Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system reacts to gluten contained in certain foods and sometimes other products. For people living with celiac disease, everyday interactions can carry unexpected risks, triggering intestinal damage, abdominal pain, indigestion and diarrhea. But is a kiss a risk?
In 2025, researchers at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University found that while gluten transfer is technically possible with kissing, it’s unlikely to pose a significant risk. The study tested 10 couples in which one partner had celiac disease and the other didn’t. The partner without celiac disease ate a gluten-heavy snack — 10 saltine crackers — before engaging in open-mouth kissing for at least one minute.
Saliva and urine tests of the affected partner were done to detect gluten protein fragments. In 18 out of 20 kisses, gluten levels in the saliva were considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration’s gluten-free standards, and only 1 out of 20 showed a positive urine test.
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