<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Thank you to everyone who responded! Every post stated that these grains are gf. Here are the highlights: NOTE: these are the words of the people who responded (14), not my own: *************** some celiacs may have additional sensitivities to such things as quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat. But unless they have been contaminated by an outside source, they are all definitely GF. For instance, buckwheat is misnamed. It has no relationship whatsoever to wheat. It's actually a berry. No gluten at all. *************** The thinking is that the old goat who heads the CSA puts everything that bothers him personally on the forbidden list. If you don't have specific sensitivities to them they are fine. I think the idea is that these are not too wise for new celiacs to eat until they get their diet stabilized and know what they are doing because if they are sensitive to one of these it will confuse them. I'm very sensitive to quinoa, but it's still GF. So after they stabilize their diet they could try one at a time very carefully and keep track to see it they get any reactions. As always. ****************** Unfortunately, the Executive Director of CSA insists on declaring anything offlimits based strictly on hearsay evidence, i.e., any time he gets reports fromanyone that they have had reactions that they think were caused by (whatever) he immediately adds it to his extensive list of things celiacs should avoid. Neither amaranth nor buckwheat are closely related to wheat; they do not contain gluten. This is not to say, however, that some people may not be sensitive to them--people can have allergies to anything. One note of caution, however, sometimes wheat flour may be mixed with buckwheat flour, so be sure of your source. The source for pure buckwheat in the U.S. is Birkett Mills, which has a dedicated mill. ******************* CSA has their head in the sand. I was asked last week if I wanted to become Region III chairperson for a year to fill in as Diane Paley is becoming President in waiting. Their position on these grains was the reason I said no. Amaranth grows wild in the parks here in NYC. It isn't even closely related to a grain. And neither do the seeds look like grass seeds. Here are a couple pictures of one I took last Fall in Central Park: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a87623&p799578 http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a87623&p799579 And these were taken in Prospect Park: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a79163&p762669 http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a79163&p762672 http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a79163&p762673 http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u8126&a79163&p762675 ********************** FWIW, I understand buckwheat to be a close relative of rhubarb -- not a grass plant at all, hence completely different proteins than wheat. Don't know about amaranth's evolutionary relationships, but have definitely seen it listed as gluten-free. ********************* Amaranth is GF. It is not closely related to the grains that give Celiacs trouble. I bougth Amaranth flakes to use in place of oatmeal in cookies. ********************* Both amaranth and buckwheat are safe - neither contains gluten. You will probably hear others say both are bad. A source of controversy is the tendency to grow either crop near wheat, or to rotate crops on an annual basis. Granaries do not necessarily clean their storage areas when changing the product stored and so on and so on. ********************* both amaranth and buckwheat are GF grains. CSA is a little anal about what they restrict, if they feel the grains have "not been tested enough." both grains are not in the same family as the gluten grains. there has been a lot of heated discussion on the celiac list about the CSA and its position! ********************* Amaranth is gluten free. So is buckwheat. I've seen a few things here about CSA. They seem to have a very conservative approach about gf status on many things. Just adds to the confusion for me. ********************* Once again, thank you to everyone who responded. Gwynneth in Boston