In this post, we’re finally going over a very popular question: are Fritos gluten free? Now, I’m breaking down what Fritos are gluten free, which ones aren’t, and delicious Fritos alternatives!
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I think you’ll agree with me when I say, sometimes you just need a classic, salty snack like Fritos. If you’re gluten free, you might need to stop and think ‘are Fritos gluten free?‘ So keep reading to find out everything you need to know about which Fritos are safe and not safe for anyone with Celiac or a gluten intolerance!
Are Fritos Gluten Free?
According to Frito-Lay’s website, Fritos Original Corn Chips are gluten-free, along with their Lightly Salted Corn Chips, Reduced Fat Original Corn Chips, and Fritos Scoops! Corn Chips. Other Frito flavors are made with gluten-free ingredients, but they are made in a facility where there is risk of cross-contamination.
For a certified gluten-free option, stick with these flavors, which have been tested to ensure they have less than 20 ppm of gluten:
- FRITOS® Lightly Salted Corn Chips
- FRITOS® Original Corn Chips
- FRITOS® Reduced Fat Original Corn Chips
- FRITOS® Scoops!® Corn Chips
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a general name for the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale [a cross between wheat and rye].
Gluten is naturally occurring, but it can be extracted, concentrated and added to food and other products to add protein, texture and flavor. It can also be a binding agent to hold processed foods together.
These come in the form of flavorings, binders to keep ingredients together, or other additives. In chips specifically, gluten is often found in the flavorings that are added to the chips.
What are Fritos Made Of?
Fritos are made with minimal ingredients. The less ingredients there are a packaged food, the less likely I am to find gluten in hidden places. That’s how you accidentally get glutened!
Original Fritos, Lightly Salted, and Scoops are made out of only three ingredients: corn, corn oil, and salt. Since we know corn is gluten-free, we can safely assume Fritos are okay on a gluten-free diet.
What Fritos Are Made With Gluten Free Ingredients?
If you check the ingredients Fritos, you’ll see that most of the flavors do not contain any gluten ingredients. But, Frito-Lay warns that these flavors are at risk for cross-contamination in the manufacturing process, so since they are not made in a gluten-free facility.
These flavors do not contain gluten ingredients, but are not labeled as gluten-free:
- FRITOS Flavor Twists® Honey BBQ Flavored Corn Chips
- FRITOS Chili Cheese Flavored Corn Chips
- FRITOS Flamin’ Hot® Flavored Corn Chips
- FRITOS Scoops!® Spicy Jalapeño Flavored Corn Chips
- FRITOS Spicy Jalapeño Flavored Corn Chips
My Favorite Fritos Alternative
Trader Joe’s makes Organic Corn Chip Dippers, and they are DELICIOUS! They taste basically identical to Fritos. These gluten free corn chips are made from organic corn, organic sunflower oil, and organic sea salt.
They’re perfect for dipping in your favorite salsa recipe!
In this post, we went over the famous question – are Fritos gluten free? And luckily YES! Of course, the the flavored ones aren’t made in a gluten free facility, so of course there’s the possibility of cross contamination, but there are plenty of fritos that are GF! That’s great news, because as someone who’s gluten intolerant, we can always use more snacks!
You may also like [Best Gluten Free Travel Snacks [2023] [My Favorite Gluten Free Mango Salsa Recipe]
Information from this blog should not be treated as a substitute for professional assistance from trained medical, health, and wellness professionals. Please discuss any changes to your diet, medication, supplements, treatments, diagnoses, and physical activity with your doctor before taking any action as a result of information from this blog.