Is barley gluten free?
No. Barley contains gluten: barley is one of the grains FDA names as gluten sources (wheat, rye, barley and their hybrids).
What the gluten-free label means
A food labeled gluten free in the US must have less than 20 ppm gluten, whether the gluten comes from an ingredient or from contact during processing. Foods that are gluten free by nature, like fresh fruits and vegetables, can carry the label too (FDA).
Gluten-free foods of the same kind
From the same USDA food group, naturally free of wheat, rye and barley:
| Food | Serving | Calories | Protein | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barley | 1 cup (5.5 oz, 157 g) | 193 calories | 3.5 g | 6 g |
| Rice | 1 cup (5.6 oz, 158 g) | 205 calories | 4.3 g | 0.63 g |
| Quinoa | 1 cup (6.5 oz, 185 g) | 222 calories | 8.1 g | 5.2 g |
| Wild rice | 1 cup (5.8 oz, 164 g) | 166 calories | 6.5 g | 3 g |
| Hominy | 1 cup (5.8 oz, 165 g) | 119 calories | 2.4 g | 4.1 g |
Barley on other diets
Who needs to avoid gluten, and what going gluten free costs
- Level E The American College of Gastroenterology guideline defines celiac disease as an immune reaction to gluten, the storage protein of wheat, barley and rye, treated by excluding gluten. Am J Gastroenterol, 2013
- Level E NIDDK states that people with celiac disease need a gluten-free diet for life to prevent symptoms and intestinal damage from returning. NIDDK (NIH), Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Celiac Disease
- Level C A meta-analysis of 40 studies found gluten above 20 mg/kg in 9.52% of labeled gluten-free products, against 28.32% of naturally gluten-free foods. Br J Nutr, 2022
- Level B Two granola bars a day carrying 10 g of gluten caused no more gut symptoms than gluten-free bars in 33 young people who felt better off gluten, difference on a 100 mm scale -0.01. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2022
- Level C Children who went gluten free after a celiac diagnosis had four times more arsenic in their urine six months later, because rice is what replaces wheat. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2025
Levels: A systematic review or meta-analysis, B randomized trial, C observational, D lab or animal, E expert body. How we grade evidence.
Keep exploring
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), Barley, pearled, cooked, FDC ID 170285, accessed 2026-10-12 · full nutrition facts
- FDA, Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule, www.fda.gov (content current as of June 30, 2022), accessed 2026-10-12
- USDA FoodData Central, FNDDS 2021–2023 survey food recipes (input_food.csv, FDC release 2026-04-30), fdc.nal.usda.gov, accessed 2026-10-12
Numbers are USDA values scaled to the serving shown. Serving sizes are USDA household measures. % DV uses FDA Daily Values for adults. Checked 2026-10-12 · How we verify. Information, not medical advice.