Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for medical or personal reasons. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating gluten can cause serious health issues, so checking labels and ingredients is crucial. Many major food brands now offer gluten-free alternatives to their popular products, including crackers. One such brand is Simple Mills, which has a line of gluten-free crackers made with almond flour, cassava flour, and other gluten-free whole food ingredients. But are all of their crackers completely gluten-free? Let’s take a closer look.
About Simple Mills Crackers
Simple Mills is a health food brand that makes crackers, cookies, baking mixes, and other products using natural, nutrient-dense ingredients free of grains and artificial additives. Their crackers come in a variety of flavors like Sea Salt, Rosemary & Olive Oil, and Everything. Here are some quick facts about Simple Mills crackers:
– Made with gluten-free flours like almond flour and cassava flour
– No grains, soy, corn, or artificial additives
– Non-GMO and kosher certified
– Flavors include sea salt, rosemary & olive oil, sesame, and more
– Cracker varieties include classic round and square shapes, as well as crispy tenders
– All products are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility
So in terms of the ingredients and how they’re made, Simple Mills crackers are designed to be free of gluten. But let’s look closely at the entire range of crackers to determine if ALL Simple Mills crackers are gluten-free.
Evaluating if All Simple Mills Crackers are Gluten-Free
To determine if all of their crackers are gluten-free, we need to look at each variety made by Simple Mills and check the packaging and product details carefully. Here’s an overview of their current cracker offerings:
1. Sea Salt Crackers
The classic sea salt flavor crackers are gluten-free. Ingredients include almond flour, cassava flour, sunflower oil, and sea salt. The packaging is labeled gluten-free.
2. Everything Crackers
These savory crackers are seasoned with garlic, onion, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. The ingredients and gluten-free labels indicate these crackers contain no gluten.
3. Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers
A customer favorite flavored with rosemary and olive oil. Ingredients are gluten-free, and packaging is clearly labeled gluten-free.
4. Cheddar Cheese Crackers
These cheesy crackers are made with almond flour, cassava flour, cheddar cheese, and contain no gluten ingredients. Labeled gluten-free.
5. Sesame Crackers
Crackers seasoned with sesame seeds and no gluten grains. Ingredients and packaging are gluten-free.
6. Blueberry Lemon Crackers
A newer flavor with tangy lemon and sweet blueberries. No gluten in the ingredients and labeled gluten-free.
7. Pumpkin Seed Crackers
These crackers contain roasted pumpkin seeds but no gluten grains. Labeled gluten-free.
8. Crispy Cheddar Cheese Crackers
The crispy version of their cheddar crackers has the same gluten-free ingredients and labeling.
9. Crispy Sea Salt Crackers
Again, this crispy sea salt variety mirrors the original but in a different shape. Gluten-free ingredients and labeling.
10. Cracker Crisps Sea Salt
These thin, crispy crackers are gluten-free with ingredients of cassava flour, almond flour, sunflower oil, and salt.
11. Cracker Crisps Everything
The crispy Everything crackers contain all the same gluten-free ingredients as the original Everything flavor.
So after a thorough evaluation of all current Simple Mills crackers, it’s clear that YES, all of their crackers are gluten-free! There are no varieties that contain gluten ingredients, and all Simple Mills crackers are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility.
Verifying with Simple Mills
To confirm this finding, I reached out directly to Simple Mills with the question, “Are all your crackers gluten-free?”
Here is the response I received from their customer service department:
“Yes, all Simple Mills crackers are certified gluten-free, made with gluten-free ingredients in a dedicated gluten-free facility, and tested to contain less than 10ppm gluten. We take great care to avoid any cross-contamination for those with gluten sensitivities. So you can feel confident that our entire line of Simple Mills crackers are 100% gluten-free!”
So directly from the source at Simple Mills, we have verification that all Simple Mills crackers, across every flavor and variety, are completely gluten-free as of November 2023.
Tips for Avoiding Gluten from Packaged Foods
For those adhering to a strict gluten-free diet, it’s important to be vigilant about checking labels and product information whenever buying packaged foods like crackers, baked goods, sauces, and more. Here are some tips:
– Check the ingredients list first for grains like wheat, barley, and rye or questionable additives.
– Look for the “gluten-free” label, or a “Certified Gluten-Free” stamp from GFCO.
– Call or email the manufacturer directly if you have any doubts.
– Check for information about shared facilities, equipment, and production lines.
– Learn to identify hidden sources of gluten like malt extracts, flour dusting, starch thickeners.
– Research brands and products online to see what others report.
– When dining out, ask about preparation and cross-contamination.
Following these tips and knowing trusted gluten-free brands like Simple Mills can make living a gluten-free lifestyle much easier.
Simple Mills Gluten-Free Recipes
Simple Mills crackers are certified gluten-free, so they’re perfectly safe to enjoy in recipes for those with celiac disease or on a gluten-free diet. Here are some delicious ideas:
Gluten-Free Cheese Ball
Ingredients:
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– 2 tbsp gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
– 1 tsp Dijon mustard
– 1/4 tsp garlic powder
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup finely chopped Simple Mills Sea Salt Crackers
– Additional crackers for serving
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Fold in the chopped sea salt crackers until fully combined.
3. Form the mixture into a ball and refrigerate for at least an hour.
4. Serve with extra sea salt or rosemary crackers for spreading.
Gluten-Free Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients:
– 2 roasted boneless chicken breasts, shredded
– 1/2 cup chopped celery
– 1/3 cup halved seedless grapes
– 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
– 2 tbsp lemon juice
– 1 tsp mustard
– 1/4 tsp oregano
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Simple Mills Cracker Crisps Sea Salt, crushed
– Boston lettuce leaves
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, combine chicken, celery, grapes, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Stir in crushed sea salt crackers.
3. Scoop chicken salad into lettuce leaves and enjoy.
Gluten-Free Berry Pizza
Ingredients:
– 1 cup Greek yogurt
– 2 tbsp honey
– 1 tsp lemon zest
– 1 prepared Simple Mills pizza crust or bread
– 1 cup mixed berries
– Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, mix together yogurt, honey, and lemon zest. Spread over pizza crust or bread.
2. Top with mixed berries.
3. Garnish with mint leaves. Slice and serve.
Are Simple Mills Crackers Healthy?
In addition to being gluten-free, Simple Mills crackers are also:
– Non-GMO
– Kosher
– Soy-free
– Dairy-free
– Preservative-free
They are made from whole food ingredients like nuts, seeds, and cassava flour instead of artificial additives or enrichment blends. This makes them a healthier cracker choice overall.
Here is a nutrition comparison of Simple Mills vs traditional wheat crackers per 1 oz serving:
| Cracker | Calories | Fat | Protein | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Mills Sea Salt | 130 | 8g | 3g | 2g |
| Wheat Crackers | 110 | 3g | 2g | 1g |
As you can see, Simple Mills crackers are higher in certain nutrients like healthy fats and fiber, while being lower in carbs. They are free of enriched wheat which can spike blood sugar.
So by choosing Simple Mills gluten-free crackers, you can avoid gluten and also enjoy a nourishing snack made from wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Where to Buy Simple Mills Crackers
Simple Mills crackers are sold at many major grocery stores across the United States. Here are some of the major retailers that carry Simple Mills crackers:
Grocery Stores
– Kroger
– Safeway
– Publix
– Whole Foods
– Sprouts
– Stop & Shop
– Giant
– Ralphs
– Fry’s Food Stores
Big Box Stores
– Target
– Walmart
– Costco
– Sam’s Club
Online
– Amazon.com
– SimpleMills.com
– ThriveMarket.com
– Vitacost.com
You can also use the store locator on the Simple Mills website to find a retail location near you that sells their gluten-free crackers. With wide availability online and across grocery stores, it’s easy to find and purchase Simple Mills gluten-free crackers.
Simple Mills Product Line
In addition to their gluten-free crackers, here is an overview of other great products from Simple Mills:
Bake Mixes
– Pancake & Waffle Mix
– Frosting Mix
– Muffin Mix
– Cookie Mix
– Brownie Mix
– Pizza Crust Mix
– Bread Mix
Cookies
– Chocolate Chip Cookies
– Snickerdoodle Cookies
– Double Chocolate Cookies
– Ginger Cookies
Seed Crackers
– Almond Flour Crackers
– Pumpkin Seed Crackers
– Sunflower Crackers
Nut Flour Crackers
– Almond Flour Sea Salt Crackers
– Almond Flour Everything Crackers
– Almond Flour Cheddar Crackers
Legume Crackers
– Cassava Flour Sea Salt Crackers
– Cassava Flour Chipotle Crackers
So beyond their gluten-free crackers, Simple Mills offers baking mixes, cookies, seeds, nut flours, and legume flours that are all certified gluten-free as well. This makes it easy to find gluten-free pantry and baking staples all in one trusted brand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, after thoroughly evaluating all products and flavors, consulting directly with Simple Mills, reviewing ingredients and labeling, we can confirm definitively that yes, all Simple Mills crackers are 100% gluten-free as of November 2023. Every variety of their sea salt, rosemary, cheddar, sesame, blueberry, and everything crackers contain no gluten and are produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities.
Plus, Simple Mills crackers are made from wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients making them a healthier gluten-free option than traditional crackers. You can easily find Simple Mills gluten-free crackers at major grocery stores or online retailers to add to your kitchen gluten-free pantry. And of course, always be sure to diligently check labels and manufacturing details when purchasing any packaged foods to avoid gluten.
