Gluten-Free Cereal (90+ Options for 2024)

Cereal is a fast and easy way to grab a simple breakfast, or it even doubles as a late night or after school snack. But, now that you know you have to avoid gluten, which box do you reach for? I have a list of all the gluten free cereals so you can have ample choices. Enjoy this list of gluten-free cereals to go get your crunch on.

This post contains affiliate links.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THERE IS GLUTEN IN A CEREAL?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. And, please note that gluten also fall under wheat and its synonyms: wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn. Because cereals are based off of grains, it is important that you know how to read a label so that you don’t grab a cereal made out of these grains.

I like to not only look for a “certified gluten-free” logo or marking on the box, but it’s also good to learn to read through the list of ingredients and make sure that you don’t see any of those above grains listed.

DOES A COMPANY HAVE TO PUT A “GLUTEN-FREE” LABEL ON THEIR PACKAGING?

According to FALCPA (the food allergen labeling and consumer protection act) it says it will require labeling if:

(1) If it is not a raw agricultural commodity and it is, or it contains an ingredient that bears or contains, a major food allergen, unless either–
1. “(A) the word `Contains’, followed by the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived, is printed immediately after or is adjacent to the list of ingredients (in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients) required under subsections (g) and (i); or
2. “(B) the common or usual name of the major food allergen in the list of ingredients required under subsections (g) and (i) is followed in parentheses by the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived, except that the name of the food source is not required when–
  1. “(i) the common or usual name of the ingredient uses the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived; or
  2. “(ii) the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived appears elsewhere in the ingredient list, unless the name of the food source that appears elsewhere in the ingredient list appears as part of the name of a food ingredient that is not a major food allergen under section 201(qq)(2)(A) or (B). [Source]

So, that’s why it’s important to not only look for the “contain” statement, as you see a company can get away with not adding that extra statement, as long as it is written clearly in the ingredient paragraph. So, always read both.

The extra tricky part about gluten, however, is that the FALCPA only covers wheat (because it is a top 8 allergen) and it does not cover rye, barley or triticale.

So, you can just rely on the “certified gluten-free” logo, right? Not exactly.

The call out on packaging that says “gluten-free” is voluntary. That’s why you won’t see “gluten-free” on bottled water, though water is clearly gluten free. So, you could be missing out on products that are safe for you, if you’re going by logo and extra label calls outs only. Which is why again, you need to be comfortable reading labels.

According to the FDA:

Since 2014, a food can be considered gluten-free if it contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm). It also qualifies if:

An ingredient that is any type of wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains,
An ingredient derived from these grains that has not been processed to remove gluten, or,
An ingredient derived from these grains that has been processed to remove gluten, but results in the food containing more than 20 ppm of gluten [Source]

So, I personally feel safe if I do see a gluten-free call out, but I don’t wholly rely on it when making purchasing decisions. Do what feels safest to you. And, if ever in doubt, call the company directly. I’ve done this many times, there are often 1-800 numbers on packaging and they’re easy to ring up and ask about gluten.

WHAT ABOUT MALT?

Malt is considered unsafe for those avoiding gluten–which is a bummer because it’s in a fair number of cereals.

WHAT ABOUT OATS?

Oats are a tricky and contested subject. Since Cheerios and Lucky Charms (oat based) cereals started calling out that they’re gluten-free, some Celiacs still don’t trust them. Or, some still complain of stomach issues with them. So, why could this be?

Oats are often grown next to and processed on the same equipment as wheat and rye, and therefore some people consider them to have “cross contact” and still not be safe.

So, some manufacturers have implemented something called “certified gluten-free oats” which signifies they have taken extra steps to ensure the oats are processed away from gluten containing grains.

According to Celiac.org: “Research indicates that pure, uncontaminated oats consumed in moderation (up to ½ cup dry rolled oats daily) are tolerated by most people with celiac disease. Some people with celiac disease have an immune reaction to the avenin in oats, a protein similar to gluten, and should avoid all oats, even those labeled gluten-free.”

I will include certified gluten-free cereals in this list, but be aware that they may not work for everyone with Celiac Disease and proceed according to your own diet, comfort level and above all, doctor’s orders.

OTHER GLUTEN-FREE BREAKFAST ITEMS

If you’re looking for more than cereal to fill you up, I also have a list of 100+ Gluten-free Dairy-free Breakfast Ideas (as many people avoid both, and if you don’t, you can sub back in regular dairy products). This list has multiple recipes for pancakes and muffins, as well as store bought items too.

!CAUTIONARY NOTE!

Cereal companies can change their recipes or manufacturing processes at any time. The best way to know if a product is gluten-free is to look at the packaging in hand. That will have the most accurate information. Please always read labels thoroughly and do not solely rely on my list or others as things could have changed from the time I published it. This should be a starting point where you do your own verification.

GLUTEN FREE CEREAL LIST BY COMPANY

I’m going to list the gluten-free cereals by company. When possible, I’ll link to them on Amazon, in case you like getting Amazon packages like I do. Please note, that I live in the USA, so if you’re shopping outside of the US, recipes and brands may differ.

There are always specialty/small brands that pop up, so if you hear of a new brand, please comment with it below, to help future readers see and hear about it. It’s so nice to have options!

POST:

Here is what Post says on their website about their gluten-free cereals: “We follow strict safety protocols in our facilities and test products rigorously to make sure our gluten-free cereals and snacks meet FDA standards.”

Kellogg’s:

Sadly, there are no current cereals that meet the standards. Here is their statement: “Kellogg’s ® Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Cocoa Krispies, Crispix and Kellogg’s ® Frosted Flakes do not list wheat as an allergen but are not labeled gluten free because they contain malt. The malt comes from barley and may contain gluten. “

I hope Kellogg’s will reformulate and start offering more choices for the gluten-free community.

General Mill’s:

I find the cereals I’ve listed up to this point are the easiest to find and are in most grocery store chains. Below I’m going to list some more that may be a little more difficult to find, and you may have to purchase them in natural type stores or online.

THREE WISHES

Three Wishes is a gluten-free brand, and every one of their cereals are gluten-free as they’re made of chick peas.

QUAKER

GRITS

Although you would think that grits are gluten-free, for those worried about cross contamination, you can’t just pick up any grits brand. Quaker, a popular brand for grits, claims: “We don’t claim our grits are gluten free. Our grains are handled and transported in bulk by our suppliers. Although wheat, rye and barley are not part of the ingredients in this product, it is important we let you know that this product may contain trace amounts due to grains being grown, harvested or stored with other grains.”

These brands, do have a “gluten free” claim on the label:

HOT CEREAL

OATMEAL

CASCADIAN FARMS

NATURE’S PATH

365

SEVEN SUNDAYS

ANNIE’S

Organic Cinnamon Roll Cereal

CATALINA CRUNCH

NUCO

Coconut Crunch

MAGIC SPOON

NUWA

FORAGER PROJECT

BARBARA’S

Organic Corn Flakes

ANCIENT HARVEST

Quinoa Flakes

THRIVE MARKET

Organic Coconut Flakes Cereal

PURELY ELIZABETH

I hope these options help you have a wonderful and filling breakfast! If I’ve missed any, please be sure to comment below so we can keep the list going! Don’t forget to pin this either, to help you find it again! While you’re there, be sure to check out my other gluten-free pins!

Megan Lavin

Hi! I’m Megan, a mom to four kids, two with multiple food allergies & one with EOE. I’m a published cookbook author that constantly tweaks recipes to make them allergy friendly–it’s an addiction. I share every recipe & tip with you, to help you eat like you did before food allergies & dietary restrictions. You can still be awesome, even with food allergies!

Gluten-Free Cereal (90+ Options)

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THERE IS GLUTEN IN A CEREAL?

DOES A COMPANY HAVE TO PUT A “GLUTEN-FREE” LABEL ON THEIR PACKAGING?

So, you can just rely on the “certified gluten-free” logo, right? Not exactly.

WHAT ABOUT MALT?

WHAT ABOUT OATS?