Is Ketchup Gluten Free? The Real Answer May Surprise You!

Is Ketchup Gluten Free? Yes, ketchup is generally considered gluten free because all the ingredients used to make ketchup are naturally gluten free.

However, not all ketchup brands are certified gluten free because some brands might use wheat-derived vinegar or be at risk of cross contamination. Don’t worry; we will cover all this in detail in this blog post.

Ketchup is one of the most common sauces worldwide, and it is especially common in American homes.

Ketchup is readily available in most restaurants and diners and is often spread on sandwiches or served with burgers and fries.

In this article, we discuss ketchup in detail and will let you know if it’s safe for people with celiac disease or those who follow a gluten free diet.

Ketchup: From Pickled Fish to Tomato-Based Sauce

⁤Do you know that the original Chinese ketchup was different from the ketchup we eat today? Those ketchups were made using pickled fish and a variety of species instead of tomatoes.

Nowadays, the ketchup we eat has a sweet and tangy taste and is made from tomatoes, water, vinegar, sugar, and salt.

However, different brands have unique tastes because they add a special blend of seasonings and spices that make the ketchup much more tasty. Some of these spices that you might find in the ingredient list of ketchup are onions, garlic, cloves, and coriander.

Answer: Is Ketchup Gluten Free?

⁤We all love to eat ketchup with our favorite fried food and other bakery items, but people having gluten allergies might think: Is ketchup gluten free.

Well, the short answer to this question is Yes, ketchup is gluten free.

Gluten is commonly found in cereals such as wheat, barley, and Rey. These cereals help baked goods stay stretchy and hold their shape.

Ketchup is gluten free because none of these grannies are used in its preparation as long as it’s made from distilled vinegar.

Sometimes, gluten can be found in dressings and sauces, including ketchup, when a certain ingredient is used to make it thicker.

There is also a chance of cross contamination if the ketchup is prepared in a place that also handles other gluten containing products.

Hence, always check the ingredients list of ketchup before you eat it to ensure that it’s gluten free.

What are the Key Ingredients in Ketchup?

Is Ketchup Gluten Free? Yes, it is. Ketchup is gluten free because it has no gluten containing ingredients. Ketchup includes the following essential ingredients:

• Tomato Concentrate: This is primarily obtained from the concentrated tomato paste and gives the base color and thickness.
• Vinegar: Distilled vinegar is most commonly used, but apple cider vinegar may also be used for its sourness at times.
• Sugar: Sugar or high fructose corn syrup is added to sweeten the ketchup, though granulated sugar is more prevalent.
• Salt: It is used to enhance the flavor.
• Spices: Some of the spices used include onion powder, garlic powder, and, at times, allspice, cloves, or cinnamon.
• Citric Acid: It is primarily employed in the preservation of food and as a souring agent.

Some variations may include additional ingredients such as:

• Molasses: This is used to give a deeper flavor and a dark color.
• Natural Flavors: Natural flavors are used for additional taste enhancement.
• Xanthan Gum or Modified Food Starch: Employed to help thicken food products.

Vinegar in Ketchup: Is Vinegar Gluten Free?

One of the main ingredients of ketchup is vinegar which can be tricky to identify if it’s gluten free or not.

Most of the vinegar is obtained from gluten free sources.

Gluten free vinegar include:

Distilled white vinegar is commonly made from corn, is common in the USA, and is almost always gluten free. Outside the US, it is sometimes made using gluten containing grains, especially malt, which is derived from barley.

People with high gluten sensitivity or celiac disease could have an adverse reaction to malt vinegar even if it’s below 20 parts per million of gluten, which is the international standard for a substance to be gluten free.

If you’re following a gluten free diet, you should definitely avoid malt vinegar.

How to Verify Gluten Free Ketchup?

If you are a celiac patient, have gluten allergies, or are avoiding gluten for any other reason, then the best way to ensure that you are buying a gluten free ketchup is to search for labels like “no gluten”, “gluten free”, “free of gluten”, or “without gluten”.

Secondly, always review the ingredients before you eat ketchup to ensure that no gluten containing ingredient is added.

Some common gluten containing ingredients in ketchup include malt vinegar, which is made from barley, and modified food starch, which can be derived from wheat.

Verified Gluten Free Ketchup Brands

Following is a list of ketchup brands that are safe for those having gluten 

Allergies:

Disclaimer: Always double check the ingredients list or visit the manufacturer’s website to confirm that the ketchup is gluten free, as many companies change their formulas and certifications periodically.

Conclusion: Yes Ketchup is Gluten Free

Ketchup is naturally gluten free and does not contain any cereals like wheat, barley, or rye.

However, some brands might produce machinery that also handles gluten products or the vinegar used may be derived from wheat.

So, if you are a celiac patient or have gluten allergies, always look for a gluten free label and always check the ingredient list in order to make sure that it does not contain any gluten containing ingredients.

Also Read: Is Ice Cream Gluten Free?