5 foods you probably thought were gluten free but aren't

Sausages

You'd think asking for a gluten-free sausages at Bunnings just meant ditching the bread, but it turns out some sausages and hot dogs can contain traces of gluten as flour can be added as a filler and binder to hold the meat together. 

Liquorice

While liquorice root is gluten free, your granny's favourite treat in its original forms sadly does contain gluten. Both red and black licorice contain wheat flour to help bind all of the ingredients together. 

Soy sauce

Pure soy beans may be gluten free, but it turns out soy sauce usually has wheat added to the mix during the fermentation process, so best to avoid smothering your sushi in it, particularly if you're coeliac.

Couscous

Couscous is often thought to be a great alternative to pasta, but it's main ingredient is actually durum wheat. It's coarsely ground wheat that is tossed in wheat flour until it becomes the tiny balls we're used to eating alongside our favourite Middle Eastern dishes.

Buckwheat and Oats

Despite the name, buckwheat is not a wheat! It's a seed, and oats aren't a type of wheat either. And while they're both technically gluten free in Australia, modern day machine processing can lead to cross-contamination, so it's best to read the label before purchasing a box of these products to ensure they read 'gluten free'.

Luckily, most of the items listed are readily available in gluten free versions, but always read the label first, particularly if coeliac.

Still confused? Check out our 23 gluten-free dinners that won't break the bank gallery.