Safe for Patients with Celiac Disease to Kiss after Partner’s Gluten Ingestion

Posted on by

An excerpt from News Medical:

Researchers recruited 10 couples, each with one partner who has celiac disease, for a two-part study. In each session, the non-celiac partner ate 10 saltine crackers, and then the couple kissed for 10 seconds. In one session, the partners waited five minutes before the kiss, and in the other, they drank 4 ounces of water before kissing…

Although gluten was still found in saliva after kissing a partner who had consumed gluten and then had a glass of water, in all cases the amount was less than 20 parts per million, the level allowed in gluten-free products, which is considered safe.

“Patients with celiac disease can be more relaxed, knowing that the risk of gluten cross-contact through kissing a partner who has consumed gluten can be brought down to safe levels if food is followed by a small glass of water.”

From NBC article:

In the first scenario — waiting five minutes before kissing — two of the celiac participants had more than 20 parts per million of gluten in their saliva sample. 

In the scenario in which non-celiac partners drank 4 ounces of water before the kiss, everyone’s saliva tests contained fewer than 20 ppm of gluten. 

My take: Sounds like a fun study. Best to drink water before kissing your partner who has celiac disease.

Reference: Anne Lee. DDW Abstract Mo1242, 5/5/25: “Assessing gluten transfer via kissing; a prospective study of celiac-discordant couples”