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Dietary Hub
How We Classify Ingredients for Each Diet
Every ingredient in our library gets one of three verdicts for each diet. They're a starting point for shopping, not a substitute for reading the label in your hand.
The three verdicts
| Safe | Nothing in the usual recipe breaks the diet. Example: prosciutto for gluten-free. |
|---|---|
| Check the label | Some brands or recipes break the diet and others don't, so the label decides. Example: salami for gluten-free, cheddar for vegetarian. |
| Skip | The usual recipe breaks the diet. Example: Parmigiano-Reggiano for vegetarian, because its official recipe requires calf rennet. |
How the verdicts are made
- Start from the ingredient page. Each of our 325 ingredient pages lists its category, its type and its allergens.
- Apply the rules. Wheat, rye or oats means skip for gluten-free. Tree nuts or peanuts means skip for nut-free. Whole-muscle cured meats are safe for gluten-free; salami and sausages are check, because some brands add binders.
- Hand-check the exceptions. Cheeses with animal rennet, nuts hiding in mortadella and pink peppercorns, malt vinegar in chutney and more. Each exception has its own reason.
- Re-check every 6 months. Recipes change. The reviewed date is at the bottom of every page.
The numbers
| Diet | Safe | Check the label | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free | 214 | 64 | 47 |
| Nut-free | 278 | 15 | 32 |
| Vegetarian | 195 | 67 | 63 |
| Vegan | 149 | 22 | 154 |
| Dairy-free | 187 | 43 | 95 |
What this isn't
These verdicts help you shop and plan. They aren't medical advice and they can't see the package in your hand. For a serious allergy or celiac disease, read every label, keep the packaging, and ask your guest what they need.
Sources
- FDA: Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule
- National Celiac Association: Gluten-free meats
- FDA: The FASTER Act and sesame, the ninth major food allergen
- FDA: Have food allergies? Read the label
- Vegetarian Society: Which cheeses are suitable for vegetarians?
- Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano production rules)
- The Vegan Society: Why honey is not vegan
- Pink peppercorn (cashew family and tree nut allergy)
- Tapenade (traditional ingredients)
- Mortadella (pistachio versions)
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Brands change their recipes, so we re-check these pages every 6 months. For a serious allergy or celiac disease, read every label and ask your guest. How we classify ingredients.
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