Jersey Mike’s is a popular submarine sandwich franchise with over 2,000 locations across the United States. Like many sandwich shops, bread is a core part of their menu. For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, knowing whether Jersey Mike’s bread contains gluten is important information when deciding where to eat.
Quick answer: Yes, the regular bread and wraps at Jersey Mike’s contain gluten. The only gluten-free options are the lettuce wrap or gluten-free bun.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune reaction that damages the small intestine. The only treatment is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet.
This article provides an in-depth look at the gluten status of bread and other menu items at Jersey Mike’s. We’ll cover:
- An overview of gluten and why it matters at sandwich shops
- The types of bread at Jersey Mike’s and their gluten content
- Cross-contamination risks
- Other menu items that contain gluten
- Gluten-free options at Jersey Mike’s
- Tips for ordering gluten-free at Jersey Mike’s
Understanding if Jersey Mike’s bread has gluten enables those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to make safe, informed choices when eating at this popular sub shop.
What is Gluten and Why Does it Matter?
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. It acts as a “glue” that helps bread and other baked goods maintain their shape and texture. Gluten has some interesting properties that allow dough to be stretched and shaped without breaking apart.
For most people, gluten does not cause any issues or health problems when consumed. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten triggers an abnormal immune response that attacks and damages the small intestine. Even small amounts of gluten can cause issues.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects around 1% of the population. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a less severe condition that causes gluten-related symptoms in the absence of celiac disease or wheat allergy. Its prevalence is still being researched but estimates range from 0.5% to 13% of the population.
For both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. This means avoiding foods and products containing wheat, rye, barley, and any gluten or wheat derivatives. With a gluten-free diet, most people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can avoid symptoms and complications.
Eating gluten-free is challenging because so many common foods and restaurant dishes contain gluten ingredients:
- Breads
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Beer
- Soy sauce
- Salad dressings
- Soup bases
For someone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, double checking the gluten status of menu items at a restaurant is crucial. Even small hidden sources of gluten can trigger symptoms and set back their health.
This brings us back to Jersey Mike’s and the question of whether their bread contains gluten. For those needing to follow a gluten-free diet, the answer is important information.
Gluten Content of Bread at Jersey Mike’s
The regular sub rolls and sandwich bread at Jersey Mike’s are not gluten-free. They contain wheat flour as a main ingredient.
Wheat flour contains gluten proteins, so sub rolls and sandwich bread at Jersey Mike’s all have gluten unless otherwise labeled gluten-free.
Specifically, these Jersey Mike’s breads contain gluten:
- 9” Original Italian Roll
- 7” Mini Sub Roll
- Wraps – Tomato Basil, Spinach, and Garden Veggie
- Rosemary Parmesan Bread
- Sesame Seed Bread
- Multigrain Bread
- Rye Bread
- Honey Oat Bread
Jersey Mike’s offers one certified gluten-free bread option:
- Gluten Free Bun
The gluten-free sub bun meets the requirements to be labeled “gluten-free” in the United States – containing less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
According to Jersey Mike’s website, their gluten-free bun is individually packaged to prevent cross-contact with gluten. It is also vegan-friendly, made without dairy, eggs or cholesterol. The gluten-free bun contains a mix of brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and whey protein isolate.
So in summary, all bread options at Jersey Mike’s contain gluten except the gluten-free sub bun.
Cross-Contamination Risks
Even if you order a sub on the certified gluten-free bun at Jersey Mike’s, there is still a risk of cross-contamination with gluten.
Cross-contamination occurs when gluten-containing foods come into contact with gluten-free foods during preparation or service. This transfer of gluten can be substantial enough in some cases to cause issues for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
At Jersey Mike’s, cross-contamination with gluten can happen:
- On preparation surfaces, utensils or gloves that touched wheat-based bread
- From employees’ hands that handled gluten-containing ingredients
- During food preparation down the assembly line
- From gluten-containing condiments added to your sandwich
- During toasting on shared equipment
Even though the gluten-free bun itself tests below 20 ppm, trace amounts of gluten from cross-contact during assembly in the restaurant could still be an issue for highly sensitive individuals.
Customers need to evaluate their own level of sensitivity and comfort level with the risk of cross-contamination at Jersey Mike’s. Celiacs extremely sensitive to small gluten exposures likely need to take extra precautions when ordering.
Other Menu Items with Gluten
Aside from bread, many other menu items at Jersey Mike’s contain gluten. Sauces, meats, vegetables, and cheeses could all be sources of hidden gluten.
These items contain gluten or wheat-based ingredients:
- Subs and sandwiches – all kinds contain glutenous bread
- Cheesesteaks
- Chipotle cheesesteak – contains gluten-containing soy sauce
- Wraps
- Pizza steaks and pizza sub
- Meatballs – contains breadcrumbs
- Chicken noodle soup – contains wheat-based noodles
- Broccoli cheddar soup – contains wheat-based noodles
- Salads – croutons contain gluten
- House sub oil and vinegar – malt vinegar derived from barley
- Sub dressings like ranch, Caesar, balsamic contain gluten ingredients
The following items have no inherently gluten-containing ingredients, but risk of cross-contact exists:
- Cold cut subs – meats, cheese, veggie toppings
- Club sub
- Tuna salad, chicken salad, ham salad
- Roasted turkey, corned beef
- Hot subs – steak, chicken, meatball, sausage
- Cheese and veggie sandwich
So while ingredients may be gluten-free, proximity to wheat-based bread in the prep area raises concerns over cross-contact for highly sensitive patrons.
Gluten-Free Options at Jersey Mike’s
Despite the prevalence of gluten on the Jersey Mike’s menu, some safe options are available for gluten-free customers:
- Gluten-Free Sub Bun – use as a base for any cold or hot sub. Be aware some toppings or sauces may still contain gluten.
- Lettuce Wrap – have any hot or cold sub wrapped in lettuce leaves instead of bread. Request clean gloves and utensils to reduce cross-contact.
- Salads – Garden, Chef, or Grilled Chicken Salad without croutons. Avoid pasta salads with wheat ingredients.
- Chips and Drinks – potato chips, sodas, and other basic drinks are gluten-free.
- Custom Subs – order gluten-free meats and cheeses with safe toppings like veggies, mustard, oil and vinegar on gluten-free bread.
Just remember that while ingredients may not have gluten, the risk of cross-contamination still exists. The safest approach is customizing a sandwich using naturally gluten-free ingredients prepared separately with extra precautions.
Tips for Ordering Gluten-Free at Jersey Mike’s
Here are some tips for ordering gluten-free options safely at Jersey Mike’s:
- Request that staff change gloves, use sanitized tools, and prepare your order away from other wheat-based subs.
- Specify that you need your sandwich prepared from start to finish in a designated gluten-free area, if possible. Some locations have designated allergy prep areas.
- Know the ingredients and preparation process for menu items so you can avoid hidden gluten sources.
- Ask about shared toasters or grills that may contact wheat-based breads.
- Consider lower-risk options like salads with no croutons or lettuce wrapped subs.
- Be cautious with sauces and dressings as many contain hidden gluten.
- Check that staff understands how to avoid cross-contact with gluten-free orders.
- thank staff for accommodating your gluten-free request.
With extra care taken during prep, Jersey Mike’s can be a reasonably safe option for gluten-free diners. Understanding your own sensitivity level is key in evaluating risk factors.
Conclusion
In summary, the regular bread options from Jersey Mike’s all contain gluten. Only the certified gluten-free sub bun is a safe option for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Cross-contamination risks still remain, even when ordering on gluten-free bread. With careful menu choices and custom preparations, Jersey Mike’s can be an accommodating spot for gluten-free eaters. But caution is still advised around cross-contact. Asking staff to take extra care and use thorough procedures to avoid cross-contamination is key to a safe gluten-free experience at Jersey Mike’s.
