Does a gluten free host invalidate the Eucharist?

[adamhovey1988]

Hi there, my sister used to live in Massachusetts, and sometime ago I came across this:
[website deleted]
It mentions “gluten-free hosts”
Now, I do know that there are some places that have low gluten hosts, but I was under the impression that gluten free may not be used. I ask this because my sister (not Catholic, so no chance of her taking communion anyway) has celiac disease. And I was just wondering if what this particular place is doing is correct or not. Thanks, God bless.
-Adam

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

My assumption would be that this either is poorly worded or a technical wording issue rather than the host containing absolutely zero gluten.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ruled on this in 2003:

1. Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.

1. Low-gluten hosts (partially gluten-free) are valid matter, provided they contain a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the confection of bread without the addition of foreign materials and without the use of procedures that would alter the nature of bread.

The FDA set a gluten limit of less than 20 ppm (parts per million) in foods that carry the “gluten free” label. Perhaps these hosts are under that threshold. The only way to be sure is to ask the parish.