing some menu planning.

Wanted to make everything gluten-free so she is not excluded from anything - it is easy enough (I am a wheat free freak so not that far off!).

Does anyone know if Quinoa (pronounced Keenwa) is gluten free?

I had read sources which say that it is and other which say that it is low gluten. Which is it?

I am thinking of doing a couscous-type salad but using quinoa instead.

[Roryrory]

I am 99% sure it is gluten free

[GIDGET]

Thanks roryrory. I asked my friend. She didn't know either but is willing to give it a try, even if we are only 99% sure it is okay!

Would be good to know 100% though!

[Pandora]

It should say on the packet, I thought it usually did?
ETA: when I googled it, every website I looked at said that it was gluten free.

[GIDGET]

Rayray - I buy it loose from the market, so no prepackaged packet for anything to be printed on!

I can google plenty of websites that say it is gluten-free. Likewise there are plenty of websites that say it is low gluten:

Here is a quote from a website called "The World's Healthiest Foods"

Since quinoa has a low gluten content, it is one of the least allergenic "grains..."

See, confusion everywhere!!!!!!

[Pandora]

Hmm, I see what you mean.

[Isiss]

I use it and my son is gluten intolerant, and I have never had a problem. My healthfood shop said it is gluten free.

[smiley10P]

Ceoliac disease handbook says it is gluten free. But if processes on equiptment that processes other products containing gluten could be contaminated. Can you ring the manufacturers /processors and ask them.

[GIDGET]

Thanks Smiley and Issis.

If it is in the Coeliac disease handbook as being gluten free then I think that is good enough advice for me.

[Isiss]

I buy the organic one, if that helps. It isn't mixed with anything else in the process.