Right, let’s dump my brain from today’s little kitchen investigation. The question niggling at me lately: is semolina gluten free in Australia? Stuff I see online’s all over the place, wanted to hit the shops and figure it out for my own peace of mind.
Starting at Ground Zero: What is Semolina Anyway?
Okay, step one. Before digging into Aussie labels, gotta pin down what we’re even talking about. Popped open the laptop. From what I remember, semolina usually comes from wheat. Like, durum wheat specifically, ground coarse. Basic grain knowledge kicking in. And wheat means… yeah, gluten. But hey, sometimes things get processed, weird flours exist, right? Had to be sure. Kept digging on a few sites. Nope. Consensus seemed pretty clear: traditional semolina = wheat gluten city. Started scribbling notes on a scrap paper, feeling less hopeful.
Boots on the Ground: The Woolies Deep Dive
Theory’s fine, but real life is where it counts. Grabbed my keys, headed down to Woolworths – my usual haunt. Wandered straight to the flour aisle. Spotted the usual suspects: plain flour, SR flour, wholemeal… and tucked in amongst them, the semolina. Reached for the biggest brand name they had – the yellow packet, you know the one. Turned that bag like it held state secrets, scanning every inch.
- Front: Big picture of creamy stuff. Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina. Hmm. Wheat.
- Back: Nutrition panel time. Scrolled down, heart sinking a bit. Clear as day: “Contains: Gluten.”
- Allergen Statement: Double whammy: “Made on equipment that also processes products containing wheat, gluten…” Yep.
Okay, that brand? Confirmed not gluten free. No surprises there.
Playing Detective: Checking the Fine Print
Didn’t stop there. This is Australia. Sometimes things are sneaky. Looked at other brands:
- Brand Two: Brown paper bag. Ingredients list? “Wheat Semolina.” Contains Wheat (which means gluten).
- Organic Section? Checked there too. Found an organic semolina. Guess what? “Durum Wheat”. Gluten alert.
Brand Three: Generic store-brand stuff. Same deal. “Contains: Gluten.” Staring me in the face.
Seriously scoured maybe five different brands on that shelf. Every. Single. One. Listed wheat as the ingredient and had a “Contains Gluten” allergen warning. Plain as the nose on your face. No secret sauce.
Facing the Music (and Grains)
So where does that leave us? For the regular stuff you find in Australian supermarkets?
Hard no.
Semolina here is pretty much always made from durum wheat, which is absolutely chock-full of gluten. It’s the core ingredient. It’s what makes it semolina. All that shelf-checking just hammered that home. If you’re Coeliac or gluten intolerant, grabbing that standard bag of semolina is asking for trouble. The packages aren’t shy about it either – they shout “Wheat” and “Gluten” loud and clear once you know where to look.
My little mission? Pretty much confirmed the obvious, but it’s good to see it with your own eyes. Theory checked, practice validated. Stick clear of the yellow box if gluten’s your enemy.
