Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free? Find Out the Risks!

Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free? The original Worcestershire Sauce is not gluten free since it contains Barley Malt Vinegar that makes it inappropriate for Celiac disease.

However, there are many gluten free versions of Worcestershire Sauce that use Apple Cider Vinegar instead of Barley Malt Vinegar.

Do you remember that savory, umami flavor when you ate Sushi rolls last time? Yes, that Umami flavor and thick brown texture is due to the usage of Worcestershire sauce.

Worcestershire sauce is the main ingredient of Caesar salad, Oyster, Deviled Eggs, Meatloaf, Tonkatsu Sauce and Bloody Marys.

If you are a celiac patient, have gluten sensitivity or are on a gluten free diet, you are wondering if Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free? Can you add this tasty tangy sauce to your meals or not?

In this article, we will guide you about about your concern “Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free?”. We’ll break down the ingredients of this Sauce and will also suggest to you which brands are offering gluten free Worcestershire Sauce.

Let’s find out the answer to” Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free”?

What is Worcestershire Sauce?

There is an interesting story related to the Worcestershire Sauce recipe. In the 1830s, chemists William Perrins and John Wheeley Lea made this sauce.

When they first created it, they were not satisfied with the result. Instead of discarding it, they keep it in their basement for years. During this time, the fermentation process had transformed it into a delicious sauce. So that’s how Worcestershire Sauce is made, as we know it today.

Worcestershire sauce adds umami and savory flavor to dishes. It has a brown color, a thick texture and a punchy and tangy flavor.

This sauce is used in so many dishes like steak sauce sandwiches, drinks, oysters, deviled eggs, Caesar salad, Swedish meatballs, meatloaf, and Bloody Marys. It adds a yummy and tangy flavor to most stews and beef dishes. Now get the answer of your query “Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free?”

Wondering how to pronounce “Worcestershire” correctly?: It’s very simple actually. Just pronounce it as “WOO-stuh-shur.”

Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free?

Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free? No, The original Worcestershire Sauce is not gluten free since it has barley malt vinegar in its recipe. Barley malt vinegar contains gluten content that can cause issues for gluten intolerance patients.

But there are many different types of Worcestershire sauce. Gluten free Worcestershire sauce that uses Apple Cider Vinegar instead of Barley Malt Vinegar also exists and is used in mostly the United States.

The ingredients used in Worcestershire sauce are usually gluten free in the United States. But they are not usually with gluten free labels.

A product requires less than 20 parts per million(ppm) of gluten to fulfill the requirements of FDA approved label.

To do this, brands must require strict policies and production rules. However not all the brands do this because the testing process is costly.

If you have gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, you must be careful and only use Worcestershire sauce containing gluten free labels.

What are the Ingredients Used in Worcestershire Sauce?

Now let’s find out what is in Worcestershire sauce to get the answer of “Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free?. Ingredients can vary among different types of Worcestershire sauce but these are the ingredients mainly used in Worcestershire sauce:

Ingredients You Should Watch Out For

Some of the ingredients included in Worcestershire sauce contain gluten content. So if you have gluten sensitivity, celiac disease or want to avoid gluten then always watch out for the ingredients on the label of the Worcestershire sauce. so that you can determine “Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free?

If Worcestershire sauce ingredients include:

Then skip this product. Don’t buy this Worcestershire sauce. These two ingredients contain gluten in them.

Cross Contamination Risk in Worcestershire Sauce

Cross contamination is another big factor that causes gluten in Worcestershire sauce after the gluten containing ingredients. 

In factories where Worcestershire sauce is made, there is a possibility the same machinery that is used to process wheat might be used when Worcestershire sauce is in the making process.

These utensils and machinery may contain gluten content on them and not be cleaned properly. So the gluten content can be mixed in Worcestershire sauce while making it with these gluten-containing equipment.

To avoid this risk always use certified gluten free Worcestershire sauce. The testing process and strict rules of a brand make the chances of cross contamination low. So always check the label of “gluten free” before buying Worcestershire sauce.

Which Brands Offer Gluten Free Worcestershire Sauce?

Now let’s find out which Worcestershire sauce brands you can safely use. These options are easy to find and safe products.

These brands mentioned “gluten free” on their products. Just watch out for the label. Here is the list of gluten free Worcestershire sauce brands:

Disclaimer: Brands often change their recipes and procedures. So it is possible that the brands that once didn’t contain gluten in their products can add gluten ingredients to the recipe. Always check the ingredients before buying any brand’s products.

Brands Of Worcestershire Sauce that are not Certified Gluten Free

If you are a celiac patient, have gluten sensitivity, or are on a gluten free diet, you must be aware of these Worcestershire sauce brands you should not use. These brands use gluten containing ingredients and are not gluten free.

Here is the list of Worcestershire sauce brands you should avoid:

Gluten Free Ways to Use Worcestershire Sauce

Want to know how you can safely add this delicious sauce to your dishes? In which dishes, you can use this tangy sauce and have yummy umami flavor in foods while maintaining a gluten free diet?

Here is the list of dishes you can safely use this sauce with: 

Choosing Safe Worcestershire Sauce

So you got the answer of “Is Worcestershire Sauce Gluten Free?”.  It’s a complicated answer as sometimes Worcestershire sauce is gluten free or sometimes not.

It depends on what type and brand of Worcestershire sauce you use. You can safely use and find gluten free Worcestershire sauce. Just make sure you follow all the tips we share here to find the answer of “Is Worcestershire sauce gluten free? ” and recognize gluten free Worcestershire sauce.

If there is not a gluten free label on Worcestershire sauce or if it has less than 20 ppm of gluten content simply avoid it. 

Keep in mind in the United Kingdom and Europe, barley based malt vinegar is not used which contains gluten content. So when traveling, always be more careful, when buying Worcestershire sauce from the store.

Choose gluten free Worcestershire sauce and enjoy delicious foods!

Also Read: Is Hummus Gluten Free?