For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating gluten free is a must to avoid adverse health effects. With the rising popularity of gluten free diets, many restaurants now offer gluten free menu options, including pizza chains like Domino’s. But is Domino’s gluten free pizza truly safe for those who need to avoid gluten?
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. In people with celiac disease, the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten and attacks the lining of the small intestine. This damages the villi, which are small finger-like projections that line the intestine and absorb nutrients from food. Damaged villi lead to an inability to properly absorb nutrients from food.
Symptoms of celiac disease may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, weight loss, nutrient deficiencies and anemia. In children, failure to thrive and delayed growth may occur. Celiac disease is estimated to affect around 1% of the population in Western countries.
The only treatment for celiac disease is strictly following a lifelong gluten free diet. Even small amounts of gluten, such as traces or cross-contamination, can trigger symptoms and further intestinal damage. This makes eating 100% gluten free critical for managing the condition.
What Does “Gluten Free” Mean?
In the United States, for a food product to be labeled as “gluten free” it must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. This is the lowest level that can be consistently detected in foods using valid scientific testing methods.
20 ppm was established as the gluten free standard based on research showing that the majority of people with celiac disease can tolerate this trace amount without causing issues. However, some celiacs are more sensitive and require their gluten intake to be near zero.
It’s important to understand that gluten free is not an absolute. There are no regulations for a “zero gluten” or “certified gluten free” label, so foods labeled as gluten free still carry some risk of cross-contamination.
What Does Domino’s Say About Their Gluten Free Pizza?
On their website, Domino’s states that their gluten free crust is “prepared in a common kitchen with the risk of gluten exposure.” They use a thin crust made of rice flour, vegetable starches, sorghum flour and pea protein isolate. Domino’s does not recommend their gluten free crust for customers with celiac disease.
Domino’s disclaimer states that they don’t recommend their gluten free pizza for highly sensitive individuals because they use shared equipment and can’t guarantee a completely gluten free environment. Cross-contact with small amounts of gluten during preparation and cooking is likely.
Steps Domino’s Takes to Minimize Gluten Cross-Contact
While not suitable for all celiacs, Domino’s does take some steps to reduce gluten cross-contact during preparation of their gluten free pizzas. These include:
- Using dedicated cutters and pizza peel to handle the gluten free pizza
- Changing gloves before making the gluten free pizza
- Cleaning and sanitizing work areas
- Placing gluten free pizza in a pizza box without direct contact with the work surface
However, their weak point is baking all pizzas in the same oven. Flour dust in the air and on shared oven surfaces makes cross-contamination difficult to avoid.
Should People with Celiac Disease Eat Domino’s Gluten Free Pizza?
Whether or not Domino’s gluten free pizza is safe depends on an individual’s sensitivity level. For those with milder forms of gluten intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Domino’s pizza is less likely to cause issues.
However, for people with diagnosed celiac disease, especially those highly sensitive, Domino’s does not recommend their gluten free pizza. There is a substantial risk of getting small amounts of cross-contact gluten, which can trigger symptoms and intestinal damage.
Factors that Increase Risk of Reaction
Certain factors may make someone with celiac disease more prone to reacting to traces of gluten from cross-contamination:
- Recently diagnosed – the intestine needs time to heal after diagnosis and adhering to a strict gluten free diet
- Ongoing intestinal damage – poor management of the gluten free diet leads to continual immune activation
- DH antibodies – having dermatitis herpetiformis, the skin manifestation of celiac disease, indicates greater sensitivity
- Intestinal damage even while gluten free – can occur in refractory celiac disease
Those with a history of reacting to small gluten exposures, whether through symptoms or blood test results, are at greater risk of reacting to Domino’s pizza even if prepared gluten free.
Symptoms from Cross-Contamination
In sensitive celiacs, consuming Domino’s gluten free pizza may cause:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating and gas
- Headaches
- Fatigue and weakness
- Joint pain
- Rashes or skin issues
While uncomfortable, short term symptoms may not cause long lasting damage. However, continuing to eat cross-contaminated foods may lead to intestinal deterioration and complications like malnutrition, osteoporosis, infertility and certain cancers.
Blood Tests and Intestinal Damage from Traces of Gluten
After ingesting gluten, even traces, blood tests in celiac patients may show:
- Elevated TTG antibodies
- Elevated deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibodies
These antibody reactions signal the immune system has been activated and intestinal damage is occurring. How much gluten is needed to cause this reaction varies based on the individual.
Intestinal biopsies can confirm whether consuming gluten free foods with cross-contamination causes observable changes to intestinal health. Although biopsies are invasive, they provide definitive evidence of whether traces of gluten cause damage for a specific patient.
Safety Tips for Celiacs Eating Domino’s Gluten Free Pizza
Those with celiac disease who decide to indulge in Domino’s gluten free pizza should follow some precautions to further limit risk:
- Specify your gluten allergy when ordering so the staff takes extra care
- Only eat the pizza crust, avoid gluten-containing toppings
- Check your pizza when you receive it to make sure it looks carefully prepared
- Ask the restaurant at slow times to change gloves and clean equipment before making your pizza
- Start with a small 1-2 slice order to see if you react before eating more
- Take a gluten digestion enzyme like AN-PEP before eating
- Avoid other sources of gluten for at least a few days afterwards
- Get blood work done 1-2 months later to confirm no reaction occured
Other Pizza Options Safely Made Gluten Free
For celiacs following a strict gluten free diet, other pizza options are safer choices over Domino’s.
Local Pizza Places with Dedicated Gluten Free Procedures
Some local pizza restaurants have strict procedures in place to prepare 100% gluten free pizzas. This includes having separate work areas, equipment and ovens to prevent any cross-contact. Calling ahead to inquire about their gluten free practices can determine if they can safely accommodate celiacs.
Gluten Free Pizza Chains
Pizza chains that specialize in gluten free pizzas, like &PizzaGF or PizzaRev, have equipment and staff dedicated solely to gluten free. They source certified gluten free ingredients and toppings and have stringent protocols in place to prevent contamination.
Frozen Gluten Free Pizza
Frozen gluten free pizzas from brands like Amy’s, Against the Grain, and Udi’s are produced in facilities free from gluten. They undergo testing to verify gluten free status. Baking them at home avoids any restaurant-related cross-contamination.
Homemade Gluten Free Pizza
Preparing gluten free pizza fully from scratch at home allows you to control all ingredients and prevent cross-contact. Choose a certified gluten free crust or make your own using gluten free flours. Top with naturally gluten free ingredients like cheese, veggies, meat and gluten free sauce.
The Verdict on Domino’s Gluten Free Pizza for Celiacs
The bottom line is proceed with caution. Domino’s cannot guarantee their gluten free pizza is 100% free from traces of gluten. Consuming it poses a substantial risk to those with celiac disease.
The company itself does not recommend their gluten free pizza for celiacs. Individual sensitivity levels vary, so some celiacs may tolerate it without issues. However, for newly diagnosed patients or those highly sensitive, eating Domino’s gluten free pizza could cause symptoms, immune activation and intestinal deterioration.
Celiacs must weigh the risks and decide whether the convenience of Domino’s gluten free pizza is worth potential exposure to traces of gluten. Proceeding with caution and limiting consumption frequency can help minimize risk. But for reliable gluten free pizza, other dedicated or certified gluten free restaurants and brands are the safest option.
The Bottom Line
Domino’s cannot guarantee their gluten free pizza is 100% gluten free due to shared equipment and cross-contact. Consuming their pizza does pose a risk to celiacs, especially the newly diagnosed or highly sensitive. Celiacs should use caution and only eat Domino’s gluten free pizza occasionally after considering their individual health factors. For a reliably gluten free pizza, other dedicated gluten free restaurants or certified brands are safer choices.
