Quinoa - is it gluten free?

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.

I am 99% sure it is gluten free

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!

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.

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!!!!!!

Hmm, I see what you mean.

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

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.

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.

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