Quick Answer
Yes, Costco does offer a gluten-free pizza option at select locations. The company’s gluten-free pizza uses a crust made with rice flour and does not contain wheat or gluten. It’s a cheese pizza topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Overview of Costco’s Gluten-Free Offerings
In recent years, Costco has expanded its selection of gluten-free products due to increasing demand. While gluten-free offerings can vary by location, most Costco warehouses now carry a variety of gluten-free snacks, bakery items, pasta, and more.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand has a line of certified gluten-free products, including cookies, crackers, baking mixes, oats, and candy. There are also many national brands at Costco that are labeled gluten-free, like Kind bars, Quest chips, Annie’s Homegrown foods, and more.
In the bakery department, popular gluten-free options include bread, bagels, muffins, cakes, and brownies. Costco bakeries even sell large gluten-free sheet cakes for special occasions.
The availability of fresh, prepared gluten-free foods varies greatly by location. Some warehouses offer gluten-free rotisserie chicken, salads, and pizza. But these items are currently only available at a fraction of Costco’s 500+ stores.
Details on Costco’s Gluten-Free Pizza
Costco’s gluten-free pizza is a cheese pizza with a crust made from rice flour, water, tapioca starch, soybean oil, sugar, yeast, and other ingredients. It does not contain any wheat or gluten ingredients.
The gluten-free pizza is pre-made and needs to be heated before serving. It’s sold frozen in a 2-pack box with each pizza weighing 27 oz and measuring 12 inches in diameter.
Based on reviews, the texture and taste of the gluten-free crust is decent but not amazing. Some people note it has a rice cake-like crunchiness. The consensus is that it’s an affordable and convenient frozen pizza option for gluten-free diets, but isn’t the best gluten-free pizza on the market.
Costco’s gluten-free pizza only appears to be available at some warehouse locations in the United States. On the company’s website, the item is listed as “subject to availability in your area.”
Checking If Your Local Costco Sells Gluten-Free Pizza
Since the gluten-free pizza is not available chainwide, the only way to check its availability is by contacting your local Costco warehouse. Here are some tips:
- Call the bakery department at your nearest Costco and ask if they carry gluten-free pizza.
- You can also inquire at the food court counter, since that is where the pizza would be heated up and served.
- Ask customer service if they can look up item number 1007264 to see if it is in stock at that location.
- Search online to see if other customers have reported seeing gluten-free pizza at that specific warehouse.
- Visit the frozen food aisles in person to look for the Kirkland Signature Gluten Free Cheese Pizza.
The item may be available seasonally or go in and out of stock. Checking in advance is always best when looking for specialty foods like gluten-free pizza.
Other Gluten-Free Pizza Options at Costco
In addition to their own store-brand frozen pizza, some Costco locations also sell other brands of gluten-free pizza:
- Against the Grain Gourmet Gluten Free Pizza – This frozen pizza comes in 3 cheese and pepperoni varieties. It is dairy-free, nut-free, and certified gluten-free to under 5 PPM.
- Evol Foods Gluten Free Pizza – Sold at select Costco warehouses, this is a single-serve gluten-free pizza available in flavors like Italian Herb Chicken and Fire Roasted Vegetable.
- Shelton’s Gluten-Free Pizza – This fresh take-and-bake pizza comes in unique flavors like Pesto Chicken and BBQ Chicken. It is also nut-free and made with gluten-free flours.
Be sure to read labels carefully and look for a certified gluten-free seal from organizations like GFCO. Not all pizza crusts labeled “gluten-free” necessarily meet the strict requirements for celiac disease safety.Checking item numbers online can verify if a specific Costco location carries these national gluten-free pizza brands.
Alternatives for Finding Gluten-Free Pizza
If your local Costco does not offer any in-store gluten-free pizza options, there are a few alternatives:
- Order gluten-free pizza delivery from national chains like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, or Papa John’s. They all have gluten-free crusts available.
- Check with a local pizzeria to see if they offer gluten-free crust or can accommodate gluten-free requests. Many independent pizza shops are happy to work with dietary needs.
- Purchase pre-made gluten-free pizzas or crusts at the grocery store from brands like Udi’s, Against the Grain, or Freschetta. Add your own toppings at home.
- Make homemade gluten-free pizza using recipes and store bought pizza crusts, dough mixes, cauliflower crusts, and more. Lots of materials and tutorials are available online.
While Costco’s gluten-free pizza provides a convenient option for shoppers, there are multiple alternatives for those who don’t have access to it in their area. With proper planning and an understanding of cross-contamination risks, you can still enjoy safe gluten-free pizza from many sources.
Costco’s Overall Approach to Gluten-Free
Costco is making progress on offering more gluten-free items company-wide, but the inventory can still vary greatly between warehouse locations. The company seems committed to expanding its gluten-free range, driven by customer demand.
On its website, Costco has a gluten-free foods webpage that indexes hundreds of available products, along with relevant dietary details. This makes it easy for gluten-free shoppers to research options before heading to the store.
For highly sensitive celiac customers, Costco may not be as suitable due to potential cross-contamination. But for many with gluten intolerances or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Costco provides a solid range of affordable gluten-free groceries.
It’s always smart to be aware that inventory varies regionally. But overall, Costco appears dedicated to offering more gluten-free foods like pizza as customer desire for specialty diets keeps growing. Reaching out to your local warehouse will determine product availability in your area.
Finding Other Gluten-Free Products at Costco
In addition to pizza, Costco warehouses offer an array of other gluten-free products:
Bakery Items
- Bread
- Bagels
- Muffins
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Brownies
Prepared Foods
- Rotisserie chicken (some locations)
- Salads (some locations)
- Sandwiches (some locations)
Pantry Items
- Cereals
- Oats
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Nuts
- Soup
- Pasta
Snacks
- Protein bars
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Crackers
- Cookies
- Candy
- Granola
Frozen Foods
- Pizza
- Meals
- Vegetables
- Fruit
Always check ingredient labels and allergen info closely when purchasing foods labeled gluten-free at Costco or any grocery store. Cross-contamination is possible during processing and preparation. Being an informed buyer is key for anyone with food sensitivities.
Tips for Safely Eating Gluten-Free at Costco
Here are some tips for safely purchasing and consuming gluten-free products from Costco:
- Thoroughly check ingredient labels – including condiments, seasoning, shared equipment etc.
- Look for reputable gluten-free certifications like GFCO on packaged goods.
- Ask at the bakery or food court about dedicated prep areas.
- Inquire about risk of cross-contamination with fresh foods.
- Watch out for sauce or topping ingredients that could contain gluten.
- Consider potential contact with non gluten-free ingredients.
- If highly sensitive, call ahead to ask about policies and procedures.
Dining out or buying prepared foods always carries some degree of risk for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerances. By being informed and asking questions, you can make the healthiest choices possible at Costco.
Gluten-Free Shopping at Other Warehouse Stores
If you’re interested in gluten-free options at warehouse stores besides Costco, here is some background on the selections at Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club:
Sam’s Club
- Carries Member’s Mark gluten-free products like crackers, cereals, and baking mixes
- Sells national brands of gluten-free packaged foods
- Offers some gluten-free bakery items like bread and desserts
- Availability of fresh gluten-free foods like pizza varies regionally
BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Wellsley Farms brand has gluten-free grains, baking mixes, snacks
- Sells many popular national gluten-free brands
- Fresh bakery with gluten-free bread, bagels, cookies in some locations
- No gluten-free pizzas or prepared foods listed on website
No warehouse club is perfect when it comes to gluten-free offerings. As always, your safest bet is to contact your local store directly to inquire about product availability and policies.
Conclusion
While Costco’s inventory of gluten-free foods continues to expand, customer access to items like gluten-free pizza still varies widely across different warehouses. Some locations offer excellent gluten-free selections and policies, while others have minimal options. It largely comes down to regional buyer decisions and member requests.
In general, Costco provides solid gluten-free choices at value prices for shoppers with minor gluten sensitivities. But those with celiac disease or severe wheat allergies will need to exercise greater caution and likely contact locations directly to inquire about risks.
Checking directly with your local Costco warehouse is the only sure-fire way to determine availability of gluten-free pizza and other specialty foods. While options are limited compared to dedicated health food stores, Costco’s growing focus on gluten-free provides an affordable alternative for many shoppers.
