• A new study indicates that kissing is generally safe for individuals with celiac disease, even if their partner has recently ingested gluten.
• Drinking water after consuming gluten significantly reduces the amount of gluten transferred through kissing, bringing it to safe levels.
• The study provides reassurance for people with celiac disease, reducing social anxiety related to dating and intimate interactions.

A recent study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 in San Diego addressed the concern of gluten transfer through kissing for individuals with celiac disease. The research involved couples where one partner had celiac disease and the other did not. The study found minimal gluten transfer during kissing, especially when the non-celiac partner consumed water beforehand. This suggests that kissing is generally safe for people with celiac disease and can help alleviate social anxieties surrounding gluten exposure.

• What: A study investigating gluten transfer through kissing found minimal transfer, particularly if the non-celiac partner drinks water after consuming gluten. This indicates kissing is generally safe for those with celiac disease.
• Who: The study was led by Anne Lee at Columbia University and involved 10 couples, each with one partner having celiac disease and the other not. Dr. Nielsen Fernandez-Becker (Stanford) and Dr. Joseph Murray (Mayo Clinic) provided expert commentary.
• When: The study findings were presented on Monday at Digestive Disease Week 2025 in San Diego. The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Where: The study was conducted by researchers at Columbia University, and the findings were presented at a conference in San Diego.

The study's findings offer significant reassurance to individuals with celiac disease who have concerns about gluten exposure through kissing. While cross-contamination from food remains a greater risk, the research suggests that intimate interactions like kissing pose a minimal threat, especially if simple precautions like drinking water are taken. The study addresses a previously unstudied aspect of living with celiac disease and provides evidence-based guidance to healthcare providers and patients. The varying stringency of gluten-free labeling regulations across countries highlights the ongoing challenges in managing celiac disease and the importance of diligent food handling practices.

Everyone worries about whether gluten is getting into their food at a restaurant, but no one really looked at what happens when you kiss afterwards.

This is at least one thing we can say is not something you have to worry about. Go ahead and kiss.

For clinicians, we can now say to patients, ‘You don’t have to go to extreme measures.’ 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.

The Digestive Disease Week 2025 study offers reassuring evidence that the risk of gluten transfer through kissing is minimal for individuals with celiac disease. The research indicates that gluten levels in saliva after kissing a partner who has consumed gluten are generally low, often below the FDA's threshold for gluten-free labeling (less than 20 parts per million). Moreover, this risk can be further diminished by drinking water after gluten consumption. This evidence allows those with celiac disease to feel more secure in their intimate relationships and social interactions, reducing anxiety around gluten exposure from kissing. While cross-contamination from food remains a significant concern in social settings, this study provides valuable, evidence-based guidance, highlighting that simple precautions can significantly alleviate concerns about gluten transfer during kissing.