Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. For those following a gluten-free diet, it’s important to pay close attention to product labels to ensure they do not contain any wheat, barley, rye or derivatives that contain gluten. This includes foods that you may not suspect contain gluten, like frozen biscuits. So are Pillsbury frozen biscuits gluten-free?
The Short Answer
No, Pillsbury frozen biscuits are not gluten-free. Pillsbury’s frozen biscuits contain wheat flour, which means they do contain gluten. Individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should avoid Pillsbury frozen biscuits.
Ingredients in Pillsbury Frozen Biscuits
Upon examining the ingredient lists for Pillsbury’s frozen biscuits, including their Grands! and Southern Style varieties, it is evident they contain wheat flour. Some examples of ingredients found in Pillsbury frozen biscuits include:
- Enriched bleached wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Palm oil
- Skim milk
- Leavening (sodium aluminum phosphate, baking soda)
- Soybean oil
- Sugar
- Contains 2% or less of: salt, wheat starch, dough conditioners (mono & diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid)
As you can see, the first ingredient listed is enriched bleached wheat flour. This indicates the biscuits predominantly contain wheat flour, which is not allowed on a strict gluten-free diet.
Are Any Pillsbury Biscuits Gluten-Free?
At this time, Pillsbury does not offer any gluten-free frozen biscuit options. All of their frozen biscuits contain wheat flour.
If you require a gluten-free biscuit, you’ll need to look for specialty gluten-free brands or make your own gluten-free biscuit recipe at home using alternate flours like almond flour, coconut flour or gluten-free oat flour.
Gluten-Free Alternatives to Pillsbury Biscuits
Here are some recommended gluten-free brands that offer frozen biscuits similar to Pillsbury:
- Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten Free Classic Biscuits
- Against the Grain Gourmet Gluten-Free Classic Buttermilk Biscuits
- Schar Gluten Free Classic Biscuits
- Gillian’s Foods Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits
Be sure to carefully read the labels of any gluten-free product to ensure it does not contain any wheat, barley, rye or malt ingredients. Many gluten-free brands clearly state “gluten-free” on the packaging. You can also search for certified gluten-free products that have been tested to verify they meet the FDA requirements to be labeled gluten-free.
Making Your Own Gluten-Free Biscuits
If you want 100% control over the ingredients, you can also make your own gluten-free biscuits at home. Here are some flours commonly used in gluten-free baking that can substitute for wheat flour:
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Gluten-free oat flour
- Brown rice flour
- Quinoa flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Chickpea flour
Try using a blend of a few different gluten-free flours for the best texture. You can find many gluten-free biscuit recipes online using these alternate flours. Making your own allows you to control the ingredients and avoid any cross-contamination issues.
Risks of Eating Gluten with Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity
It’s important for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to avoid gluten at all times, even in small amounts hidden in processed foods. Here is an overview of the health risks associated with consuming gluten:
Celiac Disease
- Damage to small intestine villi leads to impaired nutrient absorption
- Fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia and osteoporosis
- Increased risk of intestinal cancers, neurological disorders and other autoimmune diseases
- Only treatment is lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, bloating and abdominal pain
- Headaches, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and joint pain may also occur
- Symptoms resolve when gluten is removed from the diet
Consuming gluten can have severe long-term consequences for those with celiac disease. For individuals with gluten sensitivity, symptoms may be more variable but there is still harm caused by ongoing gluten exposure. That’s why carefully checking labels and avoiding products with wheat, rye, barley and malt ingredients is critical.
Conclusion
In summary, Pillsbury’s frozen biscuits are not gluten-free because they contain wheat flour. Individuals following a gluten-free diet must avoid them and instead choose certified gluten-free brands or make their own gluten-free biscuits at home. Being diligent about label reading and awareness of which foods contain gluten is key to successfully avoiding it and the associated health risks.
