Quick Answer
Most Barilla lasagna is not gluten free. Barilla’s traditional lasagna noodles contain wheat flour, which has gluten. However, Barilla does offer gluten-free lasagna options, including oven-ready lasagna made with gluten-free pasta sheets and gluten-free lasagna noodles that you can prepare yourself. So some Barilla lasagna products are gluten-free, but standard Barilla lasagna made with their traditional noodles is not gluten-free.
Is Traditional Barilla Lasagna Gluten Free?
No, traditional Barilla lasagna made with their classic lasagna noodles is not gluten-free.
Barilla’s traditional lasagna noodles contain wheat flour as a main ingredient. Wheat flour contains gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye that some people cannot tolerate.
Gluten can cause serious health issues for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For people who need to avoid gluten, wheat-based noodles like traditional Barilla lasagna noodles are not safe to eat.
So if you follow a strict gluten-free diet, you should avoid Barilla’s classic lasagna made with wheat-flour noodles. The noodles contain gluten, making the entire dish unsuitable for a gluten-free diet.
Ingredients in Traditional Barilla Lasagna Noodles
Here are the ingredients listed for Barilla’s traditional lasagna noodles:
– Semolina
– Durum Wheat Flour
– Wheat Flour
– Water
– Salt
The key ingredients that contain gluten are durum wheat flour and wheat flour. Both wheat flours contain gluten proteins that can trigger issues for people sensitive to gluten.
So while the semolina and water are naturally gluten-free, the wheat flours make Barilla’s classic lasagna noodles unsuitable for gluten-free diets.
Why Wheat Flour Has Gluten
Wheat flour contains gluten because it comes from wheat grains. Gluten is a general name for the main storage proteins found in wheat grains.
Specifically, gluten consists of gliadin and glutenin proteins. When wheat flour is mixed with water, the gliadin and glutenin proteins form elastic strands that give bread and pasta dough its chewy texture.
However, some people’s bodies react negatively to these gluten proteins. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity cannot properly digest gluten.
When people with gluten issues eat gluten, it can damage the lining of the small intestine and cause symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
So for those who need to follow a gluten-free diet, it’s important to avoid all food products that contain wheat, barley, or rye – including wheat-based pasta noodles.
Does Barilla Make Any Gluten-Free Lasagna?
Yes, although most Barilla lasagna contains gluten, Barilla does offer some gluten-free lasagna options:
1. Oven-Ready Lasagna with Gluten-Free Pasta Sheets
Barilla makes an oven-ready lasagna using gluten-free pasta sheets rather than wheat noodles. This allows people with gluten issues to enjoy lasagna without the concern of gluten exposure.
The gluten-free oven-ready lasagna contains alternate pasta sheets made of rice flour and corn flour rather than wheat flour. The other layers are made with traditional lasagna ingredients like meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
This provides the taste and texture of lasagna without the gluten from wheat noodles. The gluten-free oven-ready lasagna is sold frozen and just needs to be baked before eating.
2. Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles
Barilla also sells traditional style lasagna noodles made with gluten-free ingredients.
The gluten-free lasagna noodles are specifically formulated to substitute for wheat noodles in lasagna recipes. They are designed to handle boiling, baking, and layering just like traditional lasagna noodles.
The gluten-free noodles contain rice flour and corn flour instead of wheat flour. Home cooks can use these noodles to create lasagna from scratch using their favorite sauce and fillings.
So for anyone who needs to avoid gluten but doesn’t want to give up homemade lasagna, Barilla’s gluten-free noodles offer a solution.
What Are the Gluten-Free Options in Barilla’s Lasagna Line?
Here is a summary of the gluten-free lasagna choices currently available from Barilla:
Gluten-Free Oven-Ready Lasagna
– Contains alternate pasta sheets made with rice flour and corn flour instead of wheat
– Sold frozen in a baking tray
– Simply bake and serve for lasagna without gluten
Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles
– Made with rice flour and corn flour instead of wheat
– Rolled and cut into traditional lasagna noodle shape
– Use to make homemade lasagna for a gluten-free diet
– Handle boiling, baking, and layering like wheat noodles
So by choosing the gluten-free oven-ready lasagna or noodles, people with gluten issues can still enjoy Barilla lasagna. Those products give the taste and texture of lasagna without the gluten.
Is There Any Gluten in Barilla’s Gluten-Free Lasagna Products?
No, Barilla’s gluten-free lasagna products do not contain any detectable levels of gluten, according to the company.
Both the gluten-free oven-ready lasagna and the gluten-free pasta sheets are certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).
The GFCO tests products to verify they contain fewer than 10 parts per million of gluten. Foods must meet this strict standard to be certified gluten-free.
So when you see the GFCO logo on Barilla’s gluten-free lasagna products, it means gluten levels are below 10 ppm. This level of gluten is generally considered safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance issues.
However, it’s important to note that the GFCO certification verifies the absence of gluten in the actual pasta ingredients. It does not consider potential cross-contamination risk during manufacturing.
So there is a slight chance that trace amounts of gluten could get into the product from shared equipment. The GFCO limit does not apply to cross-contamination at less than 20ppm of gluten.
Those who are highly sensitive should take this potential risk into consideration.
What Are Alternatives to Gluten-Free Barilla Lasagna?
Some other gluten-free lasagna brands and options to consider include:
Tinkyada Pasta Joy Ready-to-Bake Lasagna
– Fully assembled gluten-free lasagna made with brown rice pasta sheets
– Just add water and bake for lasagna without gluten
DeLallo Gluten Free Lasagna Sheets
– Single sheets of lasagna noodles made with rice and corn flour
– Use to assemble your own homemade gluten-free lasagna
Ronzoni Gluten Free Lasagna
– Rolled gluten-free lasagna with corn and rice flour
– Contains 24 pre-cooked and easily separated noodle sheets
Make Your Own with Zucchini Noodles or Gluten-Free Bread
– For a lower-carb option, replace pasta sheets with thinly sliced zucchini
– Can also make lasagna layers using slices of gluten-free bread
So there are various brands that offer gluten-free versions of lasagna if Barilla’s products do not work for your dietary needs or preferences. Making your own lasagna with creative substitutions is another good option.
Is there gluten in other Barilla pasta products?
In addition to lasagna, Barilla offers some other gluten-free pasta options:
Gluten-Free Elbows
– Short pasta shells made with corn and rice flour
Gluten-Free Spaghetti
– Classic long, thin strands made from corn and rice
Gluten-Free Penne
– Penne style pasta tubes made from a gluten-free blend
However, it’s important to note that pasta varieties like Barilla’s classic elbow macaroni, spaghetti noodles, and penne pasta contain gluten. They are made with wheat flour.
So while Barilla has some gluten-free products, most regular Barilla pasta contains gluten since it is made from wheat. Always check labels and indications of “gluten-free” on packaging. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free because of the Barilla brand name.
Is Barilla Pasta Safe for People with Wheat Allergies?
No, most Barilla pasta contains wheat and is not safe for people with wheat allergies.
A wheat allergy is different from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Wheat allergies are caused by the proteins in wheat, not just the gluten.
So gluten-free wheat alternatives like rice, corn, and quinoa are also unsafe for those with wheat allergies. These grain alternatives still contain proteins that can trigger allergic reactions.
The only Barilla pasta options that may be wheat allergy-friendly are ones made with a vegetable-based pasta material instead of grain flours. For example, pasta made from lentil, chickpea, or pea flour could potentially be wheat-free.
But it is important to carefully check the ingredients since pasta made from a blend of flours could still contain wheat. Call the manufacturer if you are uncertain about ingredients.
Beyond pasta, wheat allergies also eliminate wheat-based Barilla foods like breads, cookies, and baked snack products. Avoiding all wheat-containing foods is the only way to prevent wheat allergy symptoms.
What Are Good Substitutes for Wheat-Based Pasta?
Those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or wheat allergies have some good options for substituting wheat-based pasta:
1. Gluten-Free Rice, Corn, or Quinoa Pasta
There are many brands that make pasta from gluten-free grains like rice, corn, and quinoa. These provide a similar taste and texture to wheat pasta. Barilla’s gluten-free pasta made with rice and corn is one example.
2. Vegetable-Based Pastas
Pasta made from lentil, chickpea, or black bean flour is naturally wheat and gluten-free. Explore noodles made from vegetables like sweet potatoes or beets. Zucchini spirals are also an option.
3. Bean Pastas
Edamame and black bean pastas have a hearty texture. Pair them with thick sauces or use in pasta salads.
So despite needing to avoid wheat, you have many choices like rice noodles, legume pastas, or vegetable noodles to substitute in recipes that call for wheat pasta. With some experimentation, you can find a healthy and delicious gluten-free pasta option that works for your specific dietary needs.
Conclusion
In summary, here are the key points on whether Barilla lasagna contains gluten:
– Barilla’s traditional lasagna made with wheat-flour noodles contains gluten and is not safe for gluten-free diets
– Barilla does offer some gluten-free lasagna options, including oven-ready lasagna and lasagna noodles made without wheat
– Gluten-free Barilla products are certified to contain under 10ppm of gluten
– Most regular Barilla pasta contains gluten from wheat flour, so gluten-free alternatives are needed
– Wheat pasta is also unsafe for those with wheat allergies
– Checking labels carefully and looking for gluten-free certification is important with any product
So some Barilla lasagna can be part of a gluten-free or wheat-free diet, but their traditional lasagna with wheat noodles is off limits for people who need to avoid gluten. Fortunately, there are many tasty gluten-free pasta options available if wheat flour products don’t work for your dietary needs.
