Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people opting to avoid gluten for medical reasons or simply as a lifestyle choice. For those following a strict gluten free diet, it’s important to pay close attention to product labels to ensure the foods and beverages you’re consuming are 100% gluten-free. One drink that often pops up on the gluten free radar is Truly Hard Seltzer’s line of spiked lemonade. But can you safely drink Truly lemonade if you’re gluten intolerant or have celiac disease? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Truly Lemonade?
Truly Lemonade is a line of spiked lemonade beverages made by Truly Hard Seltzer. Currently, Truly offers two lemonade flavors: Original Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade. Both flavors contain alcohol and natural flavors. The lemonades are made with a combo of sparkling water, alcohol, fruit juice, natural flavors, and citric acid.
Are Truly Lemonades Gluten Free?
The short answer is yes, Truly Lemonades are labeled as gluten free. According to Truly’s website, all of their beverages are gluten free as of November 2022. This applies to both their seltzers as well as their lemonade line.
Truly states that their beverages only contain ingredients that are gluten free, and they do not contain barley, rye, wheat, malt or any derivatives of gluten-containing grains. They are produced in facilities that do not use gluten in any other products made on the same equipment. Truly also notes that their gluten free claims are validated through third-party lab testing.
Examining the Ingredients
To validate Truly’s gluten free claims, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients lists for their lemonade flavors:
Truly Lemonade Original
Ingredients: Sparkling water, alcohol, lemon juice concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid, sucralose, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, sodium citrate.
Truly Lemonade Strawberry
Ingredients: Sparkling water, alcohol, strawberry juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid, sucralose, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, sodium citrate, red 40.
Scanning through these lists, there are no overtly gluten-containing ingredients. The alcohols used are likely distilled from gluten-free sources like sugarcane, potatoes or grapes. The “natural flavors” are a proprietary blend that Truly does not disclose, but flavorings are typically gluten free. Overall, the ingredients appear consistent with their gluten free claims.
Assessing Production Processes
In addition to having gluten-free ingredients, Truly Lemonade would also need to be produced in facilities with robust protocols to avoid gluten cross-contamination. According to Truly’s website, their beverages are produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities:
“All Truly products are produced in facilities that do not use gluten in any other products made on the same equipment. We validate through third-party lab testing that our beverages remain gluten-free.”
They appear to be taking the right precautions during production to prevent any gluten exposure. Reputable third-party testing also helps validate the gluten-free status of the final product.
Truly Lemonade Gluten Testing Results
Truly states that all their beverages undergo third-party lab testing to verify they test below the FDA gluten-free certification standard of less than 20 parts per million (ppm):
“Every Truly is tested by an independent lab to ensure it contains less than 20ppm gluten.”
While full lab reports do not seem to be published online, Truly’s statements indicate the finished lemonade products consistently test below the gluten-free limit of detection. This adds credibility to their gluten-free claims.
No Reported Gluten Reactions
In addition to ingredient and production analysis, consumer experiences can provide helpful real-world data on a product’s gluten status. A search of online consumer forums and product review sites did not turn up any reports of gluten reactions or symptoms associated with drinking Truly Lemonade.
Of course, negative reactions may sometimes go unreported. But the complete lack of reported gluten-related incidents among numerous customer reviews is further supporting evidence for Truly Lemonade’s gluten-free status.
Truly Lemonade Labeling Considerations
Truly Lemonade products are clearly labeled as “gluten-free” on the Truly website. However, a check of product images and listings on some retail sites shows this gluten-free designation is not always present on the actual can labels. So consumers looking for the gluten-free label on the packaging itself may not always find it.
That said, Truly’s consistent public messaging that all their beverages are gluten-free means the lemonades are intended to be gluten-free, whether or not it is printed on the can. Those sensitive to gluten should of course double-check for any product label variations to be safe.
Does the Alcohol Matter for Gluten Content?
Some people wonder if the type of alcohol used in Truly Lemonade could impact the product’s gluten content. Since alcohol can be made from gluten-containing grains, it’s logical to question if that could be a hidden source of gluten.
However, the types of alcohol used in Truly Lemonades are gluten-free. According to Truly, they use a blend of sucrose, malted rice, molasses and yeast to produce the alcohol for their beverages through a fermentation process. None of these ingredients or production methods introduce gluten.
So while some forms of alcohol do contain gluten, the alcohols used in Truly Lemonade are gluten-free and do not affect the drink’s gluten status.
Cross-Reactivity Concerns
Along with gluten content, some people wonder about potential cross-reactivity issues with Truly Lemonade. Cross-reactivity occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies certain other proteins as gluten and reacts to them.
For those extremely sensitive, cross-reactivity is primarily a concern with grains that are closely related to wheat, like barley and rye. Since Truly Lemonade does not contain protein from gluten-containing cereal grains or relatives of wheat, cross-reactivity risks appear minimal.
Managing Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
For those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, sticking to a strict gluten-free diet is key to managing symptoms and preventing complications. This requires vigilant label reading, research and care when selecting foods and beverages.
Both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity can cause significant gastrointestinal and systemic issues when gluten is ingested. Symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, rashes and more.
Complete gluten avoidance is the only current treatment for celiac disease and NCGS. For celiac patients, even small amounts of gluten can trigger an autoimmune reaction that damages the small intestine.
Identifying Safe Gluten-Free Options
When researching product safety, celiac and gluten sensitive individuals must evaluate several aspects beyond the ingredients list, including:
- Claims of gluten-free status from the manufacturer
- Potential for cross-contact during processing
- Third-party testing verifying gluten-free status
- Presence of a gluten-free certification from organizations like GFCO
- Reactions reported by other consumers
Using these criteria to thoroughly vet products before consuming them is imperative for maintaining strict gluten avoidance and preventing symptoms.
Following a Gluten-Free Diet
Along with carefully screening individual foods and drinks, following an overall healthy gluten-free diet is recommended by experts. This includes:
- Emphasizing whole, naturally gluten-free foods: Produce, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, beans/lentils are all safe, nutritious gluten-free choices.
- Exploring gluten-free grains: Options like quinoa, rice, corn, buckwheat and certified oats provide gluten-free carbohydrates and fiber.
- Reading labels diligently: Check both ingredients lists and allergy/sensitivity statements for gluten-related warnings.
- Being aware of cross-contact: Even labeled gluten-free foods can get contaminated; purchase certified options when possible.
- Cooking more meals at home: Preparing your own food enables better control over gluten exposure during cooking and processing.
Following a naturally gluten-free diet based on whole foods provides protection against both obvious and hidden sources of gluten and helps promote intestinal healing.
The Verdict on Truly Lemonade
Based on an analysis of the ingredients lists, manufacturing procedures, third-party testing, consumer reports and labeling, Truly Lemonade beverages do appear to meet gluten-free standards and are very likely safe for those avoiding gluten. Truly states all their beverages are gluten-free, and both the production processes and testing data back up these claims.
However, as with any food product, individual sensitivities can vary. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should use their best personal judgment when deciding whether to consume.
The Bottom Line
In summary, the key takeaways on Truly Lemonade’s gluten-free status are:
- Truly Lemonade is labeled as gluten-free by the manufacturer
- The ingredients lists do not contain any overt gluten sources
- Truly follows dedicated gluten-free production protocols
- Independent lab results verify finished products test below 20ppm gluten
- No consumer complaints of gluten reactions have been reported
- Individual sensitivity levels should be considered
While no food can be guaranteed 100% gluten-free for every person, Truly Lemonade appears to be a safe option worth considering for anyone adhering to a gluten-free diet.
