Reading Ingredient Labels – Is There Gluten In that Product?
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Reading ingredient labels, a reader alerted me way back in 2011 that Kraft Foods changed their ingredients for Good Seasons Italian Dressing and added wheat so it was no longer gluten free. While this is an unfortunate ingredient change, it’s not that unusual — even today.
Brands change their ingredients all the time, this example being another friendly reminder to always read ingredient labels for mainstream products to see if there’s gluten in that product, even for products you buy regularly.
When a company makes both products which contain gluten and those which don’t contain gluten, their primary customer base is not necessarily gluten free; the company will therefore not necessarily think of the gluten free customer when making ingredient decisions.
In this case, Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing now contains gluten because powdered soy sauce was added to the ingredient list. Soy sauce contains wheat.
Individual spices are gluten free, however, anti-caking agents may be added in some cases, so always read labels.
There are some companies doing a much better job of labeling their spices as gluten free, in general, than others. Those which have obtained independent third party Gluten Free Certifications are always the ones to rely on, if given a choice.
“will always declare the following ingredients on our label in the ingredient statement – they will never be hidden under the notations of ‘spices’ or ‘natural flavors’:
• Wheat
• Milk & Milk Products
• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Egg
• Soy
• Shellfish
• Sesame (for US products made beginning January 2023)
• Fish
• Yellow Dye #5 (Tartrazine)
• Monosodium Glutamate or MSG
• Sulfites over 10 ppm
• Gluten containing grains – including barley, rye, oats, spelt, triticale, and kamut
If no ingredient statement appears on the product label, then the products is as it appears in the product name (e.g. black pepper).”
Are Seasoning Blends Gluten Free?
Seasoning blends are more complicated, as they are blends of spices and flavors with anti-caking or carrier agents, sugars or salts, sometimes lactose or whey, starches or flours.
While wheat must be called out on labels as an allergen, barley (usually in the form of “malt”) can be trickier to spot, since it’s not one of the top 9 food allergens and need not be bolded or called out separately.
Even soup bases, stocks and bouillon can contain gluten (almost anything can, really) so read those labels!
Some Beyond Bouillon flavors contain gluten.
Making things even more treacherous is when manufacturers themselves don’t follow food labeling regulations, as in the case of Benny T’s Vesta dry hot sauces. Here, this manufacturer failed to recognize that “flour” contains wheat.
Thankfully the FDA issued a recall, but only after this company had apparently been mislabeling this product for over 15 years!!
Sadly, I could show you too many examples of companies which just don’t understand food labeling laws … but that’s no excuse. It just means that we as consumers have to read and think for ourselves rather than blindly trusting that companies are getting it right all the time.
Take Chef Myron’s Soy Sauce. It’s labeled gluten free. I’ve already told you that soy sauce (including this brand) contains wheat. It’s therefore not gluten free, despite this label.
The company tried to say that because of fermentation, the wheat was processed and therefore became gluten free. This is incorrect information, and demonstrated their misunderstanding of both the fermentation process and the FDA regulations.
Here’s another product also labeled gluten free, but containing soy sauce (wheat) powder. Also, not gluten free.
It’s important that we as consumers continue to read every label, in spite of gluten-free claims.
What brands have you found that are doing a good job of labeling their seasonings, spices, dressings, soups … well? What brands are not?
It’s all over the news of late: professional gluten-free athletes turning in amazing performances and crediting a gluten-free diet for improvements to their games. Who’s doing it, why and whether every athlete should.
Indeed. There are some brands of gluten free soy sauce and gluten free tamari. Gluten free coconut aminos is another option. So nice to have safe options!
~jules
Excellent, well informed info and common sense . I learned new info about labeling, and about Kraft and how they label. Thank you for helping me navigate the ever changing labeling minefield. Gluten-free is imperative for me, however, balance is too. Thanks, Jules.
So happy this article was informative and that label reading may make more sense now, Diane! Thanks for taking the time to leave a note to let me know.
~jules
Dear Kraft,
I am writing you to express my desire and wish to encourage Kraft to return to its gluten-free Good Seasons formulations Since you changed your formula’s and ingredients my options and choices has seriously decreased. Please understand the growing numbers of Gluten Sensitivity, Celiac and Wheat Allergy victims are alarming. Of all things in the world, I miss my KD…would you please consider providing a Gluten-Free Kraft Dinner option? Life is not easy being hungry and afraid to eat. Please have mercy, perhaps pioneer a specialized line dedicated to those of us who battle 24/7 365 to find things safe to eat that we enjoy and leaves us feeling nourished.
HI Lilly, there are actually several gluten free dressing brands out now — yay! Although I do make my own quite often with a simple avocado oil-balsamic vinegar + fresh herbs recipe. I hope you can find some in your local store, but maybe I’ll work on putting up a recipe on the blog soon, too!
~jules
Gluten-free soy sauce does exist. They utilize rice instead of wheat.
Indeed. There are some brands of gluten free soy sauce and gluten free tamari. Gluten free coconut aminos is another option. So nice to have safe options!
~jules
Excellent, well informed info and common sense . I learned new info about labeling, and about Kraft and how they label. Thank you for helping me navigate the ever changing labeling minefield. Gluten-free is imperative for me, however, balance is too. Thanks, Jules.
So happy this article was informative and that label reading may make more sense now, Diane! Thanks for taking the time to leave a note to let me know.
~jules
Dear Kraft,
I am writing you to express my desire and wish to encourage Kraft to return to its gluten-free Good Seasons formulations Since you changed your formula’s and ingredients my options and choices has seriously decreased. Please understand the growing numbers of Gluten Sensitivity, Celiac and Wheat Allergy victims are alarming. Of all things in the world, I miss my KD…would you please consider providing a Gluten-Free Kraft Dinner option? Life is not easy being hungry and afraid to eat. Please have mercy, perhaps pioneer a specialized line dedicated to those of us who battle 24/7 365 to find things safe to eat that we enjoy and leaves us feeling nourished.
Gluten free dressings please! No one makes any and you would make a killing.
HI Lilly, there are actually several gluten free dressing brands out now — yay! Although I do make my own quite often with a simple avocado oil-balsamic vinegar + fresh herbs recipe. I hope you can find some in your local store, but maybe I’ll work on putting up a recipe on the blog soon, too!
~jules