Quick Answer
Yes, some Kashi cereals are gluten-free while others contain gluten. Kashi’s gluten-free cereals include Kashi GO Original, Kashi GO Lean, Kashi GO Peanut Butter, Kashi GO Cocoa Crisp, Kashi GO Chocolate Crunch, and Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets. However, other Kashi cereals like Kashi Heart to Heart and Kashi Good Friends contain wheat and barley and are not gluten-free.
Overview of Kashi Cereals
Kashi is a popular brand of cereal owned by Kellogg’s. Kashi offers a range of different cereal products including flakes, granola, muesli, cereal bars, and puffed cereals. Some of their most popular cereals include:
- Kashi GO Original – Puffed whole grain cereal
- Kashi GO Lean – Puffed whole grain cereal with protein
- Kashi GO Peanut Butter – Puffed whole grain cereal with peanut butter
- Kashi GO Cocoa Crisp – Chocolate puffed whole grain cereal
- Kashi GO Chocolate Crunch – Chocolate puffed whole grain cereal with chocolate chips
- Kashi Heart to Heart – Flakes and clusters cereal
- Kashi Good Friends – Flakes and puffs cereal
- Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets – Small round whole grain cereal
- Kashi Organic Promise – Flakes, clusters, and puffs cereal
Kashi emphasizes using whole grains and other natural ingredients in their cereals. However, not all Kashi cereals are gluten-free. The main factor that determines if a Kashi cereal contains gluten is the grains used.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and other related grains. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause adverse health effects and symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
Therefore, people with gluten-related disorders need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, avoiding any foods that contain gluten. This includes avoiding most breads, pastas, baked goods, and other products made from wheat, barley or rye.
Reading ingredient lists carefully and looking for “gluten-free” labels can help identify which foods to enjoy or avoid on a gluten-free diet. Oats are naturally gluten-free but are often contaminated with gluten during processing.
Why Kashi Cereals May Contain Gluten
The main reasons that some Kashi cereals contain gluten while others are gluten-free are:
1. Use of wheat, barley and rye
If a Kashi cereal contains wheat, barley or rye in the ingredients list, then the cereal is not gluten-free. These cereal grains all naturally contain gluten.
Examples of Kashi cereals with these gluten-containing grains include:
- Kashi Heart to Heart – contains wheat and barley
- Kashi Good Friends – contains wheat, barley and rye
2. Risk of cross-contamination
Even if a Kashi cereal doesn’t directly contain glutenous ingredients, cross-contamination during manufacturing can introduce small amounts of gluten.
During production at shared facilities, gluten grains like wheat can transfer to otherwise gluten-free products. Companies need robust controls to prevent and limit cross-contamination.
3. Uncertainty about oats
Some Kashi cereals contain oats, like Kashi GO Lean Crunch. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but can become contaminated with gluten during growing and processing.
For this reason, Kashi considers its oat-based cereals to be “not gluten-free” even though oats don’t inherently contain gluten.
Testing Methods
Kashi relies on several testing methods to determine if cereals are gluten-free or not:
1. Review of product formulations
By thoroughly reviewing ingredient lists and production processes, Kashi can identify products that inherently contain gluten sources like wheat.
2. Testing for gluten during production
Kashi may test cereal products during different stages of manufacturing to detect if gluten is present from cross-contamination.
3. Finished product testing
After production, Kashi can test samples of finished cereal products to verify if they contain any detectable gluten down to specific parts per million thresholds.
4. Third party certification
Kashi cereals labeled “gluten-free” have been certified by independent third-party organizations like NSF International. This provides added assurance of meeting gluten-free standards.
Kashi Certified Gluten-Free Cereals
The following Kashi cereals are certified gluten-free according to Kashi and organizations like NSF International:
| Gluten-Free Kashi Cereal | Description |
|---|---|
| Kashi GO Original | Puffed whole grain cereal made from corn, rice, buckwheat and quinoa |
| Kashi GO Lean | Puffed whole grain cereal with soy protein made from 7 whole grains and sesame |
| Kashi GO Peanut Butter | Puffed whole grain cereal with a peanut butter coating made from 7 whole grains and sesame |
| Kashi GO Cocoa Crisp | Chocolate puffed whole grain cereal made from rice, buckwheat and quinoa |
| Kashi GO Chocolate Crunch | Chocolate puffed whole grains with chocolate chips made from corn, rice, buckwheat and quinoa |
| Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets | Small round nugget cereal made from 7 whole grains like rice, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, barley and wheat |
These certified gluten-free Kashi cereals are made without any wheat, barley or rye and have been verified through finished product testing to not contain gluten above defined limits (usually 10-20 parts per million).
Kashi Cereals that Contain Gluten
The following Kashi cereals contain gluten in the form of wheat, barley or rye according to the product details shared by Kashi:
- Kashi Heart to Heart – Contains wheat and barley
- Kashi Good Friends – Contains wheat, barley and rye
- Kashi Mighty Bites Honey Crunch – Contains wheat and barley
- Kashi Organic Promise – Contains wheat and barley
- Kashi Chewy Nut Butter Bars – Contain wheat and barley
- Kashi Chia Granola – Contains barley malt extract
Any Kashi cereal that has wheat, barley or rye listed in its ingredients contains gluten and is not suitable for a gluten-free diet. Even small amounts of these grains can trigger issues for those sensitive.
Oat-based Kashi cereals are also considered not gluten-free since trace amounts of gluten from cross-contamination are possible even if oats don’t inherently contain gluten themselves.
Identifying Gluten-Free Kashi Cereals
You can identify which Kashi cereals are gluten-free or not by:
Checking the ingredients list
Look for wheat, barley, rye or oats in the ingredients. Their presence indicates the cereal contains or may contain gluten.
Looking for a “gluten-free” label
Kashi marks certified gluten-free cereals with a clear “gluten-free” label on the packaging. This label means the cereal has been tested to verify gluten levels below defined limits.
Contacting Kashi
You can call or email Kashi’s customer support team and ask if a cereal is gluten-free. Their team can check formulations and certifications.
Researching on Kashi’s website
The allergen and nutrition sections on product pages of Kashi’s website indicate if wheat, barley or rye are present.
Precautions When Eating Kashi Cereals
If you follow a strict gluten-free diet due to celiac disease or sensitivity, keep these precautions in mind with Kashi cereals:
- Double check labels and ingredients each time you purchase a product in case formulations change.
- Verify cereals are not just made without gluten ingredients but also gluten-free certified since cross-contamination is still a risk.
- Check with Kashi Customer Care if you have any uncertainty about a cereal’s gluten-free status.
- Look for packages sealed properly and no damage. Opened or damaged packages are more prone to gluten cross-contamination.
- Avoid oat-based Kashi cereals even if labeled gluten-free since gluten cross-contamination of oats may still occur.
- If concerned, consider contacting Kashi to request third party testing documentation proving their gluten-free claims.
Being vigilant and asking questions can help you safely choose Kashi cereals that align with your gluten-free dietary needs and health.
Other Gluten-Free Cereal Brands
In addition to gluten-free Kashi products, some other cereal brands offer gluten-free options:
Cascadian Farm
Cascadian Farm makes gluten-free cereals that are certified organic, like their Purely O’s cereal made from gluten-free oats.
Nature’s Path
Nature’s Path has a wide selection of organic and gluten-free cereals such as their Gluten Free Flax Plus Multibran cereal.
GLUTINO
GLUTINO is a brand specializing in gluten-free products including cereals like their Multigrain Flakes hot cereal.
Bob’s Red Mill
Bob’s Red Mill offers many gluten free cereals and granolas like their GF Steel Cut Oats and Gluten Free Rolled Oats.
EnviroKidz
EnviroKidz makes organic and gluten-free cereals for kids like their gluten-free Berry Cherry Koala Crisp cereal.
Conclusion
Kashi offers some gluten-free cereal options that can be part of a gluten-free diet when verified through careful label reading and thorough understanding of individual cereal formulations. However, many Kashi cereals still contain gluten or may have a risk of gluten cross-contamination. Following labeling, testing, and certification procedures provides the safest way to identify which Kashi cereals to enjoy or avoid based on your own gluten sensitivities and requirements. When in doubt, checking with Kashi’s customer support for clarity can help ensure you safely choose suitable Kashi cereals that align with your gluten-free dietary needs and health goals.
