Insomnia Cookies is a popular late night cookie delivery service that offers delicious, warm cookies for delivery until 3 am. Many of their cookie flavors are listed as being gluten-free on their menu. But are Insomnia Cookies actually gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Here is a comprehensive look at Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free offerings.
What is gluten and why does it matter?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune reaction that damages the small intestine. This can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, and more. The only treatment is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet, avoiding any foods or cross-contamination with gluten.
For people who must eat gluten-free for medical reasons, checking that a food is truly gluten-free is about more than a dietary preference – it is critical to manage their health condition. Even tiny amounts of gluten from cross-contamination can cause issues. This makes it extra important for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to confirm that any food labeled as “gluten-free” actually is.
What has Insomnia Cookies said about gluten-free offerings?
On Insomnia Cookies’ FAQ page and allergen information page, they provide the following details about their gluten-free cookies:
- They offer several cookies that are gluten-free as prepared by their bakeries. These flavors include Chocolate Chunk, Snickerdoodle, Sugar, Dark Chocolate Cherry, and Oatmeal Raisin.
- While these cookie flavors do not contain gluten ingredients, they are prepared in shared facilities and ovens alongside other cookie flavors containing gluten. Cross-contamination is possible.
- They recommend these cookies for people with gluten sensitivities, but not people with celiac disease, due to the cross-contamination risk.
- They are unable to guarantee a 100% gluten-free product due to their production methods.
Based on this information provided directly from Insomnia Cookies, it’s clear that while some of their cookies are made without gluten ingredients, cross-contamination with gluten is likely in their facilities. Individuals with celiac disease or who are highly sensitive should exercise caution.
What do customer reviews say?
Looking at customer reviews on sites like Yelp, Google, and Reddit, there are mixed reports on whether Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free options are truly gluten-free:
- Some customers who are gluten-free report enjoying the cookies with no issues and appreciate having a gluten-free late night delivery option.
- However, many other reviewers say they experienced symptoms or had negative test results after eating the gluten-free cookies. They do not consider the offerings to be celiac-safe.
- Multiple people call out noticing visible cross-contamination in their cookies, like gluten crumbs visibly on top of a supposedly gluten-free cookie.
Here are some example reviews:
| Reviewer | Review |
|---|---|
| Emily D. on Yelp | “I was so excited to see they have gluten free options! I got the gluten free chocolate chunk and ate one last night, which left me seriously glutened. My experiences have been so bad that I can say with certainty it was cross contaminated.” |
| David P. on Google | “My son has celiac and after eating 2 sugar cookies he tested positive for gluten. Do not trust them if you have celiac!” |
| Katie R. on Reddit | “I’m super sensitive to cross contamination and have never had an issue with their gluten free cookies. I think it just depends how sensitive you are.” |
Based on these customer experiences, Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free cookies seem to be hit or miss in terms of safety, depending on the individual’s sensitivity level.
Are the facilities certified gluten-free?
From researching online, there are no signs that Insomnia Cookies’ facilities are certified gluten-free. Their website and allergen information do not mention any gluten-free certifications.
Certifications like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) require adherence to strict standards to avoid cross-contamination. Facilities must be completely separated from gluten and undergo thorough audits and testing. The lack of certification suggests Insomnia Cookies’ production methods likely do not meet the requirements for those with celiac disease.
What ingredients are used in the gluten-free cookies?
According to Insomnia Cookies’ website, these are the ingredients used in their gluten-free cookie flavors:
Chocolate Chunk
- Tapioca flour
- White rice flour
- Cane sugar
- Dairy free chocolate chunks
- Margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, palm kernel oil)
- Cocoa powder
- Egg
- Baking soda
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
- Salt
Snickerdoodle
- Tapioca flour
- White rice flour
- Cane sugar
- Cinnamon
- Margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, palm kernel oil)
- Egg
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
- Salt
Sugar Cookie
- Tapioca flour
- White rice flour
- Cane sugar
- Margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, palm kernel oil)
- Egg
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
Dark Chocolate Cherry
- Tapioca flour
- White rice flour
- Cane sugar
- Dairy free chocolate chunks
- Margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, palm kernel oil)
- Cocoa powder
- Egg
- Baking soda
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
- Salt
- Dried cherries
Oatmeal Raisin
- Gluten-free oats
- Tapioca flour
- White rice flour
- Brown sugar
- Margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, palm kernel oil)
- Egg
- Cinnamon
- Baking soda
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
- Salt
- Raisins
These ingredients lists look gluten-free at first glance. However, it is important to note oats need to be specially produced to be gluten-free, since oats have high risk of cross-contamination with wheat and barley. It is unclear if Insomnia Cookies uses certified gluten-free oats.
What precautions are taken against cross-contamination?
Since Insomnia Cookies bakes gluten-free and non-gluten-free items together in shared facilities, there is an inherent risk of cross-contamination through shared equipment, surfaces, air, and employees. Gluten can transfer from one food to another very easily.
On their website, Insomnia Cookies states: “Our bakeries take precautions to reduce the chance of cross-contamination by thoroughly cleaning baking tools, surfaces, hands, and aprons between baking gluten and gluten-friendly items. However, flour particles and other allergens have the potential to travel through the air in our open bakery environment. We cannot guarantee a 100% allergen-free environment for any allergen.”
While they do take some limited precautions, like cleaning between items, it does not appear they implement many standardized preventative measures against cross-contamination compared to dedicated gluten-free facilities. There is no mention of steps like:
- Using separate equipment and tools for gluten-free baking
- Processing gluten-free orders first thing in the morning before gluten items
- Having dedicated gluten-free production areas
- Implementing glove changes between handling items
- Using color-coded tools/equipment to prevent mixing
Without more rigorous procedures, cross-contamination seems very likely to occur in their environment as flour particles and ingredients mix in the air and on surfaces.
Should you eat Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free options if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity?
Overall, the available information suggests Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free cookies are not suitable for customers with celiac disease or high gluten sensitivity:
- The company itself does not recommend their products for those with celiac disease due to gluten cross-contamination risks.
- There are no gluten-free certifications to verify safe production methods.
- Many customer reviews report getting sick from their gluten-free cookies.
- Standard procedures to prevent cross-contamination do not seem to be in place based on available information.
Those with celiac disease or who are highly sensitive are better off choosing dedicated gluten-free bakeries that use certified ingredients, follow gluten-free protocols, and get audited for safety if they want guaranteed gluten-free treats.
However, Insomnia Cookies may potentially be tolerated by some people with milder gluten sensitivities who are not as reactive. As evidenced by some positive customer reviews, some individuals do not get sick from their gluten-free cookies. Those with less sensitivity can try the cookies at their own discretion and see how their body responds.
Overall, Insomnia Cookies is not the safest choice for those requiring a strictly gluten-free diet for medical reasons. Individuals with celiac disease or high sensitivity are taking a risk consuming their products. Proceed with caution and at your own discretion if you choose to try their gluten-free offerings.
Conclusion
When it comes to Insomnia Cookies’ gluten-free options, the company is upfront that they cannot guarantee the items are 100% gluten-free or safe for those with celiac disease due to cross-contamination risks in their facilities. They recommend the products for those with gluten sensitivities, but not celiac disease.
Customer experiences are mixed – some report no issues, while others have gotten sick from their gluten-free cookies. There are also no gluten-free certifications for their facilities.
Ultimately, individuals with celiac disease or high gluten sensitivity are likely safest avoiding Insomnia Cookies. Those with milder sensitivities may potentially tolerate the cookies, but should exercise caution. Any customers with gluten concerns should make their own judgment call on whether Insomnia Cookies’ treats fit into their gluten-free diet needs and limitations.
