Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for medical reasons or personal preferences. For those following a gluten free diet, finding convenient and tasty gluten free foods can be a challenge. Many people on a gluten free diet enjoy soup as an easy meal option. Progresso is one of the largest soup brands in the United States, but do they offer any gluten free soups?
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For most people, gluten does not cause any issues or negative health effects. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can trigger a negative autoimmune response, causing symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, headache and more. Additionally, some people choose to follow a gluten free diet even if they do not have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, believing it improves their health.
Progresso Soup Overview
Progresso is one of the most popular canned soup brands in America. Progresso offers a wide variety of soup flavors and types, including condensed soups, ready-to-serve soups, organic soups, soup starters, chowders and more. Some of Progresso’s most popular soup varieties include Chicken Noodle Soup, New England Clam Chowder, Vegetable Classics, Minestrone and Light Soups.
Progresso soups are made by General Mills, one of the largest food manufacturers in the world. General Mills owns many popular food brands like Cheerios, Nature Valley, Annie’s, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and more.
Gluten in Progresso Soups
The majority of Progresso soups contain gluten, usually from wheat, barley or rye ingredients. Common sources of gluten in Progresso soups include:
– Wheat flour
– Barley
– Pasta/noodles
– Bouillon/broth containing malt or barley
– Wheat starch
– Soy sauce
Many Progresso soups contain pasta, like the Chicken Noodle, Minestrone and Vegetable Classics. These pastas typically contain wheat. Progresso Clam Chowder contains barley, another source of gluten. Even bouillon and broths often contain gluten from malt or wheat components.
With the exception of a few specialty gluten free varieties, most regular Progresso soups are not labeled gluten free and contain gluten in some form.
Progresso Gluten Free Soup Options
While the majority of Progresso’s soups contain gluten, they do offer a limited selection of certified gluten free soup varieties:
– Progresso Organic Chicken Noodle Soup, Gluten Free – This soup contains rice noodles instead of traditional wheat noodles, along with chicken broth, vegetables and chicken. It is certified gluten free to less than 20 ppm.
– Progresso Organic Vegetable Noodle Soup, Gluten Free – This vegetarian soup contains rice noodles, vegetables and chicken broth. It is also certified gluten free to less than 20 ppm.
– Progresso Organic Hearty Tomato Soup, Gluten Free – A classic creamy tomato soup made with tomatoes, vegetables and chicken broth. Gluten free certified.
– Progresso Organic Lentil Soup, Gluten Free – Featuring lentils, vegetables and chicken broth, this hearty soup is gluten free.
– Progresso Organic Chicken Tortilla Soup, Gluten Free – Chicken, black beans, corn, zesty tomatoes and chili peppers make up this gluten free soup.
These Progresso Organic gluten free soups are all clearly labeled “gluten free” on the front of the can. They are made without wheat, barley, rye, malt or any other sources of gluten.
Are Regular Progresso Soups Gluten Free?
No, regular Progresso soups that do not explicitly say “gluten free” on the label should be assumed to contain gluten. Even if a regular Progresso soup does not list wheat, barley or rye in the ingredients, it may still contain gluten due to shared equipment and cross-contamination during manufacturing. Only Progresso soups clearly labeled “gluten free” are recommended for gluten free diets.
Finding Other Gluten Free Soup Options
In addition to the Progresso Organic gluten free soups, some other good gluten free soup options include:
– Amy’s Kitchen – Various gluten free soup varieties including minestrone, lentil and rice noodles.
– Pacific Foods – Offers many organic gluten free broths and soups.
– Imagine Foods – Makes gluten free No-Chicken Broth and other soup starters.
– Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods – Carries different gluten free packaged soups.
– Kitchen Basics – Some unflavored and vegetable stock options are gluten free.
– Trader Joe’s – Stocks many gluten free canned soups and soup mixes.
– Unique Foods – Gluten free soup starters and bouillon cubes.
– Goya Foods – Select varieties of canned beans, broths, and rice mixes are gluten free.
When buying prepared canned soups, always check the label carefully for a gluten free certification symbol or language clearly stating the soup is gluten free. With homemade soups, use naturally gluten free ingredients and avoid wheat, barley, rye and cross-contaminated oats.
Tips for Following a Gluten Free Diet
If you are planning to eat gluten free, here are some helpful tips:
– Get tested for celiac disease if you have symptoms. This will help determine if avoiding gluten is medically necessary.
– Read food labels carefully and look for “gluten free” in bold. Avoid anything made with wheat, barley, rye or malt.
– Look for gluten free replacements for common foods containing gluten – like pasta, bread, crackers, soy sauce and more.
– Be aware that oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat. Only purchase certified gluten free oats.
– Call and ask questions at restaurants before dining out. Request gluten free menu options.
– Avoid eating from bulk bins, as the risk of cross-contamination is high.
– Choose naturally gluten free whole foods whenever possible – fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, eggs, meat, fish, etc.
– Join online gluten free communities for product recommendations, recipes and support.
Conclusion
Progresso offers a small selection of certified gluten free soup options, including several Progresso Organic soups made with gluten free ingredients. However, their regular soups that do not explicitly say “gluten free” on the label likely contain gluten from ingredients like wheat, barley, pasta and malt. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should stick to the labeled gluten free Progresso soups and be cautious about consuming their regular soup varieties due to the high risk of cross-contamination. Thankfully, Progresso’s gluten free soups as well as other gluten free brands offer tasty soup choices for gluten free diets. Just be sure to always check labels carefully and when in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly to confirm their products are gluten free.
