This Handheld Sensor Detects Gluten in Your Food, and You Can Buy It Now

At CES 2026, one of the most promising health tech devices we spotted was Allergen Alert, a mini lab that can detect gluten and dairy in food. The only problem is that it's not currently available for purchase. Filling that hole in the market is the NIMA Gluten Sensor, which was relaunched today, on National Gluten-Free Day, and it can be added to your online cart now.

This is the second generation of NIMA's Gluten Sensor, the first handheld device created to detect gluten in food for people with celiac disease. However, this new version is faster and more reliable with an upgraded sensor and capsules. This was confirmed in third-party testing conducted by allergen-testing lab BIA Diagnostics, which found the device capable of detecting all major gluten sources (wheat, barley and rye) down to the 10 ppm level with 99% accuracy.

NIMA is 99% accurate at detecting gluten in food, according to third-party testing.

NIMA

The 10 ppm level measurement is significant because, according to the Food and Drug Administration, products labeled as "gluten-free" can still contain gluten at levels up to 20 ppm. That means NIMA can detect beyond that threshold. According to the National Celiac Association, while 20 ppm is considered safe for individuals with celiac disease, lower ppm levels are preferred for foods like baked goods and pizza, which people may consume in larger quantities.

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How does the NIMA gluten sensor work?

The gluten sensor relies on single-use capsules that function as a mini automated lab. You place a food sample into the capsule and insert it into the device, where it is ground, mixed and tested with NIMA's proprietary antibodies. Then, an enhanced camera reads the internal test strip's results and displays them as either a smiley face (indicating the food contains no gluten) or a wheat symbol (you've got gluten). This process only takes 2 to 3 minutes. 

A smiley face indicates the food sample is gluten-free, while the wheat symbol signals that gluten is present.

NIMA

NIMA uses USB-C charging, but can perform up to 40 tests per charge. The device also connects to the NIMA Now mobile app, where all test results are saved. There, you can record safe food options, along with restaurants and foods that triggered a reaction, and this information can be shared through a community database so others remain informed.

"People with celiac deserve meals that feel safe, not stressful," said Mike Glick, CEO of NIMA Partners, in a press release. 

A food sample gets placed into a capsule, which gets inserted into the NIMA sensor for testing.

NIMA

The original NIMA sensor was developed by two MIT graduates in 2013, but it became unavailable due to pandemic-related supply chain issues that made it impossible to manufacture. In 2025, Peter Kolchinsky, the founder and managing partner of RA Capital Management, and a parent of a child with celiac disease, stepped in to help bring NIMA back to the 3 million people across the US who have celiac disease, for which a gluten-free diet is the only treatment.

How much does it cost?

The NIMA Gluten Sensor retails for $220, but a 10% discount is currently available with the code NIMAPRE10. The single-use capsules, where you place the food you want to test, are sold separately. For a six-pack, the cost is $72 for a one-time order or $61 for a subscription.

According to a representative for the brand, NIMA was originally designed to detect peanuts. Although it currently only recognizes gluten, work is underway in the hopes of expanding the device's capabilities to test for other food allergens.