Kamil Perry
Sargento is a popular cheese brand that offers a wide range of cheese products, including shredded, sliced, and natural cheeses. The brand has a strong focus on product freshness and provides recommended consumption guidelines to maintain optimal quality. Sargento's cheese products have gained attention for their gluten-free options, catering to individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. While most of their natural cheeses are gluten-free, certain product lines, such as the Sweet Balanced Breaks® and Sunrise Balanced Breaks®, contain gluten due to the presence of crackers or other grain-based ingredients. This has sparked discussions among consumers regarding potential cross-contamination risks and the importance of clear gluten-free labeling.
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What You'll Learn
Sargento's gluten-free cheese products
Sargento is a popular cheese brand that offers a wide range of cheese products. The brand has confirmed that all its natural cheeses are gluten-free. This includes their shredded cheese, cheese sticks, and sliced cheese options. Additionally, their Ricotta cheese is also gluten-free, as the source of vinegar in this product is white distilled vinegar, which does not contain gluten.
However, it's important to note that Sargento also offers some products that are not gluten-free. The Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks® and Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks® varieties, which include crackers, wheat germ, oats, and barley, do contain gluten. These products are often packaged in the same manufacturing plant, so cross-contamination is possible. Therefore, all Balanced Breaks products include a statement indicating that they are made in a facility that also processes wheat.
Sargento uses powdered cellulose or potato starch as anti-caking agents on some of their cheeses. These agents prevent the cheese from sticking together and are acceptable for a gluten-free diet as they are not derived from wheat, rye, oats, barley, or their cross-bred hybrids. However, it's always recommended that individuals with specific dietary restrictions or allergies consult their doctor or dietician to determine the best options for their health needs.
While most of Sargento's natural cheeses are made with non-animal rennets, some traditional Italian cheese styles, such as Romano, Provolone, Asiago, and Fontina, may contain animal enzymes. These cheese varieties can be found in their Italian blends, sliced Provolone, grated Parmesan, and Romano products. Therefore, those with specific dietary restrictions should carefully review the product labels and consult the brand's website for detailed information on ingredients and potential allergens.
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Gluten-free cheese snacks
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley, which are not generally found in natural cheeses. Sargento's natural cheeses are acceptable for a gluten-free diet. However, some of their products, such as Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks® and Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks®, contain ingredients like graham crackers, wheat germ, oats, and barley, which are not gluten-free.
If you are looking for gluten-free cheese snacks, there are a variety of options available. Many brands offer gluten-free cheese crackers, such as Lance, Glutino, Annie's, and Simple Mills. You can also find gluten-free cheez-its and goldfish crackers. These snacks are perfect for a cozy evening or a lunchbox addition.
If you prefer to make your own gluten-free cheese snacks, there are several recipes available online. One recipe suggests using gluten-free flour, baking powder, salt, spices, butter, sour cream, and cheese of your choice. Another recipe mimics the popular Cheez-Its crackers using sharp cheddar cheese, butter, gluten-free flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and water.
It's important to note that while natural cheeses are generally gluten-free, there is a possibility of trace amounts of gluten being introduced during the cheese-making process. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best options for your specific health needs.
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Gluten-free cheese and crackers
To make gluten-free cheese crackers at home, you will need a gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum, salt, cheese, cold unsalted butter, and cold water. You can use a food processor to mix the ingredients, but you can also make the dough by hand. The cheese you use should be one that you can grate at home, and extra mature (extra sharp) cheddar will give the crackers the best flavour and texture. However, mature (sharp) cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, Gouda, or Swiss Cheese will also work. You can also add spices such as smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne for some extra heat.
Once you have made the dough, roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper and cut out your crackers. You can use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes, like stars or goldfish. Then, bake your crackers at 350ºF (180ºC) for about 12-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown with slightly darker edges.
These gluten-free cheese crackers are a perfect snack for any occasion, and they are super quick and easy to make. They are deliciously crisp and flaky, with a salty, cheesy flavour.
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Gluten-free cheese freshness
Gluten is a type of protein that is found in wheat, barley, and rye. While dairy does not naturally contain gluten, some cheese products may include ingredients that are a source of gluten. Sargento, for example, states that all its natural cheeses are acceptable for a gluten-free diet. However, some of its Sweet Balanced Breaks and Sunrise Balanced Breaks varieties include graham crackers, wheat germ, oats, and barley, which contain gluten.
To ensure cheese is gluten-free, it is important to read the labels of all packaged or processed cheese products. Aside from wheat, barley, and rye, one should also ensure that the cheese does not contain wheat starch or modified food starch made from wheat. If purchasing cheese from a deli counter, it is important to ensure that the cheese is gluten-free and that the slicing machine has been cleaned to prevent cross-contact.
Blue cheese is usually gluten-free, although there is some debate about this. Mold cultures in blue cheese are sometimes grown on wheat or rye bread, but blue cheese rarely contains more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, which is the lowest amount that can be detected with available scientific tools. Thus, it should not trigger a gluten allergy.
Shredded cheese is also usually gluten-free, but some manufacturers may use starch with gluten to prevent the shreds from sticking together. Sargento, for instance, uses powdered cellulose or potato starch as anti-caking agents on some of its cheeses. These agents are not derived from wheat, rye, oats, barley, or their cross-bred hybrids, so they are acceptable for a gluten-free diet. Sargento recommends against freezing its cheese, as it may affect the texture, but freezing can extend the shelf life of cheese for up to two months.
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Gluten-free cheese and lactose intolerance
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley, which are not generally found in natural cheeses. However, there is always the possibility of a trace amount of gluten being introduced during the cheese-making process. Sargento, for example, states that all of its natural cheeses are acceptable for a gluten-free diet. However, some of its products, such as Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks® and Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks®, contain gluten in the form of graham crackers, wheat germ, oats, and barley.
Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is the inability to properly digest lactose, the predominant sugar in milk. This condition results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, normally produced in the small intestine. When cheese is made, 96-98% of the lactose in milk is removed, and as cheese ages, even more, lactose disappears. This means that most cheeses have negligible to no lactose, and most people who are lactose intolerant can eat hard, aged cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan, as they are naturally low in lactose.
Some people with lactose intolerance may still be able to consume cheese without issue, as the amount of lactose in most cheeses is not enough to trigger any adverse effects. However, it is important to note that lactose intolerance can vary from person to person, and some individuals may be more sensitive to lactose than others. Therefore, it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional or a dietician to determine which foods are suitable for one's specific dietary needs.
In addition to gluten and lactose intolerance, some individuals may also have a protein intolerance or a casein intolerance, which can further complicate their dietary restrictions. It is important to distinguish between these different types of intolerances, as they can require different dietary modifications. For example, while most natural cheeses are gluten-free, those with a protein intolerance may need to avoid cheese or choose alternative options such as avocado or nutritional yeast.
Overall, while most cheeses are naturally gluten-free and suitable for those with lactose intolerance, it is always important to carefully read labels, be aware of potential cross-contamination, and consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that any dietary choices align with one's specific health needs and restrictions.
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Frequently asked questions
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley, which are ingredients not generally found in natural cheeses. Sargento states that all their natural cheeses are acceptable for a gluten-free diet. However, there is always the possibility of trace amounts of gluten being introduced during the cheese-making process.
Sargento's non-natural cheeses, such as the Sweet Balanced Breaks® and Sunrise Balanced Breaks® varieties, contain gluten as they include ingredients like graham crackers, wheat germ, oats, and barley.
Sargento's shredded, sliced, and Ricotta cheeses, refrigerated natural cheese snacks, and non-refrigerated snacks are all nut-free and produced in nut-free facilities.
While Sargento's natural cheeses are gluten-free, there is always a risk of cross-contamination in the supply chain or during manufacturing. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, it is recommended that you consult a doctor or dietician to determine the best options for your health needs.
Yes, Cabot is a cheese brand that is labeled gluten-free, and Dietz & Watson is a certified gluten-free cheese producer.
