Ketchup is one of the most recognizable food condiments you can find in most cafes, restaurants, and households worldwide. People consume it with various foods, but is ketchup gluten free?
Yes, ketchup is gluten free. However, there may be instances where some ketchup companies use stabilizing agents that contain vinegar extracted from wheat. This is harmful to people with celiac disease.
Through this article, we will talk about the components of ketchup and whether it is gluten-free.
Is there gluten in ketchup?
No, ketchup usually doesn’t contain any gluten. Most ketchup brands manufacture their ketchup products by using gluten-free ingredients.
However, there are chances that some ketchup products might contain gluten. The reason people check if it contains gluten is because of various reasons.
People with celiac disease should avoid gluten-containing ketchup as it may harm their small intestine and cause digestive issues. It also doesn’t contain any nutritional value and only acts as a binder, which may lead to constipation.
Although most ketchup is gluten-free, some may occasionally contain gluten because of various factors.
- There may be instances where ketchup is made in a factory where other gluten-containing food items are also manufactured. The gluten ingredients can get mixed up with the ketchup in such environments.
- Stabilizing agents used for thickening the ketchup may sometimes contain gluten.
- Distilled vinegar is the main preservative in ketchup, but there are some types of vinegar that contain gluten. So, care must be taken to avoid such kinds of vinegar.
What’s ketchup made of?
Ketchup is a tomato-based condiment used to pair with foods such as banana fries, vegan burgers, etc. It is tangy and sweet and is also used as an ingredient to make other sauces.
Although ketchup is consumed regularly, you sometimes wonder – What’s ketchup made of?
Ketchup is made by using several ingredients, with the main one being tomatoes. The other components consist of sugar, vinegar, salt, water, corn syrup, and various spices.
While making ketchup, these are the commonly-used ingredients, but every brand has its uniqueness. Making ketchup in factories is different from making it at home. Ketchup is produced in large quantities in factories that these big companies sell.
However, you can also make it at home by following these DIY simple steps.
- Take the tomatoes and boil them in a pot of water. Add the other ingredients like sugar, salt, vinegar, spices, sugar, etc.
- Let it come to a boil and keep stirring till it achieves a thick consistency. You have to slow-cook this for several hours.
- After this is done, use a blender and smoothen the sauce.
- Remove any seeds and skins from the sauce. After this, leave it aside to cool down.
- Taste to see if it requires any adjustments, and then your ketchup is ready.
Is Heinz ketchup is gluten free?
Heinz is the most popular ketchup brand worldwide, selling almost 660 million bottles yearly.
However, is Heinz ketchup gluten free? yes, Heinz ketchup is gluten-free. They use distilled vinegar that is extracted from corn, which has no presence of any gluten-based component.
Their ketchup is excellent for people with celiac disease and other gluten-related issues to consume. It does not cause constipation or bloating, or digestion issues that people face after consuming ketchup with glutenous components.
How can I check if my ketchup is gluten free?
It is essential to know the components of any product that you’re consuming. The same goes with ketchup. If you buy ketchup from a store or order online, you need to look at the specifications printed on the bottle.
The reason to check the ingredients in products is so that you don’t react to anything that might be allergic to your body. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, it makes sense to check for details mentioning if the product has gluten. They are usually labeled on the side of the stickers in the bottles.
There are a couple of ways to check if your ketchup is gluten-free.
- If you’re a person avoiding gluten due to health issues like celiac disease, gluten allergy, or simply avoiding gluten for other reasons, you need to check the label before buying any ketchup.
- On the label, it should mention that it is gluten-free, meaning it should contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million). This is the maximum limit that can be ingested by people who have gluten-related health issues.
- Labelling a product as gluten-free is not necessary for companies to follow. So, if there is no such mention, you can look at the list of ingredients on the bottle. If it contains components extracted from wheat and other similar food items, you should avoid purchasing it.
- The ketchup products should be FDA-approved.
Which ketchup brands are gluten-free?
There are many ketchup brands out there that are selling their products at retail stores, online, etc. However, not all of these brands sell gluten-free ketchup. and for those who are are searching is ketchup gluten free here are some gluten-free ketchup brands.
- Heinz
Heinz is one of the most recognized brands when it comes to ketchup. You can see their ketchup bottles in every household, restaurant, supermarket, etc.
They were the first brand to produce ketchup naturally without adding artificial preservatives. This says a lot about them as a top ketchup-producing company.
Heinz ketchup is gluten-free with a low 20 ppm, the maximum required to be deemed fit for ingestion for people with gluten-related health issues. They use distilled vinegar in all their ketchup products, making them gluten-free.
- McDonald’s Ketchup
McDonald’s is a super fast-food chain that is famous worldwide for its scrumptious vegan burgers. The burgers taste even more impressive with an extra smear of their favorite ketchup that comes in small packets.
Their ketchup consists of corn syrup, salt, tomato concentrate from organic tomatoes, distilled vinegar, etc., and various spices. The presence of distilled vinegar, as opposed to regular vinegar, proves that their ketchup is gluten-free.
However, the food chain company does not label their packets with gluten-free signs in the US. This is why it is essential to check the components of the ingredients.
- Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s ketchup uses organic white vinegar, which is gluten-free. They do not display the gluten-free label on their bottles, but the ingredients they use are wholly organic.
Since there is no mention of whether their ketchup is gluten-free, it is vital to know the ingredients that add gluten to foods.
This knowledge will help you in choosing which ketchup products are gluten-free.
- G Hughes Sugar-Free Ketchup
G Hughes is an award-winning pitmaster with his line of ketchup and other sauces used as condiments in different foods.
They do not use corn syrup, unlike the traditional method, and instead replace it with sucralose. Sucralose is a type of cornstarch that helps bind the tomato puree and thicken it.
Unlike most ketchup brands, it specifies the gluten-free detail in the ketchup bottles.
- Annie’s Organic Ketchup
Annie’s organic ketchup is a vegan product that consists of only organic ingredients. They do not add artificial components to their products, meaning that they are gluten-free. Their distilled vinegar is derived from corn or beets.
Annie’s produces many other products as well, so they make sure that they do not mix the ketchup-making process with other products that may contain gluten. They mention in their ketchup bottles if they have been manufactured among other products if that is the case.
Their ketchup bottles are labeled as gluten-free for the convenience of the customers.
Is ketchup gluten free and dairy free?
Yes, ketchup is gluten free and dairy free generally.
Ketchup, when produced naturally, usually is free of gluten and dairy. The natural ingredients used to make ketchup does not contain milk. If you’re unsure about it, you can look at the information given in the ketchup bottle before making a purchase or consuming it.
Distilled vinegar is used to make ketchup instead of vinegar extracted from wheat. Hence, most ketchup brands produce gluten-free products.
Final words – Is ketchup gluten free?
Yes, ketchup is gluten-free as long as they are made using distilled vinegar or other organically extracted vinegar. If it contains vinegar extracted from wheat, it will contain gluten.
For people with gluten-related health issues, they must check the labeling on the ketchup bottle before consuming the ketchup. You can also check out our list of ketchup brands that manufacture gluten-free ketchup if you’re unsure about which brands to trust.