About
What it is and where it shows up.
Barley flakes are whole-grain cereal flakes produced by steaming and rolling hulled or pearl barley (Hordeum vulgare); they are used in porridges, breakfast cereals, soups, and baked goods. They are valued for their high content of soluble dietary fibre, particularly beta-glucan, which supports cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Barley flakes are broadly safe for the general adult population with no established adverse intake level; the primary safety concern is their content of gluten-related proteins, making them unsuitable for individuals with coeliac disease or wheat/barley allergy. Regulatory bodies in the US, EU, Canada, Australia, and others have approved health claims linking barley beta-glucan (≥3 g/day) to reductions in LDL cholesterol and post-prandial blood glucose. No toxicological ADI applies to whole-grain barley flakes as a natural food ingredient.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | FSANZ permits beta-glucan health claims for products made with whole grain barley (including flakes). The universally adopted efficacious daily dose is 3 g beta-glucan. Barley is also a declared allergen under FSANZ food labelling standards.source |
| Health Canada (Canada) | Approved | Canada permits beta-glucan health claims for barley products consistent with a 3 g/day efficacious dose; barley is recognised as a priority allergen requiring declaration on food labels.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | EFSA authorised health claims under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 for beta-glucans from barley: (1) 3 g/day reduces blood LDL cholesterol; (2) 4 g beta-glucan per 30 g available carbohydrates per meal reduces post-prandial glucose rise. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 as a mandatory allergen requiring labelling.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Barley and barley-based products including flakes are recognised traditional cereal foods under FSSAI regulations (Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011). No specific maximum intake limit is set; barley is a declared allergen under FSSAI labelling norms.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Gluten Intolerance — Barley contains gluten-related proteins (hordeins) and is listed as a mandatory allergen under EU Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and equivalent regulations globally; it triggers immune-mediated intestinal damage in coeliac disease and must be strictly excluded from a gluten-free diet.
Ibd — The high insoluble fibre content of barley flakes may exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea during active flares of inflammatory bowel disease; medical guidance is advised before regular consumption.
Ibs — Barley contains fructans, a fermentable oligosaccharide (FODMAP), which can worsen bloating and abdominal discomfort in IBS patients following a low-FODMAP diet.
Infants — Whole-grain barley flakes are not appropriate for infants under 6 months and should be introduced cautiously in older infants, given the risk of gluten sensitisation and choking hazard from coarse texture; paediatric guidance is recommended.
Diabetes — While barley beta-glucan can beneficially lower post-prandial glucose, individuals with diabetes on hypoglycaemic medications should monitor blood glucose responses when significantly increasing barley intake, as additive glucose-lowering effects may require medication adjustment.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1EFSA. Scientific Opinion on barley starch and allergen labelling pursuant to Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, 2023. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Effect of a regular consumption of traditional and roasted oat and barley flakes on blood lipids and glucose metabolism – A randomized crossover trial, 2023. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Oat and Barley in the Food Supply and Use of Beta Glucan Health Claims, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4EFSA. Beta-glucans from oats and/or barley in a ready-to-eat cereal and reduction of blood-glucose rise after consumption: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, 2021. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Issues surrounding health claims for barley, 2008. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. The effects of concentrated barley beta-glucan on blood lipids in a population of hypercholesterolaemic men and women, 2007.
Independently researched6 citations