Are crisps gluten-free? Plain ones usually, check the flavours

Plain ones usually are. Potato crisps (potato chips in the US) are potatoes, oil and salt. The flavourings are where gluten comes in.

What to check

• Salt and vinegar: some use barley malt vinegar powder, so read the label.
• Savoury flavours: seasonings can contain wheat flour, and yeast extract can contain barley (“yeast extract (barley)”).
• Crisps that aren’t made from potato: some snacks are made from wheat, like many pretzels, puffs and “bakes”.
• “May contain” notes are voluntary. The ingredient list and a gluten-free label tell you more.

Fresh chips and fries

Crisps from a packet are one thing; freshly fried chips are another. There, the question is whether the fryer is shared with battered or breaded food.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Are potatoes gluten-free?
• Shared fryers and gluten
• Is yeast gluten-free?
• What “may contain gluten” really means

Sources: EU Regulation 1169/2011 and 828/2014, US FDA gluten-free rule and FALCPA, Coeliac UK, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less). We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.