When it comes to being gluten free oats are often misunderstood. Oats are naturally gluten free, so what is the concern for people with celiacs or trying to be gluten free? The concern is that if oats are grown in a field that previously grew other gluten containing grains, some of those other gluten containing grains will naturally grow in the oat field the next year, which will then cause the oats harvested from that field to be contaminated. If a farmer uses the same equipment to process all his grains, that can also cause cross contamination. If the coop or transport company that brought the oats to the processor has stored and transported other grains, that can cause cross contamination. If the processor processes other gluten containing grains, there can be cross contamination. A lot of these are the same reasons that celiacs must be careful with corn chips and corn tortillas, because they are processed around so much gluten containing grains and products that too high a level of gluten cross contaminates. For these reasons, celiacs and those people eating gluten free should only purchase certified gluten free oats. So find a source of gluten free oats and start eating oatmeal and baking your favorite oatmeal cookies recipes!