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Celiac.com 03/09/2021 - We get a lot of questions here about what products may contain gluten. One question we've seen a lot recently is about drinking straws. The switch away from plastic straws has opened up a straw wonderland of sorts, with many eco-friendly options, including reusable, or biodegradable, and compostable.

Many celiacs are concerned that some of the new biodegradable straws, especially paper straws, may contain gluten. For people with celiac disease, a little gluten can be a big deal, so naturally, many people are concerned and eager to get the facts.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A12): Are paper straws are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? What drinking straws are gluten-free-free and safe for people with celiac disease?

Paper Straws:  Compostable. Unlikely to contain gluten, but it's still possible. The National Celiac Association website points out that paper straws are unlikely to contain gluten. We also checked the website for one of the largest straw makers, Aardvark straws, which makes straws for Disneyland and Disney World, among others. Aardvark straws contain no known allergens, and are used in numerous hospitals. Aardvark straws do not have any gluten in or around them when being made. It is possible that wheat starch could be used to make them, and if so, they would not be safe. To be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using paper straws.

Bamboo Straws Good for hot and cold drinks, sustainable material, reusable and compostable. Good for short-term use.

Biodegradable Plastic Straws These straws hold up well and feel like their non-eco-friendly cousins. Compostable plastic straws are made from plant starches (typically corn) and oil, and decompose naturally in 2-3 months at a recycling facility.  If they are made using corn starch or other non-gluten containing starches they are gluten-free. It is possible that wheat starch could be used to make them, and if so, they would not be safe. To be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using biodegradable plastic straws.

Glass Straws Hard to clean, break easily. Gluten-free.

Silicone Straws Heat and cold resistant. Soft, and pliable. Boilable and microwaveable. Gluten-free.

Stainless Steel Straws Retain heat and cold, can poke teeth and mouth; many come with protective rubber tips. Hard to clean. Reusable and eco-friendly.  Gluten-free.

Wheat Straws Surprisingly unlikely to contain gluten, and often marketed as gluten-free. So how can wheat straw be safe for celiacs? Wheat straw is made from the stalk and stems of the wheat plant after the gluten-containing top part has been harvested to make flour. This wheat straw comes from a part of the wheat plant that does NOT contain gluten. Wheat straws are one-time use, and compostable. The straws are marketed as gluten free, however strange that may seem, based on the name. Even so, to be on the safe side, those with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis may want to avoid using wheat stem straws.

STRAWS BELOW ARE NOT GLUTEN-FREE

Pasta Straws Made from wheat pasta tubes. Compostable. One-time use. Not gluten-free.

Edited March 19, 2021 by Scott Adams

Hi, Thank you for posting this.  I did hear something about biodegradable cutlery as well,  Do you know anything about biodegradable cups?

I would guess that those would be similar to the straws, where it may be possible that wheat starch is used to make the plastic, at least in Europe and other countries, but corn starch would typically be used for USA products. We may do an article on this topic at some point.

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Scott Adams was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, and, due to the nearly total lack of information available at that time, was forced to become an expert on the disease in order to recover. In 1995 he launched the site that later became Celiac.com to help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives.  He is co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of the (formerly paper) newsletter Journal of Gluten Sensitivity. In 1998 he founded The Gluten-Free Mall which he sold in 2014. Celiac.com does not sell any products, and is 100% advertiser supported.

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