Can you eat Doritos with celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects around 1% of the population worldwide. It causes damage to the small intestine when gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, is eaten. People with celiac disease need to follow a strict lifelong gluten-free diet to manage their symptoms and prevent further damage to their intestines.

This means avoiding foods containing wheat, barley, rye and often oats. Following a gluten-free diet can be challenging, especially when it comes to processed and packaged foods which often contain hidden sources of gluten. Popular snack foods like chips, pretzels and crackers are typically off-limits for people with celiac disease unless they are specially labeled as gluten-free.

So can you eat Doritos if you have celiac disease? Let’s take a closer look.

Are Doritos gluten-free?

Doritos are a popular brand of tortilla chips made by Frito-Lay. Unfortunately, most flavors of Doritos are not gluten-free.

Doritos are made with corn, vegetable oil and other flavorings. But they also contain wheat-based ingredients like maltodextrin, wheat starch, and hydrolyzed wheat protein which contain gluten. So for people with celiac disease looking for gluten-free snacks, regular Doritos are off the menu.

However, in recent years Frito-Lay has introduced new gluten-free flavors of Doritos that are specially formulated to be gluten-free. These gluten-free Doritos flavors include Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, and Spicy Sweet Chili.

Frito-Lay states that these gluten-free Doritos contain no ingredients containing gluten from wheat, barley, rye or oats. They are made with corn, rice and other gluten-free ingredients. The gluten-free Doritos are also produced in facilities that do not process any gluten-containing foods.

So some flavors of Doritos are now safe for people with celiac disease. You just need to look specifically for the gluten-free labeled bags.

Cross-contamination risks

Even if a food product is labeled gluten-free, there can still be a risk of cross-contamination with gluten.

Cross-contamination happens when gluten-free foods come into contact with foods containing gluten during production or preparation. This transfer of gluten can make otherwise gluten-free foods unsafe for people with celiac disease if they contain traces of gluten.

Even small amounts of gluten, like 20 parts per million or less, can cause issues for those with celiac disease.

Some potential ways cross-contamination could occur with Doritos include:

  • Shared production equipment: The gluten-free Doritos may be run on the same lines or equipment as gluten-containing Doritos.
  • Shared facilities: The risk is lower since gluten-free Doritos are produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities, but there is still some small risk of gluten exposure.
  • Ingredient suppliers: An ingredient supplier may have poor protocols and expose the gluten-free Doritos ingredients to gluten.
  • Transportation and storage: Gluten-free and gluten-containing Doritos may get mixed during shipping or storage.
  • Retail stores: Bags may get mislabeled or stored improperly leading to cross-contamination.

So even if the gluten-free Doritos themselves contain no gluten-based ingredients, trace gluten could still make its way into the final products. This shows that you can’t be 100% sure any product is completely gluten-free because cross-contamination is always a possibility.

Testing for gluten

To provide added assurance to consumers, Frito-Lay indicates they test the gluten-free labeled Doritos to verify they contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.

This testing is important because it confirms the finished products themselves, not just the ingredients, are considered gluten-free. 20 ppm is the recognized safety standard for foods labeled gluten-free.

Frito-Lay also states their suppliers must follow allergen control procedures and good manufacturing practices to avoid cross-contamination. And the gluten-free Doritos undergo additional procedures during production including added equipment cleaning processes and running the gluten-free flavors before production of gluten-containing flavors.

So while you can never be 100% guaranteed a product is gluten-free, Frito-Lay takes measures to test their gluten-free labeled Doritos and reduce contamination risks. This level of testing and manufacturing precautions is reassuring for celiacs looking to indulge in Doritos.

Individual tolerance levels

While the gluten-free Doritos are considered safe for the majority of celiacs when consumed in normal serving sizes, individual tolerance levels do vary.

Factors like individual sensitivity to trace gluten, the amount of chips eaten, and whether they are consumed every day can impact if someone has a reaction. Some more sensitive celiacs react to traces of gluten that are under 20ppm.

It’s also possible the same product could be tolerated one day but cause symptoms on another day depending on what else the person has eaten. So there are no guarantees when it comes to celiac disease.

The best approach is for those with celiac disease to try a small serving of the gluten-free Doritos at first and monitor symptoms. If no issues arise, they can feel more confident enjoying them in moderation. But if any symptoms develop, it’s best to avoid them going forward.

Proceed with caution

At the end of the day, people with celiac disease need to weigh up their own personal risks and benefits when deciding whether to eat gluten-free labeled foods like Doritos.

On the cautious side, some celiacs avoid heavily processed foods altogether to minimize any potential for cross-contamination. The less processed fresh foods are, the less risk there is for exposure.

But with care taken by manufacturers and testing showing gluten-free Doritos contain under 20ppm of gluten, the risks are relatively low for people who wish to indulge in moderation.

Just keep in mind that symptoms of celiac disease may gradually develop over hours or days after exposure to gluten. So if issues arise, it can sometimes be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause.

All in all, the answer isn’t black and white when it comes to celiac disease and food choices. But with proper precautions, testing and awareness of individual tolerance levels, some people with celiac disease can incorporate occasional gluten-free Doritos without issues.

Other snack options

Beyond Doritos, there are other gluten-free chip options that may be suitable if you need to avoid gluten:

  • Corn tortilla chips – Made from corn, a naturally gluten-free grain
  • Popcorn – Ensure seasonings and oils used are gluten-free
  • Gluten-free pretzels – Look for brands specially made without gluten-containing ingredients
  • Vegetable chips – Options like sweet potato or beet chips make tasty gluten-free crunchy snacks
  • Nut-based snacks – Try roasted nuts, nut butters or snacks like roasted chickpeas for gluten-free variety

Checking labels carefully and contacting manufacturers directly if in doubt is key when evaluating gluten-free snacks. And opting for naturally gluten-free whole food options can provide more confidence and nutrients compared to processed snack foods.

Precautions when eating out

If you choose to eat gluten-free Doritos, extra care should be taken when consuming them away from home. Getting snacks like Doritos from restaurants, delis or bake sales introduces risks of cross-contamination from shared serving utensils and prep areas.

When eating out, the safest way to enjoy gluten-free Doritos is to have them served straight from a newly opened bag so you know they have not been contaminated by other gluten-containing foods during service or storage.

It’s also critical to check in advance that restaurants understand gluten-free needs. Even minor mixing of ingredients or contact with unsafe foods when plating can undermine the gluten-free status of dishes.

Being your own advocate, asking informed questions, and building trust with staff trained in allergen controls is key to safely eating gluten-free foods when dining out.

Kids with celiac disease

For kids with celiac disease, sticking to the gluten-free diet can be especially tough. When their friends are eating treats like pizza, cookies and chips at school or parties, it’s only natural for kids to want to join in too.

Some parents of children with celiac disease choose to keep their homes 100% gluten-free to reduce temptation and make it simpler to control the diet.

But if you opt to allow occasional gluten-free snacks like Doritos at home, take care to store and serve them separately from regular gluten-containing snacks to avoid mix-ups. Clearly labeling gluten-free foods is crucial, as is supervising young kids to ensure they do not swap foods with siblings or friends.

Explain to your child the importance of sticking to the gluten-free snacks provided for them, even when gluten foods look tempting. As kids get older, teach them to read labels so they can make safe gluten-free choices independently. Keep lines of communication open so they feel comfortable telling you if they get accidental gluten exposure at events.

With patience and teaching from a young age, you can raise kids with celiac disease who manage their gluten-free lifestyles with minimal fuss and disruption.

Gluten detection tools

If you or your child react strongly to even traces of gluten, there are gluten detection tools available that provide added assurance when consuming processed foods.

Options include:

  • Gluten test strips – Test crumbs or swabs of food for presence of gluten. Results in 1-2 minutes.
  • Gluten detection apps – Use smartphone camera and image analysis to scan packaged foods for gluten.
  • Gluten sensor devices – Portable tools that test food samples for gluten and provide fast results.

These gadgets vary in accuracy and ease of use but can offer more confidence when consuming processed gluten-free foods, catching any packages that may have been cross-contaminated.

Some people with celiac disease find using these types of devices provides added peace of mind and avoids over-reliance on labels alone. Testing snacks and meals before eating provides an objective gluten detection check.

However these tools can be expensive, may have technical limitations, and are not foolproof. Carefully checking ingredients and information direct from manufacturers should still be the priority when determining if foods are gluten-free. Think of testing devices as helpful backup screens, not replacements for diligent label reading and dietary management.

Doritos ingredients

Below are the ingredients lists for regular, gluten-containing Doritos and the gluten-free Doritos varieties so you can compare:

Regular Doritos (Not gluten-free)

Ingredients: Corn, vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), maltodextrin (made from corn), salt, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey, monosodium glutamate, buttermilk, romano cheese (part skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, onion powder, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, disodium phosphate, lactose, natural and artificial flavor, dextrose, tomato powder, spices, lactic acid, artificial color (including Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40), citric acid, sugar, garlic powder, red and green bell pepper powder, sodium caseinate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, nonfat milk solids, whey protein isolate, corn syrup solids.

Contains: Milk, soy, wheat.

Gluten-Free Doritos

Ingredients: Corn, vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), maltodextrin (made from corn), salt, monosodium glutamate, natural flavors, dextrose, tomato powder, lactose, lactic acid, artificial color (including Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40), citric acid, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, sodium diacetate, sodium citrate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate.

Contains: Milk.

Manufactured in a facility that processes no wheat ingredients.

As you can see, the key difference is the gluten-free Doritos omit problematicwheat-based ingredients like wheat starch and hydrolyzed wheat protein. They also contain reassurances about being produced in a gluten-free facility.

Carefully studying ingredient lists and contacting manufacturers is crucial when determining if a processed food is gluten-free. While the gluten-free icon makes it quicker to identify products that are suitable for a gluten-free diet, don’t rely on labels alone in case errors occur.

Doritos nutrition

Here is a comparison of the nutrition facts for a 1 ounce (28g) serving of regular Nacho Cheese Doritos and Gluten Free Nacho Cheese Doritos:

Nutrient Regular Doritos Gluten-Free Doritos
Calories 140 150
Carbohydrates 14g 15g
Protein 2g 2g
Total Fat 8g 9g
Saturated Fat 1g 1.5g
Sodium 270mg 290mg

The main takeaway is that both regular and gluten-free Doritos are high in refined carbs and fat while being low in protein. They offer little nutritional value beyond calories and sodium.

The gluten-free Doritos contain slightly more calories, fat and carbs than regular Doritos. This is often the case with specialty gluten-free products. Extra starches and binding agents are needed to mimic the texture of gluten-containing ingredients.

Whether you can tolerate gluten or not, Doritos and similar snack chips should be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet, not daily staples. They lack the nutrition of whole foods like fruits, veggies, lean proteins, nuts and legumes.

However, an occasional serving can be included in celiac-friendly diets as long as individual tolerance is considered. Opt for gluten-free chips made with simple, natural ingredients when possible. Pair with hummus, guacamole or salsa for a protein boost.

Doritos and celiac disease

To summarize key points on Doritos and celiac disease:

  • Most flavors of Doritos contain gluten and are not safe for people with celiac disease due to wheat-based ingredients.
  • Certain Doritos flavors are specially made without gluten-containing ingredients and labeled gluten-free.
  • The gluten-free Doritos flavors are tested to verify gluten levels below 20ppm.
  • Some risk of cross-contamination with gluten exists, even in gluten-free labeled products.
  • Individual tolerance levels vary; some celiacs react to traces of gluten below 20ppm.
  • People with celiac disease should consume gluten-free labeled Doritos cautiously and monitor symptoms.
  • Kids with celiac disease need close supervision to avoid accidental gluten exposures from unsafe snacks.
  • Gluten detection tools provide added assurance when consuming processed gluten-free foods.
  • Carefully studying ingredients lists and contacting manufacturers directly is critical.

The bottom line is that in moderation, the specially formulated gluten-free Doritos can be an option for some people with well-managed celiac disease. But caution is still needed due to the risks of cross-contamination and individual sensitivity levels. Consume sparingly and discontinue use if any symptoms develop.

Conclusion

Celiac disease requires diligent adherence to a strict lifelong gluten-free diet, which can restrict enjoyment of popular processed snacks. Thankfully, with the increasing availability of specialty gluten-free products like Doritos, following a gluten-free diet is becoming a bit easier.

While care and caution are still required, the gluten-free Doritos can offer an occasional indulgence for those with celiac disease who tolerate trace amounts of gluten and want to take part in snacking fun. Enjoy gluten-free chips in moderation alongside a balanced diet rich in nourishing whole foods for the best nutrition and health.

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