Bushra Griffith
Gluten-free snacks are becoming increasingly popular, with many people voluntarily or medically eliminating gluten from their diets. Doritos, a popular savoury snack, are tortilla chips that are mostly made out of corn flour and flavoured with spices. While corn does not inherently contain gluten, Doritos are manufactured in plants that also process other products that do contain gluten, such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats. This raises the question: are cheese Doritos gluten-free in the UK?
Are Cheese Doritos Gluten-Free in the UK?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gluten-Free Label | No |
| Certified Gluten-Free | No |
| Gluten-Free Ingredients | Yes |
| Risk of Cross-Contamination | Yes |
| Safe for Celiacs | No |
| Alternative Gluten-Free Options | Walmart's Gluten-Free Doritos Knock-Off, Frito Lay's Cheetos, 3D Crunch Chili Cheese Nacho Flavored Corn Snacks |
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What You'll Learn
Gluten-free labelling
In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule defining "gluten-free" for food labelling. This rule helps consumers, especially those with celiac disease, to confidently identify gluten-free products that meet a defined standard for gluten content. The rule specifies that products labelled as "gluten-free" must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, which is the lowest level that can be reliably detected using scientifically validated methods. This threshold is widely accepted and has been shown to be safe for most people with celiac disease.
The use of the term "gluten-free" on food labels is voluntary, and manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their claims are accurate, truthful, and not misleading. They must comply with all requirements established by the FDA regulations. Foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as bottled spring water, fruits, vegetables, and eggs, may also be labelled as such. However, it is not mandatory to include a "gluten-free" label on a product, even if it meets the requirements. Therefore, consumers should also carefully read the ingredient labels to identify any hidden or questionable ingredients that may contain gluten.
In the case of Doritos, which are tortilla chips primarily made from corn flour, the risk of gluten contamination arises from the manufacturing practices. Most Doritos flavours are produced in facilities that also process gluten-containing products, leading to potential cross-contamination. As a result, only one variety, the DORITOS® Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavored Tortilla Chips, is certified as gluten-free by the FDA. This specific product meets the requirement of containing less than 20 ppm of gluten.
When purchasing Doritos in the UK, it is essential to check the packaging for the "gluten-free" label or carefully review the ingredient list. While the UK also adheres to strict labelling regulations, the specific ingredients and recipes used in Doritos products sold outside the United States might differ, potentially altering the gluten content. Therefore, consumers with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should remain vigilant and consult reliable sources for the most up-to-date information on gluten-free labelling and product availability in the UK market.
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Manufacturing practices
Doritos are manufactured in various facilities worldwide to meet the high demand for the globally recognised brand. The manufacturing process is meticulous, from the preparation of the masa dough to the final packaging stage.
The primary ingredients in Doritos are corn, vegetable oil, and various seasonings. Corn is the key component, which is processed to create the masa flour used for making the chips. The corn kernels are soaked in an alkaline solution, usually lime water, to remove the hulls and soften the corn. This process is known as nixtamalization. The corn is then ground into a fine masa flour, which serves as the base for the chips.
The first step in turning the masa dough into Doritos is sheeting. The dough is rolled into thin sheets and cut into their distinctive triangular shape. These triangles are placed on a conveyor belt and passed through a continuous frying process using hot vegetable oil.
While the chips themselves aren't made with gluten-containing ingredients, they are at risk of cross-contamination due to manufacturing practices. Most flavours of Doritos are manufactured in plants that also process other gluten-containing products. Therefore, the gluten content in each chip can vary depending on the flavour.
As of now, only one kind of Doritos chip can be labelled as gluten-free per the FDA: the DORITOS® Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavored Tortilla Chips. These chips are guaranteed to contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten, which is the cutoff for the FDA Gluten-Free Food Labelling Final Rule.
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Cross-contamination
Doritos are manufactured in plants that also process gluten-containing products, which poses a risk of cross-contamination. While Doritos are made primarily from corn flour, which does not inherently contain gluten, the gluten content in each chip can vary depending on the flavour due to manufacturing practices.
Frito-Lay, the parent company of Doritos, acknowledges that only one variety of Doritos is certified gluten-free: the DORITOS® Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavored Tortilla Chips. These chips are guaranteed to contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, which is the cutoff for the FDA Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule. However, even these chips may not be completely safe for everyone with gluten intolerance, as the ruling only applies to products distributed in the United States, and ingredients and recipes may differ in other countries.
While Frito-Lay performs thorough cleaning after each run, they cannot guarantee that other Doritos varieties are gluten-free below 20 ppm. Therefore, individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should only consume Doritos with a "gluten-free" label to ensure their safety. It is worth noting that the risk of cross-contamination is not limited to Doritos, as it is a common issue in the food industry, especially in restaurants where gluten-free dishes are offered alongside gluten-containing options.
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Ingredients
Doritos are tortilla chips, which are primarily made from corn flour and seasoned with a range of spices. Corn does not naturally contain gluten, unlike other grains. However, Doritos come in a wide range of flavours and forms, and some are produced differently from others.
The majority of Doritos flavours are processed in facilities that also handle other gluten-containing products. As a result, the gluten content of each chip can vary depending on the flavour. Only one type of Doritos chip can be labelled gluten-free according to the FDA as of now.
The only certified gluten-free Doritos option is the DORITOS® Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavoured Tortilla Chips, according to Frito-Lay, the parent company of Doritos. This variety is the only one that contains less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten, which is the limit for foods to be labelled gluten-free according to the FDA Gluten Free Food Labelling Final Rule.
While the other chips themselves do not contain gluten-containing grains such as barley, wheat, and rye, they may be cross-contaminated during manufacturing. This means that if you have a gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, you should avoid eating Doritos unless they have a "gluten-free" label.
In the UK, Starbucks has introduced a new line of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free items. The addition of oat milk to the menu means that Starbucks now provides four dairy-free alternatives for hot drinks: oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk.
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Gluten intolerance and Celiac disease
In the UK, Starbucks has introduced a new line of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options on its menu. The inclusion of oat milk as one of the dairy-free alternatives means that Starbucks now offers four dairy-free milk options for hot beverages.
Gluten intolerance, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), is a sensitivity rather than an autoimmune disorder like celiac disease. People with gluten intolerance may only need to reduce their gluten and carbohydrate intake. Unlike celiac disease, gluten intolerance does not have the same negative consequences on intestinal tissues or immune function.
When choosing gluten-free snacks, it is important to read the labels carefully. While some snacks are inherently gluten-free, such as those made with corn, others may be at risk of cross-contamination due to manufacturing practices. For example, Doritos are tortilla chips made primarily from corn flour, but they are not considered gluten-free due to the possibility of cross-contamination during production. Only one variety of Doritos, the Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavored Tortilla Chips, is certified as gluten-free per the FDA.
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