Barley grass powder is made from the young, green shoots of the barley plant before it forms grain. Although barley grains contain gluten, the grass itself is generally considered gluten-free because it doesn’t contain the same gluten proteins as the mature barley grain.
Here’s how it’s typically processed to ensure it’s gluten-free:
Harvesting: The barley is harvested when it's still in the grass stage, before it produces seeds or grains.
Cleaning and Drying: The grass is thoroughly cleaned to remove any contaminants and then dried.
Grinding: The dried barley grass is ground into a fine powder.
Testing: Many companies test the final product to ensure it is free from gluten contamination.
If a supplement is labeled gluten-free, it means the product has been tested and found to have levels of gluten below the threshold considered safe for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.