Have you used a “paper” straw only to feel celiac symptoms afterwards? You know, the eco-friendly biodegradable straws that many restaurants and other foodservice establishments now offer instead of plastic straws? Well, I have and it’s no fun. So, I’m here to warn you about the potential for gluten in paper straws.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m as “green” as the next person. I love nature. I want to protect the environment. I want to preserve our Earth for future generations. I believe in sustainability. I practice the recycle, reuse, and reduce mantra. I also favor brands and companies that are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprints.
However, I’m concerned that the food industry could be moving in a direction that has the potential to make some consumers sick. I’m talking about the increasing use of biodegradable packaging materials for food products and the move to biodegradable straws, plates, trays, and utensils in foodservice establishments, i.e., restaurants, fast food places, food trucks, etc.
Did you know that some manufacturers use gluten, mainly wheat and rye, as a main ingredient or material when making these kinds of biodegradable products? Well, now you know!
New study shows that gluten in biodegradable paper products can migrate into your food and drinks
Plenty of evidence suggests that paper straws, even those made from wheat straw, are gluten-free. (See these articles from Celiac.com and the Gluten Intolerant Group). Still, if you have celiac disease, it’s always good to be 100% sure the paper straws you’re using indeed are free from gluten and cross-contamination. Otherwise, it’s best that you not use them.
Now, however, recent research by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, as reported in this article by Food Safety Magazine, is proving that gluten in paper straws and other biodegradable products – like plates, utensils and food containers – can migrate into your food and drinks, sickening people with celiac disease, wheat allergies, and other gluten sensitivities. Unfortunately, there is no legislation today that requires allergen labelling on these biodegradable products that could possibly contain gluten.
Note: There’s more to the science behind biodegradable straws and other products that I’m not going to get into here. If interested, there are some links at the bottom of this article for further reference.
Why some manufacturers use gluten in paper straws
Gluten, traditionally known for its role in baking and food production, might seem like an unlikely candidate for biodegradable (paper) straws. Now manufacturers have found another use for gluten, it has the potential to create eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic straws.
Firstly, it’s important to understand what gluten is and how it functions. Gluten is a protein composite found in wheat, barley, and rye grains. Its unique properties give dough its elasticity and help it rise during baking. These properties, namely the viscoelasticity and adhesive nature of gluten, make it an intriguing substance for various applications beyond food – like using gluten in paper straws and other biodegradable products.
The use of plastic straws is increasingly frowned upon because of their environmental impact. They contribute significantly to plastic pollution, especially in oceans and waterways. Biodegradable alternatives have been sought after, but many of them have their own set of issues, such as durability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact during production.
This is where gluten enters the picture
Researchers have been exploring ways to extract and modify gluten to create biodegradable materials with properties suitable for straw production. By leveraging gluten’s natural strength and flexibility, scientists have been able to develop biodegradable straws that can withstand liquids for a reasonable amount of time without compromising their eco-friendly characteristics.
Advantages of using wheat-based biodegradable straws:
1. Compatibility with existing infrastructure. Since gluten is derived from wheat, a widely cultivated crop, sourcing raw materials for biodegradable straw production is relatively straightforward.
2. Economic viability. The production process for gluten-based straws may require fewer resources compared to other biodegradable materials, thus making them more economically viable versus using other materials.
3. Promise of biodegradability. Gluten-based biodegradable straws have shown promise in terms of biodegradability. Unlike traditional plastic straws that can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, gluten-based alternatives can break down into organic matter relatively quickly under the right conditions. This could significantly reduce the environmental impact of single-use straws, especially in marine ecosystems where plastic pollution is a major concern.
When eco-friendly isn’t a good thing
However, there are still challenges to overcome in the widespread adoption of wheat straw-based biodegradable straws.
One major concern, especially for me, is the potential for allergic reactions in individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Eco-friendly products that make me physically ill are not for me.
I found myself glutened on several occasions after using “paper” straws. I just didn’t realize the straws were the culprit causing my celiac symptoms. That is until I bought a drink one day and innocently grabbed an individually wrapped paper straw. Thankfully, a knowledgeable counter worker told me that their paper straws contain gluten.
Gluten in paper straws! This indeed surprised me. But, in hindsight, it certainly explained why I felt so miserable after drinking products that I know contain no gluten themselves.
Being sick is no fun. Being sick while on vacation from using an unassuming paper straw is absolutely no fun. (Read this thread on Reddit about people who had similar experiences of being glutened from paper straws.)
I vote to eliminate the use of wheat in paper straws
Manufacturers have been making strides in making products that are sustainable and good for the environment.
There are some biodegradable straw manufacturers – like Avolutions based in Medley, Florida – that state on their websites that their straws are gluten-free. I know this because I sat at a table in a resort dining area doing online research!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as lucky some other times when using unwrapped “paper” straws of unknown origin.
Many manufacturers, however, can’t make the claim that their straws are gluten-free. This article in Food Safety Magazine has confirmed that. So, when making paper straws puts the health of consumers in jeopardy, it’s not a good thing.
Sure, they say the manufacturing process may remove most allergenic proteins. This isn’t good enough for the celiac and food allergy community. To ensure that the products we’re consuming are safe to eat and drink, it’s critical that ALL allergenic proteins are eliminated, or better yet NOT USED to begin with.
Doing so will require the collaboration between scientists, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to overcome technical hurdles and ensure the safety and effectiveness of these innovative products for all consumers, including those with celiac disease.
For now, it’s buyer beware
For producers of biodegradable products and establishments that carry and offer them for consumer use, what this means:
1. Eliminate the use of wheat in paper straws altogether, and instead seek gluten-free alternatives.
2. Or at the very least, push for labelling laws on biodegradable products that clearly state any included allergens, like wheat and / or gluten.
For consumers, especially the gluten intolerant and those with celiac disease, you need to think twice before using that paper straw. In other words, buyer beware.
From now on, I plan to avoid biodegradable “paper” straws altogether and instead make a habit of carrying my own plastic or reusable metal or silicone straws.
Additional reading:
- Unleashing the Power of Wheat Straw: How this Eco-friendly Material Is Revolutionizing Industries, July 24, 2023 – Source: Omland Hospitality Products Ltd.
- Wheat Straw Pulp Making – Source: CNBM Anyang Machinery Co., Ltd.
- What Is Wheat Straw Plastic? Everything You Need To Know!, Aug 13, 2021 – Source: Swheat
- Why Aardvark Straws? – Source Aardvark Straws company website