Smoothie King is a popular smoothie chain that offers a wide variety of fruit and vegetable smoothie options. Many Smoothie King customers wonder if the smoothies contain gluten or if they are safe to consume for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause damage to the small intestine and lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and more.
People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, which means avoiding foods and beverages that contain gluten. This includes many breads, pastas, baked goods, cereals, beers, and other products made from gluten-containing grains.
Are Smoothies From Smoothie King Gluten-Free?
The good news is that most smoothies from Smoothie King are gluten-free. Smoothie King smoothies are made by blending together fruit, vegetables, juices, nut butters, yogurt, ice, and other gluten-free ingredients. Smoothie King confirms that all of their fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes do not contain any gluten ingredients.
However, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should still use caution when ordering Smoothie King smoothies:
- Smoothies made with wheatgrass may contain traces of gluten from cross-contamination during processing. People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may want to avoid wheatgrass.
- Some Smoothie King locations offer oatmeal, muesli, and other gluten-containing toppings that can be added to smoothies. Customers need to ensure these toppings are not added to their smoothie.
- The blenders used by Smoothie King may be used to also prepare wheatgrass shots and other drinks with gluten. There is a small risk of cross-contamination if improperly cleaned blenders are used.
- Smoothies containing cookie pieces, granola, cereals or other gluten grain ingredients should be avoided.
- If add-ins like protein powder are used, the customer should verify the powders are certified gluten-free.
What to Order at Smoothie King
When ordering a smoothie at Smoothie King, the safest gluten-free options are fruit and vegetable smoothies made without any gluten-containing ingredients, add-ins, or toppings. Here are some gluten-free smoothie options at Smoothie King:
- Strawberry Kiwi Breeze
- Island Green
- Caribbean Way
- Angel Food
- Peach Pleasure
- Ripped Carrot
- Vegan Strawberry
- Pineapple Surf
- Mangolicious
- Lean1 Vanilla
Smoothie King also offers several gluten-free enhancements that can be added, such as whey protein, plant proteins, nut butters, and vitamins/supplements as long as they are verified gluten-free.
Are Smoothie King Products Labeled as Gluten-Free?
Most individual Smoothie King smoothies are not labeled or advertised as gluten-free. The company does not label their smoothies as “gluten-free” because the smoothies are prepared in shared facilities with potential cross-contact with gluten.
However, Smoothie King’s website does contain a “Gluten-Free Items” page that lists items that do not contain gluten ingredients. This includes all fresh fruit smoothies without gluten ingredients added. Smoothie King also identifies their certified gluten-free protein powders.
Does Smoothie King Have Allergens and Nutrition Information?
Smoothie King provides a complete allergen and nutritional listing for all menu items on their website. Customers can look up any smoothie drink and see if it contains major allergens like wheat. The information can help customers make gluten-free choices.
Smoothie King employees should also have access to the allergen and nutrition database. If unsure about ingredients, customers can ask to review allergy information for a particular smoothie they wish to order.
Smoothie King Policies on Gluten-Free
On their website, Smoothie King provides the following information about their gluten-free smoothie policies:
- All blenders and other equipment used to make smoothies are thoroughly sanitized between uses.
- Employees change gloves and sanitize work areas when switching between gluten and gluten-free smoothie orders.
- Gluten-free ingredients are stored separately from gluten-containing ingredients.
However, they do not guarantee a 100% gluten-free environment or smoothies due to potential cross-contact.
Tips for Ordering Gluten-Free at Smoothie King
Here are some useful tips for customers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity ordering gluten-free smoothies:
- Check Smoothie King’s website and review allergen information before ordering in person.
- Tell employees you need a gluten-free smoothie due to an allergy when ordering.
- Avoid wheatgrass and any smoothies with gluten grain ingredients.
- Ask employees to use clean, sanitized equipment and change gloves.
- Make sure no croutons, cookies, or other gluten toppings get added.
- Consider visiting during non-peak hours to reduce cross-contact.
- Inspect your smoothie before drinking to make sure it looks allergen-free.
Are Smoothie King Gluten-Free Smoothes Safe for Celiacs?
Unfortunately, Smoothie King cannot guarantee completely gluten-free smoothies safe for all customers with celiac disease due to potential cross-contamination. The blending equipment may come into contact with gluten, and employee mistakes could accidentally occur when switching between gluten and gluten-free smoothie orders during busy times.
Some celiacs may tolerate potential trace amounts of cross-contact gluten without reacting. However, for celiacs highly sensitive, Smoothie King smoothies could still pose a risk. The safest option for most people with celiac disease is to make smoothies at home with known gluten-free ingredients and a thoroughly cleaned blender.
Smoothie King Gluten-Free Smoothie Options
Here is a summary of the gluten-free smoothie options available at Smoothie King:
| Smoothie | Base and Main Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Strawberry Kiwi Breeze | Strawberries, kiwis, bananas, apple juice |
| Island Green | Pineapple, mango, spinach, bananas, coconut milk |
| Caribbean Way | Mangos, pineapples, bananas, orange juice |
| Angel Food | Bananas, strawberries, fat-free yogurt |
| Peach Pleasure | Peaches, bananas, strawberries, orange juice |
| Ripped Carrot | Carrots, apples, oranges, flaxseed, lemon juice |
| Vegan Strawberry | Strawberries, bananas, apple juice, tofu |
| Pineapple Surf | Pineapples, grapes, oranges, coconut milk |
| Mangolicious | Mangos, peaches, bananas, apple juice |
| Lean1 Vanilla | Fat-free yogurt, bananas, vanilla |
Smoothie King Gluten-Free Enhancements
Smoothie King offers a variety of gluten-free smoothie add-ins and enhancements, including:
- Whey proteins (verified gluten-free options)
- Plant proteins like pea, rice, hemp (verify gluten-free)
- Nut butters such as almond butter and peanut butter
- Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds
- Spinach, kale, and other greens
- Spirulina and other superfood powders (verify gluten-free)
- Herbs like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric
- Vanilla or other gluten-free extracts
Smoothie King also offers vitamins and supplements that can enhance the nutrition of smoothies. Customers should read labels carefully to ensure any vitamins added are certified gluten-free.
Are Smoothie King Oats and Grains Gluten-Free?
Smoothie King offers some smoothies and enhancements containing gluten-containing grains that should be avoided by people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. These include:
- Oats – Smoothie King uses regular, gluten-containing oats that can be added to some smoothies. Oats contain the gluten protein avenin.
- Wheatgrass – Wheatgrass is made from wheat berries and can contain gluten. The wheatgrass at Smoothie King is not guaranteed gluten-free.
- Granola – Some locations offer granola as a smoothie topping, which typically contains glutenous oats and grains.
- Cereals – Smoothie King may use cereals containing gluten grains like wheat, barley, and rye.
It’s important for customers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to avoid these ingredients and double check with employees before ordering. All fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies without grains or cereals can be considered gluten-free at Smoothie King.
Are Smoothie King Products Made in Facility with Wheat?
Yes, Smoothie King discloses that menu items are made in facilities that also process wheat ingredients and warns that cross-contact with gluten is possible:
“Please be advised that all of our foods and beverages are prepared in facilities that process ingredients containing wheat, egg, dairy, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. While we have procedures for cleaning and safety, we cannot guarantee that any menu item will be completely free of any allergen, including wheat.”
So people with celiac disease or wheat allergy should use caution when consuming Smoothie King smoothies due to potential gluten cross-contact from shared equipment, surfaces, and manufacturing lines.
Should Celiacs Drink Smoothie King Smoothies?
Smoothie King warns that they cannot guarantee completely gluten-free smoothies. Most celiacs should avoid Smoothie King due to the risk of trace gluten exposure from cross-contamination.
However, some celiacs who are not highly sensitive may be able to tolerate Smoothie King smoothies made without gluten ingredients. It’s best for each individual to carefully review Smoothie King’s allergen information and decide based on their personal sensitivity and past experiences.
Highly sensitive celiacs and people newly diagnosed should take a more cautious approach and avoid Smoothie King unless an urgent need arises. In those cases, extra precautions should be taken such as visiting during slow periods, thoroughly cleaning work areas, and reviewing ingredients.
Smoothie King Gluten-Free Policy and Training
Smoothie King conducts training with its employees on safe preparation procedures for gluten-free orders. Some highlights of their gluten-free policies include:
- Gluten-free ingredients inventoried separately from gluten-containing items
- Blenders and utensils cleaned thoroughly between orders
- Employees wash hands and change gloves when handling gluten-free orders
- Designated areas cleaned and sanitized for GF smoothies
- Annual gluten-free training refreshed for all employees
However, Smoothie King still does not guarantee a 100% gluten-free environment for highly sensitive celiac customers due to potential cross-contact.
Should You Trust Smoothie King with Gluten-Free?
Smoothie King cannot guarantee completely gluten-free smoothies, but follows reasonable best practices to limit cross-contact for gluten-free orders. However, errors are always possible in busy, hectic quick-service environments.
Highly sensitive celiacs would be wise to exercise caution when consuming Smoothie King smoothies that could potentially contain small amounts of cross-contact gluten. Getting “glutened” can still be a possibility there.
On the other hand, Smoothie King’s fruit and veggie smoothies made without gluten grains may be tolerable for less sensitive gluten-free customers if proper care is taken. So it comes down to each individual’s level of sensitivity and risk-tolerance.
Gluten-Free Certification at Smoothie King
Smoothie King is not certified gluten-free by organizations like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) or the Celiac Support Association. The GFCO requires adhering to processes that eliminate gluten cross-contact, which Smoothie King does not guarantee.
Lacking gluten-free certification means Smoothie King has not been audited for compliance with strict standards around preventing cross-contamination. Thus, celiacs could still be at risk when consuming their smoothies.
GFCO Gluten-Free Certification
The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) audits and certifies food production facilities to ensure they meet strict standards for eliminating gluten cross-contact. Certification requires adhering to processes such as:
- Segregated storage, processing, and packaging of gluten-free ingredients
- Gluten controls from incoming ingredients to finished product
- Prevention of cross-contact during processing and handling
- Strict sanitation of equipment between gluten and gluten-free production
- Testing of gluten-free finished products to limit detectable gluten below 10 parts per million
Smoothie King facilities are not GFCO certified gluten-free. They admit the risk of cross-contamination from shared equipment. So celiacs should use caution when consuming Smoothie King smoothies.
Celiac Support Association Recognition
The Celiac Support Association (CSA) also offers a recognized designation for restaurants meeting strict standards to avoid cross-contact for gluten-free meals. Criteria to receive CSA recognition include:
- Documented employee training on gluten and handling gluten-free orders
- Implementation of protocols to avoid cross-contact with gluten
- Disclosure of all ingredients and preparation practices to consumers
- Annual audits by CSA professionals to ensure standards are upheld
Smoothie King facilities do not carry the CSA recognition. Since they admit the potential for cross-contact with gluten, the CSA would be unlikely to designate them as recognized.
Conclusion
In summary, most Smoothie King fruit and vegetable smoothies without gluten-containing ingredients added can be considered gluten-free. However, the risk of gluten cross-contact from shared equipment remains, so celiacs and gluten-sensitive customers should exercise caution.
Smoothie King attempts to mitigate cross-contact through training and sanitation practices, but does not guarantee a 100% gluten-free environment. Highly sensitive individuals with celiac disease may want to avoid Smoothie King smoothies, while less sensitive gluten-free consumers can likely consume them with low risk if avoiding gluten ingredients.
Ultimately, those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should assess their personal level of sensitivity and make an informed decision on whether to consume Smoothie King smoothies. Caution is advised, but Smoothie King smoothies may be an option for less sensitive gluten-free individuals with proper precautions.
