Welcome to our podcast! Today, we’re diving into a curious question: Does kissing spread gluten?

For people with celiac disease, the fear of unknowingly ingesting gluten through a kiss is real. But new research might ease those worries. A study set to be presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 found that gluten generally doesn’t transfer through kissing, even if your partner has just eaten gluten-containing snacks.

As study co-author Anne Lee from Columbia University puts it, “Everyone worries about whether gluten is getting into their food at a restaurant, but no one really looked at what happens when you kiss afterwards.”

The research involved ten couples, one with celiac disease and one without. One partner ate saltine crackers, and then they kissed for ten seconds. The findings showed that gluten transfer was minimal, staying under 20 parts per million, which is considered safe.

Lee shared, “For clinicians, we can now say to patients, ‘You don’t have to go to extreme measures.’” Patients can feel more relaxed about kissing, especially if they drink water beforehand.

However, it’s worth noting that those with severe allergies to peanuts or shellfish should remain cautious. This research is still pending peer review, so stay tuned for more updates!
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