Quick Answer
Yes, Domino powdered sugar is gluten-free. Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners’ sugar, is made from sucrose (table sugar) that has been ground into a fine powder and mixed with cornstarch to prevent caking. Neither sucrose nor cornstarch contains gluten, so pure powdered sugar is inherently gluten-free. Domino, a major brand of powdered sugar, does not add any gluten-containing ingredients to their product. However, powdered sugar can become cross-contaminated with gluten if it is processed on shared equipment with gluten-containing foods. Domino takes precautions to avoid cross-contamination, so their powdered sugar is considered gluten-free.
What is Powdered Sugar?
Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners’ sugar, icing sugar, and 10X sugar, is sucrose that has been ground into a fine powder. It is made by grinding granulated sugar into a powdered form and mixing it with a small amount of cornstarch. The cornstarch is added to prevent clumping and to keep it smooth and free-flowing.
Powdered sugar has many culinary uses. It is used to make frostings, icings, and glazes. It is also dusted onto baked goods like donuts, cookies, and cakes to give them a delicate sweet coating. Powdered sugar makes desserts look pretty and adds just a touch of sweetness without overpowering other flavors.
Nutritional Profile
Here is the nutritional profile for 1 tablespoon (8 grams) of powdered sugar (1):
| Calories | 29 |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Sugars | 7 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, powdered sugar is almost entirely made up of carbohydrates from sucrose and a very small amount of starch. It contains no fat or protein.
Is Powdered Sugar Naturally Gluten-Free?
Yes, pure powdered sugar is inherently gluten-free. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye (2). Since powdered sugar is made from sucrose and cornstarch, it does not naturally contain gluten.
Sucrose (table sugar) is extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets. Neither of these plants contains gluten.
Cornstarch is a refined starch powder made from corn. Corn is a gluten-free grain, so pure cornstarch is gluten-free as well.
Therefore, powdered sugar made using only sucrose and cornstarch contains no gluten and is considered gluten-free.
Is Domino Powdered Sugar Gluten-Free?
Yes, Domino powdered sugar is gluten-free.
Domino is a major brand of powdered sugar that produces their powdered sugar using pure cane sugar and cornstarch. According to their website, Domino powdered sugar contains no added gluten ingredients (3).
However, even gluten-free foods can become cross-contaminated with gluten if they are processed on shared equipment with gluten-containing ingredients. Some brands of powdered sugar include additives like wheat starch that contain gluten.
Domino acknowledges the risk of cross-contamination and notes that their facilities also process wheat-based ingredients. But they take precautions to keep their powdered sugar gluten-free, including:
– Maintaining separate production lines for powdered sugar versus other products
– Thorough cleaning protocols between production runs
– Testing finished products to ensure they are gluten-free
Based on their careful manufacturing processes to avoid cross-contamination, Domino powdered sugar is considered gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Verifying Domino Powdered Sugar Is Gluten-Free
If you need to avoid even trace amounts of gluten, here are some tips to verify that Domino powdered sugar is gluten-free:
– Check the ingredient list – It should only contain sugar and cornstarch with no mention of wheat, barley, rye or malt.
– Look for a gluten-free certification – Domino powdered sugar is certified gluten-free by the GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization). Look for the GFCO logo on the packaging.
– Contact the company – You can call Domino directly at 1-800-993-3366 to ask about their manufacturing processes and testing procedures. They can confirm that each batch of powdered sugar is gluten-free.
– Purchase sealed containers – Buying Domino powdered sugar in its original sealed packaging instead of bulk bins reduces the risk of cross-contamination. The sealed containers were filled and packaged in a gluten-free facility.
– Read online customer reviews – Check reviews on sites like Amazon to see if other customers who need gluten-free foods have successfully consumed Domino powdered sugar without issues.
Being an informed consumer and verifying manufacturing processes can give you peace of mind that Domino powdered sugar is gluten-free and safe to enjoy in your gluten-free recipes.
Using Domino Powdered Sugar in a Gluten-Free Diet
Domino powdered sugar is considered gluten-free to less than 20ppm, which makes it safe for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance following a gluten-free diet.
Here are some tips for incorporating Domino powdered sugar into your gluten-free lifestyle:
– Use it to make glazes and frostings for cakes and cupcakes. Powdered sugar is perfect for dusting on top of gluten-free baked goods.
– Sweeten gluten-free smoothies by blending in a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar. It will give your drink a milkshake-like treat.
– Fold powdered sugar into whipped cream to make homemade whipped topping for pies and other desserts.
– Dust some powdered sugar over fresh fruit like strawberries, bananas, or gluten-free churros for a quick dessert.
– Make simple gluten-free buttercream by creaming together butter, powdered sugar, and milk or cream. Spread it on cookies or use it between cake layers.
– Add a powdered sugar coating to gluten-free donuts, fried chicken, or other savory foods. The sweet dusting provides eye-appeal and textural contrast.
– Use it in place of flour to make crunchy cookie or cake decorations. For example, roll out chilled gluten-free cookie dough into powdered sugar to cut out shapes.
Baking Substitutions
In baking, you can often substitute powdered sugar 1:1 for granulated sugar, but the results may differ:
– Cakes and cookies made with powdered sugar will be slightly less sweet tasting and have a more tender, delicate texture.
– Powdered sugar causes more browning and caramelization when used in baked goods. Granulated sugar is better for obtaining light-colored cakes or cookies.
– Powdered sugar dissolves faster and may cause batters to thin out more quickly compared to granulated sugar. You may need to reduce the liquid slightly.
When swapping powdered sugar for granulated sugar in recipes, make adjustments to get the ideal sweetness, texture, and appearance you desire.
Potential Sources of Gluten in Powdered Sugar
Although pure powdered sugar does not contain gluten, there are some potential sources of gluten contamination to be aware of:
– **Flour additions** – Some brands add wheat or barley flour instead of cornstarch to powdered sugar. Flour contains gluten and makes the product unsafe for gluten-free diets. Always check the ingredients.
– **Cross-contamination** – Even brands that use cornstarch as an anti-caking agent can get cross-contaminated if they are produced on shared equipment with gluten-containing foods. Reputable brands like Domino use good manufacturing practices to avoid this.
– **Storing in flour canisters** – Don’t store powdered sugar in a container that previously held flour, as this could introduce gluten cross-contamination from flour residue.
– **Bulk bins** – Getting powdered sugar from a bulk bin carries a higher risk of gluten exposure compared to sealed packages. The bins may also be used for flour or other glutenous ingredients. Use caution with bulk items.
By choosing a reputable brand like Domino and verifying the powdered sugar is gluten-free certified, you can enjoy this sweet staple with confidence.
Powdered Sugar Labeling Regulations
In the United States, powdered sugar labeling is regulated by the FDA Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA).
Under this law, powdered sugar is required to list the presence of major food allergens on the label, such as wheat. FALCPA defines a major food allergen as an ingredient that contains protein derived from wheat, milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, or soy (4).
That means if a powdered sugar contains wheat flour or other wheat-based additives, the product is required to have the statement “Contains wheat” on the packaging label. This helps consumers who need to avoid gluten for medical reasons easily identify which products are gluten-free.
Powdered sugar is also required to list all ingredients on the label in order from most abundant to least abundant. So if cornstarch is used instead of wheat flour, you would see “sugar, cornstarch” on the ingredient list.
FALCPA labeling requirements help give consumers confidence that the powdered sugar they choose is gluten-free or that gluten-containing additions will be explicitly stated. This transparency allows people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance to make informed choices.
Other Brands of Gluten-Free Powdered Sugar
In addition to Domino, here are some other brands that produce gluten-free powdered sugar:
– **C&H** – Like Domino, C&H powdered sugar is made from cane sugar and cornstarch and is considered gluten-free. Their manufacturing facility is completely wheat-free.
– **Florida Crystals** – Gets its gluten-free certification from the GFCO and has transparent manufacturing processes. They also make organic powdered sugar.
– **India Tree** – Specifically produces gluten-free ingredients including powdered sugar made with tapioca starch instead of cornstarch. India Tree is based in Seattle, WA.
– **Bob’s Red Mill** – Makes gluten-free powdered sugar from sugar and tapioca flour. Bob’s Red Mill has a strong reputation in the gluten-free community for purity and safety.
– **King Arthur Baking** – King Arthur tests all their baking products, including powdered sugar, to <5ppm gluten. Their powdered sugar contains no wheat. - **Publix** - The Publix store brand "Publix Sugar" powdered sugar lists only sugar and cornstarch as ingredients and is rated gluten-free. Always double check the label and look for certification symbols or contact the manufacturer if you need to avoid gluten. Many brands offer gluten-free options, but formulations can vary.
Risks of Consuming Gluten with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance
People with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy need to avoid even small amounts of gluten in foods like powdered sugar. Consuming gluten can cause a range of adverse reactions.
For those with celiac disease, ingesting gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. This can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, and nausea (5).
But celiac disease is not just a digestive condition. Consuming gluten can also lead to problems like anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, migraines, and fatigue. In children, gluten exposure can stunt growth and development. Long-term consumption of gluten by those with celiac disease also increases the risk for serious complications like intestinal cancers (6).
People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity experience similar gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms from ingesting gluten. However, the mechanism is different and does not involve the same type of autoimmune reaction. Those with a wheat allergy experience rapid allergic reactions like hives, wheezing, and even anaphylaxis when exposed to gluten (7).
Using confirmed gluten-free products like Domino powdered sugar is important to help those with medical gluten issues stay strict with their diets and avoid adverse health effects.
Powdered Sugar Alternatives
For those who cannot tolerate even small traces of gluten exposure, there are a few substitutes that can be used in place of traditional powdered sugar.
Some options include:
– **Granulated sugar** – Processing plain white sugar into a fine powder mimics powdered sugar. Blend granulated sugar for 1-2 minutes in a high-powered blender or food processor. Be sure equipment is thoroughly cleaned and not cross-contaminated.
– **Coconut sugar** – Has a slight caramel taste. Blend to a powder consistency. Sift to remove larger crystals.
– **Monk fruit sweetener** – Sweeter than sugar so use less. Blend with starch like arrowroot or tapioca.
– **Maple sugar** – Made from dehydrated maple syrup. Pulverize in a blender and sift.
– **Date sugar** – Made from ground dried dates. Use in small amounts as flavor can be overpowering.
– **Xylitol** – Sugar alcohol sweetener extracted from corn cobs. Caution: toxic for dogs.
These alternate powdered sugars may not substitute perfectly for traditional powdered sugar in all recipes. Some trial and error adjusting quantities or textures may be needed. Talk to your dietitian about suitable substitutes for your specific needs.
Conclusion
Domino offers a high-quality powdered sugar product that is free from gluten-containing ingredients. Their stringent manufacturing processes avoid cross-contamination risks. Domino powdered sugar is considered gluten-free to less than 20ppm and safe for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerances.
Carefully reading ingredient labels and verifying gluten-free status allows people requiring a gluten-free diet to enjoy powdered sugar in their recipes. Trusted brands like Domino provide gluten-free options for powdered sugar so people with medical gluten issues do not have to fully miss out on its sweet taste and culinary versatility.
