Is Biltong Gluten-Free?
A Guide for Coeliacs and Gluten-Sensitive Snackers
What coeliacs and gluten-sensitive snackers need to know before they open the bag.
Shop Billy Tong Biltong →This article is general information, not medical or dietary advice. If you have coeliac disease or a diagnosed gluten intolerance, always read the allergen information on the pack and speak to your GP or a registered dietitian about your diet. Coeliac UK also offers support and guidance.
If you live with coeliac disease or a gluten sensitivity, every snack comes with a question mark. Cereal bars, sausage rolls, and even some crisps and sauces can hide wheat or barley in places you would never expect. So when you discover biltong, the high-protein South African snack that has taken the UK by storm, the first question is a simple one: is biltong gluten-free?
The short answer is that traditional biltong is made from ingredients that are naturally free from gluten. The longer answer is that not every biltong on the market is made the traditional way, and that is where it pays to read the label. This guide explains both.
Traditional biltong is made from beef, vinegar, salt, coarse black pepper and coriander, none of which are gluten-containing grains. However, some commercial biltong and meat snacks use sauces, seasoning blends or production lines that can introduce gluten. If you have coeliac disease, always check the allergen information on the pack, and look for a "gluten-free" label or ask the producer directly.
What Is Gluten, and Why Does It Matter?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Oats do not contain gluten in the same way, but they are often grown and processed alongside wheat, so many coeliacs only eat oats labelled gluten-free.
For people with coeliac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine. Even small amounts can cause symptoms and long-term harm, which is why a strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment. Others have a non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and choose to avoid gluten because it leaves them feeling unwell.
Either way, the question is not just "is this food gluten-free?" but "could gluten have got in at any stage?"
What Is Traditional Biltong Made From?
Biltong has been made in South Africa for centuries, and the traditional method is beautifully simple. Strips of quality beef are marinated in vinegar, seasoned with salt, coarse black pepper and roasted coriander, then hung to air-dry slowly until they reach the perfect texture.
| Traditional Ingredient | What It Does | Contains Gluten? |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | The star of the show, usually silverside or topside | No |
| Vinegar | Tenderises the meat and helps preserve it | Depends on the type (see below) |
| Salt | Draws out moisture and seasons the meat | No |
| Coarse black pepper | Adds warmth and bite | No, when pure |
| Coriander | The signature biltong flavour | No, when pure |
What About the Vinegar?
Vinegar is the one traditional ingredient worth a closer look. Many vinegars, such as cider, wine and spirit vinegar, are made from gluten-free sources. Malt vinegar, however, is made from malted barley, which is a gluten-containing grain.
Here is the nuance. During fermentation, the gluten proteins in barley are broken down into very small fragments, so very little gluten typically remains. Coeliac UK has confirmed that some malt vinegars are suitable for a strict gluten-free diet, and some brands carry Coeliac UK's Crossed Grain symbol. Because malt vinegar must still list barley in the ingredients, you will always be able to see it on the label and make your own informed choice.
Seeing "vinegar" on a biltong label is not automatically a problem.
If you see "malt vinegar" or "barley" listed, check whether the product is labelled gluten-free or ask the producer.
If you are unsure, your dietitian or Coeliac UK's helpline can advise on what is right for you.
Where Hidden Gluten Can Appear in Meat Snacks
Across the wider market, not every biltong, jerky or meat snack sticks to the traditional recipe. These are the places gluten most commonly sneaks in:
Common in American-style jerky marinades. Standard soy sauce is usually brewed with wheat, so look for products that state they use a gluten-free alternative such as tamari.
Some recipes use malt vinegar or other barley-derived ingredients. If a biltong lists a sauce in its ingredients, check what that sauce contains.
Ready-made spice mixes and coatings can contain wheat flour or rusk as a carrier or bulking agent. Flavoured varieties are worth checking more carefully than original.
Many British sausages contain rusk, which is made from wheat. Some commercial droëwors and boerewors can contain cereal binders too, so always check the label on dried sausage snacks.
A naturally gluten-free product can still pick up traces of gluten if it is made in a kitchen or factory that also handles wheat. Look out for "may contain" warnings.
How to Read the Label: A Quick Guide for Coeliacs
UK food labelling rules are designed to help you spot gluten quickly. Here is what each label actually means:
| What You See | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| "Gluten-free" | The product contains 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten or less, the internationally agreed safe limit | Suitable for a gluten-free diet |
| Wheat, barley or rye highlighted in the ingredients | A gluten-containing cereal is a listed ingredient | Avoid, unless the product is also labelled gluten-free |
| "May contain gluten" or "made in a factory that handles wheat" | The producer sees a risk of cross-contamination | Contact the producer if you are unsure |
| No gluten-containing ingredients, no gluten-free claim | Ingredients look safe, but the product has not been tested against the gluten-free standard | Check production practices with the producer |
| Coeliac UK Crossed Grain symbol | Independently audited to the gluten-free standard | Suitable for a gluten-free diet |
Top tip: buying from a specialist with a shop counter has one big advantage. You can ask the people who actually make and handle the product how it is produced.
Is Droëwors Gluten-Free?
Droëwors is a thin, air-dried South African sausage, traditionally made from beef and seasoned with coriander, salt and pepper, much like biltong. Traditional droëwors recipes do not rely on cereal binders in the way British sausages do.
However, because some sausage products use rusk or other cereal fillers, droëwors deserves the same label check as any other sausage snack. Browse our droëwors range and check the allergen information on the pack, or ask our team in the shop.
Why Biltong Is a Great Snack for a Gluten-Free Diet
Living gluten-free often means snacks become an afterthought. Many "gluten-free" snack bars and crackers are carbohydrate-heavy and leave you hungry again within the hour. Traditional biltong offers something different:
- Naturally grain-free recipe. Traditional biltong is built on meat and spices, not flour or cereals.
- High in protein. Biltong typically contains around 45 to 55g of protein per 100g, which helps keep you fuller for longer. See our biltong nutrition facts guide for the full breakdown.
- Easy on the go. It needs no fridge for everyday snacking, so it is ideal for work, travel and days out, when finding safe gluten-free food can be hardest.
- Satisfying flavour. Peppery, savoury and properly moreish, it feels like a treat rather than a compromise.
How to Enjoy Biltong Safely on a Gluten-Free Diet
Start with original. Traditional, original-flavour biltong has the simplest recipe. Flavoured varieties can use extra seasonings, so check them individually.
Read the allergen information on every pack, every time. Recipes and suppliers can change.
Watch for malt vinegar, soy sauce and seasoning blends in the ingredients list.
Look for "may contain" warnings if you are highly sensitive.
Ask the producer. At Billy Tong you can pop into our Cobham shop or get in touch, and we will happily talk you through how our biltong is made.
Our shop is at 1 Hollyhedge Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3DQ, open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. You can also order online for UK mainland delivery, with free shipping on orders over £75 (excluding the Highlands and Islands).
Traditional biltong, made from beef, vinegar, salt, pepper and coriander, uses no gluten-containing grains, which makes it a naturally great fit for many people avoiding gluten. But not all meat snacks are made the traditional way, so if you have coeliac disease, always check the pack, look out for malt vinegar, soy sauce, seasoning blends and "may contain" warnings, and ask the producer if you are unsure.
Discover Traditional South African Biltong
Made the traditional way with beef, vinegar, salt, pepper and coriander. Award-winning and one of the best tasting biltong collections in the UK.
Shop Biltong →Frequently Asked Questions
Is biltong gluten-free?
Traditional biltong is made from beef, vinegar, salt, coarse black pepper and coriander, none of which are gluten-containing grains. However, some commercial biltong uses sauces, seasoning blends or shared production lines that can introduce gluten. If you have coeliac disease, always check the allergen information on the pack and look for a gluten-free label, or ask the producer.
Can coeliacs eat biltong?
Many people with coeliac disease can enjoy biltong made to a traditional recipe, but it depends on the specific product. Check the ingredients for wheat, barley, rye, malt vinegar, soy sauce or seasoning blends, look for any may contain warnings, and choose products labelled gluten-free where possible. Your GP or dietitian can advise on what is right for you.
Is the vinegar in biltong gluten-free?
It depends on the type. Cider, wine and spirit vinegars are generally made from gluten-free sources. Malt vinegar is made from barley, but fermentation breaks down most of the gluten, and Coeliac UK has confirmed some malt vinegars are suitable for a strict gluten-free diet. Barley must still be listed on the label, so check the pack or ask the producer.
Is droëwors gluten-free?
Traditional droëwors is made from beef seasoned with coriander, salt and pepper and does not traditionally rely on cereal binders. However, some sausage products contain rusk or cereal fillers, so always check the allergen information on the pack before eating droëwors on a gluten-free diet.
Is biltong the same as jerky when it comes to gluten?
Not necessarily. Many American-style jerky products are marinated in soy sauce, which is usually brewed with wheat. Traditional biltong is marinated in vinegar and seasoned with spices rather than soy sauce. Always check the label of any meat snack, as recipes vary between brands.
What does gluten-free mean on a UK food label?
In the UK, a product can only be labelled gluten-free if it contains 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten or less, which is the internationally agreed safe limit for people with coeliac disease.
Does flavoured biltong contain gluten?
It can. Flavoured biltong may use extra seasonings, sauces or spice blends, and some ready-made blends contain wheat flour as a carrier. Original biltong has the simplest recipe, but every flavour should be checked individually by reading the allergen information on the pack.
Is biltong a good snack for a gluten-free diet?
Traditional biltong can be an excellent snack for a gluten-free diet. It is built on meat and spices rather than flour or cereals, it is high in protein at around 45 to 55g per 100g, and it is easy to carry when safe gluten-free food can be hard to find. Always confirm the specific product is suitable by checking the label.
Where can I buy biltong in Surrey?
Billy Tong's shop is at 1 Hollyhedge Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3DQ, open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. You can ask the team about how the biltong is made, or order online for UK mainland delivery.