This Handheld Sensor Detects Traces of Gluten in Your Food

These days, it’s not at all uncommon to find a grocery store with an abundant selection of gluten-free food, such as quinoa pasta and rice-based bread. Shoppers with gluten allergies can scan the ingredients to see whether the packaged food contains anything that might trigger their symptoms—though even that’s a bit risky, suggests one study that found that up to 5 percent of U.S. foods labeled “gluten-free” actually do contain gluten.

Determining precisely what’s in your food is even trickier at restaurants. Diners can ask waiters to check ingredients, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll know exactly what could be problematic. Yes to brown rice but no to barley? It’s hard to keep track—especially when gluten can lurk in unexpected places, like sauces or dressings.