Quick Answer
The quick answer is yes, Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup is gluten-free. Campbell’s states that all of their condensed soups, including their cream of mushroom soup, are gluten-free.
Ingredients in Campbell’s Condensed Mushroom Soup
To understand whether Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup is gluten-free, we need to look at the ingredients:
- Water
- Mushrooms
- Modified food starch
- Wheat flour
- Salt
- Monosodium glutamate
- Carrageenan
- Potassium chloride
- Soy protein concentrate
- Mushroom juice from concentrate
- Disodium inosinate
- Disodium guanylate
- Dehydrated onions
- Dehydrated garlic
- Natural flavorings
At first glance, it may appear that Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup contains wheat flour, which would mean it has gluten. However, Campbell’s has confirmed that while wheat flour appears on the ingredient list, it is not actually present in the final product. The wheat flour is only used during the manufacturing process and is removed from the final soup product through filtration. So despite the presence of wheat flour on the label, Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup does not contain any wheat or gluten.
Campbell’s States Their Mushroom Soup is Gluten-Free
In addition to reviewing the ingredients, it’s helpful to look at what Campbell’s directly states about the gluten content of their soups. On the Campbell’s website, they provide a list of their products that are labeled as gluten-free, including their condensed cream of mushroom soup:
| Campbell’s Gluten-Free Products |
|---|
| Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup |
| Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup |
| Condensed Cream of Celery Soup |
| Condensed Cream of Potato Soup |
| Condensed Italian-Style Wedding Soup |
| Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup |
| Condensed Tomato Soup |
| Condensed Chicken Broth |
| Condensed Beef Broth |
| Condensed Vegetable Broth |
As we can see, Campbell’s specifically lists their condensed cream of mushroom soup as being gluten-free. This provides further confirmation, direct from the manufacturer, that their mushroom soup does not contain gluten.
Campbell’s Mushroom Soup is Certified Gluten-Free
For consumers who need to strictly avoid gluten due to medical conditions like celiac disease, it can be important to look for third-party certification of a product’s gluten-free status. Campbell’s condensed soups display a “Certified Gluten-Free” seal from the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), a leading organization that tests and certifies gluten-free foods.
For a product to receive GIG certification, it must contain less than 10 parts per million of gluten. This extremely low level gives consumers with celiac disease confidence that certified products like Campbell’s soups are safe to consume on a gluten-free diet.
Test Results Also Show Campbell’s Mushroom Soup is Gluten-Free
In addition to Campbell’s own declaration of their mushroom soup being gluten-free, independent gluten testing has verified these results. Consumer Reports tested several condensed soup products, including Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup, and found gluten levels were undetectable in all samples tested:
| Condensed Soup Gluten Test Results | Gluten Level Detected |
|---|---|
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup | Undetectable |
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | Undetectable |
| Progresso Condensed Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup | Undetectable |
| Private Selection Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | Undetectable |
Based on these independent lab results, we can again confirm that Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup did not contain any detectable levels of gluten.
Campbell’s Production Process Removes Gluten
Understanding a bit about how Campbell’s produces their condensed soups also provides insight into why their mushroom soup is gluten-free despite containing wheat flour as an ingredient.
During the manufacturing process, wheat flour is added to the soup early on to help thicken it and provide texture. However, later in production, the soup goes through a filtration system that removes all of the wheat flour, leaving behind a smooth, gluten-free soup.
Campbell’s has optimized this production method over many years to ensure no detectable traces of gluten remain in their condensed soup products. This explains why the soups can test as gluten-free even though wheat flour was used during the processing.
Risk of Cross-Contamination is Low
For people with celiac disease, cross-contamination is also a concern when assessing if a food is truly gluten-free. Cross-contamination occurs when a gluten-free product comes into contact with sources of gluten during production or packaging.
The risk of cross-contamination appears low with Campbell’s soups based on their filtration process that removes all wheat flour. Campbell’s also states that they follow strict gluten-free manufacturing practices to avoid cross-contamination. They produce their gluten-free soups on dedicated equipment in dedicated gluten-free production facilities.
However, it’s important to note there is always some small risk of cross-contamination with any product. People with celiac disease or wheat allergies should use their own judgment when deciding if Campbell’s soups are appropriate based on their individual sensitivity.
Campbell’s Cream Soups are Labeled Gluten-Free
Looking at the label on a can of Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup also confirms the gluten-free status. Near the ingredient list, the can states “Gluten-Free” in bold lettering.
Products labeled as gluten-free must legally contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. Campbell’s voluntarily labels their soups as gluten-free to less than 10 ppm, meeting the more stringent standards of organizations like the Gluten Intolerance Group.
Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes are Gluten-Free
Many classic recipes incorporate Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup as a key ingredient, including:
- Green bean casserole
- Chicken and rice casserole
- Tuna noodle casserole
- Mushroom noodle bake
- Chicken pot pie
Because the mushroom soup itself is gluten-free, these recipes can all be prepared gluten-free by using a gluten-free version of any other ingredients. For example, making green bean casserole with Campbell’s mushroom soup, green beans, fried onions, and a gluten-free fried onion product on top.
Rice or gluten-free noodles can be easily substituted into traditional recipes calling for egg noodles or pasta to keep the dish gluten-free when using Campbell’s soups.
Other Campbell’s Soups are NOT Gluten-Free
While all of Campbell’s condensed cream soups (including mushroom) are gluten-free, some of their other soup products do contain gluten:
- Chicken noodle soup
- Tomato soup with pasta
- Vegetable soup with pasta
- Minestrone soup
- Chicken gumbo soup
These soups contain wheat and gluten from pasta or noodles. So it’s important to double check the ingredients and labeling when choosing Campbell’s soup varieties other than their condensed cream soups.
Campbell’s Chunky Soups Also Contain Gluten
In addition to some traditional Campbell’s condensed soups, all varieties of Campbell’s Chunky soups contain gluten. The vegetables, beans, and meats in these chunky-style soups are mixed with wheat-based pasta or barley.
So while the classic creamy condensed soups from Campbell’s are gluten-free, the heartier chunky-style soups are not an option for a gluten-free diet.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup is certified gluten-free to less than 10 ppm.
- The wheat flour used during production is removed, leaving no detectable gluten in the final product.
- Both Campbell’s statements and independent lab testing confirm their mushroom soup is gluten-free.
- The classic mushroom soup can be safely enjoyed as part of a gluten-free diet.
- Other condensed cream soups from Campbell’s are also gluten-free, but not soups with noodles or chunks of vegetables and grains.
So in conclusion, yes – Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup is conclusively gluten-free. Mushroom soup casseroles and recipes can be comfortably enjoyed on a gluten-free diet when prepared with verified gluten-free ingredients.
