Is Organic Multivitamin Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I always look past the marketing buzzwords like "organic" and "greens blend" to the raw data. When analyzing the label for this Organic Multivitamin, the gluten issue is specific but significant. The culprit is hidden within the Organic Greens Alkalizing Blend.

The formula lists Organic Barley Grass (Hordeum vulgare) as a key ingredient. While barley grass (the young leaves of the plant) is technically gluten-free if harvested before the grain heads form, the risk of cross-contamination is extremely high. In the supplement industry, unless a product is certified gluten-free, barley grass is almost always considered a gluten-containing ingredient because the harvesting machinery often picks up the grain along with the grass.

Furthermore, the label also lists Organic Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum). Like barley, wheat is a major gluten source. Even though these are grasses, the lack of a "Certified Gluten-Free" seal on the packaging means the manufacturer has not verified that the final product meets the strict FDA standard of containing less than 20 parts per million of gluten. For anyone with Celiac disease, consuming this product could trigger an immune response.

Nutritional Value

Despite the gluten flag, this multivitamin is nutritionally dense. It is designed as a whole-food supplement rather than a synthetic vitamin. The blend relies on organic extracts from fruits like Strawberry, Blueberry, and Raspberry, and vegetables like Broccoli, Spinach, and Kale. These ingredients provide natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are generally well-absorbed by the body.

The product is very low in calories, fat, and sugar, which is standard for a capsule or tablet multivitamin. It fits well into most diet plans, including Paleo or Primal diets (excluding the gluten issue), because it avoids artificial additives. However, because it contains mushroom complexes and greens, it is not a stimulant-based energy supplement; it is a nutritional support supplement meant to fill dietary gaps.