Is ketchup gluten-free? Usually, check the vinegar

Usually, yes. Ketchup is made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt and spices. Ketchup usually uses spirit (distilled) vinegar, which is gluten-free.

What to check

• The vinegar: malt vinegar is made from barley. It’s rare in ketchup, but read the ingredient list.
• Flavoured and “smoky” versions and brown sauces: brown sauce often contains malt vinegar, and some sauces are thickened with flour.
• In the US, barley isn’t a mandatory allergen, so a gluten-free label is the clearest sign.

At the table

Shared dip pots and squeeze bottles can pick up crumbs from chips and battered food. Sachets or a fresh pot avoid that.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Is vinegar gluten-free?
• Is mayonnaise gluten-free?
• Shared fryers and gluten

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.