Wheat-free and gluten-free are not synonymous — and the difference matters significantly for anyone managing coeliac disease, wheat allergy, or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. A product labelled wheat-free may contain gluten from other sources. A product labelled gluten-free may contain some wheat-derived ingredients where the gluten has been processed out. Understanding exactly what each label means prevents errors that can cause real harm.
What Wheat-Free Means
Wheat-free means the product contains no wheat. However, it may contain other gluten-containing grains: rye, barley, and (in many cases) oats, which contain a related protein (avenin) that affects some coeliac patients. A wheat-free product may be perfectly safe for someone with wheat allergy but entirely unsafe for someone with coeliac disease if it contains rye or barley-based ingredients.
Examples of wheat-free but not gluten-free products: rye bread (no wheat, but contains gluten from rye); barley-based products; malt vinegar (derived from barley); and some beer alternatives made from barley or rye.
What Gluten-Free Means
Under UK law, a product labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. This threshold is the internationally recognised level below which most people with coeliac disease can safely consume food. A gluten-free product may contain wheat-derived ingredients where the gluten has been removed or reduced below this threshold — such as wheat starch that has been specially processed to remove gluten. For most coeliacs, these products are safe; for a minority with extreme sensitivity, even 20ppm may cause symptoms.
Which Do You Need?
Wheat allergy — an immune response to wheat proteins (not limited to gluten). Wheat-free products are safe as long as they do not contain wheat in any form. Gluten-free products made from wheat starch may not be safe, as they may contain traces of other wheat proteins.
Coeliac disease — requires gluten-free products (under 20ppm gluten from all gluten-containing grains, including wheat, rye, and barley). Wheat-free is not sufficient if other gluten sources are present.
Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity — typically responds to gluten-free diet; wheat-free alone is unlikely to be sufficient if rye and barley are still consumed.
Reading Labels for Both Requirements
Check for: the presence of wheat (indicated in bold in the ingredients list under Natasha's Law); the presence of other gluten-containing grains (rye, barley, oats not certified gluten-free); and the gluten-free certified symbol from Coeliac UK or equivalent where strict gluten-free management is required. Read our complete guide to reading allergen labels for more on UK labelling requirements.
Safe Food at Vanda's Kitchen EC4
Vanda's Kitchen near St Paul's Cathedral provides one of the safest food environments in the City of London for people managing food allergies and intolerances. Our kitchen is 100% nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item we produce carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens, in compliance with Natasha's Law. Our Selfridges Food Hall presence confirms the quality standard we maintain alongside our safety credentials.
For corporate catering where allergen management is a genuine requirement — not a convenience — Vanda's Kitchen provides the kitchen standards and documentation that responsible procurement demands. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options.
Safe Food From Vanda Kitchen EC4
Vanda Kitchen near St Paul Cathedral EC4 is 100 percent nut-free, certified halal (Halal Friendly List), 5-star hygiene rated, with full Natasha Law allergen labelling on every item. Selfridges Food Hall quality. One caterer, all allergen requirements covered, full documentation available on request. For London offices where allergen management is a genuine requirement, we provide the kitchen standards and credentials that responsible procurement demands. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options. Read our allergy-friendly catering guide and our nut-free catering guide for more detail on our approach.
Why Vanda Kitchen Is the Right Choice
For City of London professionals and offices managing food allergies, Vanda Kitchen provides the most comprehensive single-source allergen-safe solution available. Our 100 percent nut-free kitchen, independently certified halal status, 5-star food hygiene rating, and Selfridges Food Hall quality represent a credentials profile that is genuinely rare in London corporate catering. Fresh Filipino-inspired food prepared daily. Individual Freedom Tray portions with full allergen labelling. Flexible standing orders with direct WhatsApp management. Same-day response to all enquiries. WhatsApp us to discuss your requirements or send an enquiry.
About Vanda Kitchen
Vanda Kitchen is an independent food business based near St Paul Cathedral in EC4, with products stocked in Selfridges Food Hall. Our kitchen is 100 percent nut-free — no peanuts or tree nuts ever enter our facility. We are certified halal by the Halal Friendly List. We hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Every item carries full ingredient and allergen labelling covering all 14 mandatory UK allergens. This combination of credentials makes us uniquely placed to serve London businesses with complex dietary requirements — from daily office lunch to event catering.
Our food is freshly prepared daily from our EC4 kitchen, rooted in Filipino culinary tradition: lean proteins, fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and the bold natural flavours that make our food genuinely enjoyable rather than merely functional. Our Selfridges Food Hall placement confirms the quality standard we maintain. For City of London professionals who want a safe, delicious, and nutritionally excellent daily lunch, and for offices that want the same for their teams, Vanda Kitchen provides the answer. WhatsApp us, send an enquiry, or view our team lunch options to get started.