Many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity enjoy flavored malt beverages like Smirnoff Ice. However, it’s important for those who need to follow a gluten-free diet to understand which flavors contain gluten and which are gluten-free. This article will examine if Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice contains gluten.
What is Smirnoff Ice?
Smirnoff Ice is a flavored malt beverage made by the company Smirnoff. It has a sweet, fruity taste and comes in a variety of flavors like citrus, green apple, and watermelon. The alcohol content is around 5% ABV.
Smirnoff Ice is made from a malt base of fermented grains. The malt gives the beverage its characteristic sweetness. Flavors, carbonation, and other ingredients are also added.
Does Smirnoff Ice contain gluten?
Since Smirnoff Ice is made from a malt base containing grains, it does contain some gluten. However, the gluten content is generally low compared to beers brewed from barley malt.
Most flavored malt beverages like Smirnoff Ice are produced from sorghum, corn, rice, or other gluten-free grains. But a small percentage of barley malt is usually also included in the malt base. Barley malt contains the protein gluten.
So while Smirnoff Ice is not completely gluten-free, it is considered low gluten. Many celiacs are able to drink Smirnoff Ice in moderation without issues.
Is Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice gluten-free?
No, the Red White and Berry flavor of Smirnoff Ice contains gluten. Since all Smirnoff Ice flavors use the same malt base made with barley, they all contain a small amount of gluten.
Smirnoff does not label any of their flavors of Ice as gluten-free or make a gluten-removed version. So Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice does contain gluten, though the amount per serving is less than 20 ppm.
Ingredients in Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice
Here are the main ingredients contained in Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice:
- Malt base (contains gluten)
- Glucose syrup
- Sugar
- Natural flavors
- Citric acid
- Sodium citrate
- Potassium sorbate
- Sodium benzoate
- Red 40 coloring
As you can see, the primary gluten-containing ingredient is the malt base. This malt base likely contains both gluten-free grains and barley malt. No gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye, or barley are listed directly on the label.
Gluten testing of Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice
There are no official third-party gluten tests published for the Red White and Berry flavor of Smirnoff Ice. However, Smirnoff states that all their flavors contain less than 20 ppm of gluten.
This very low amount of gluten residues is considered safe for most people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. But those with extreme sensitivity should avoid consuming it.
Is Smirnoff Ice gluten-free?
No flavors of Smirnoff Ice are certified gluten-free. While Smirnoff Ice only contains trace amounts of gluten from barley malt, it does not meet the requirements to be labelled as a gluten-free beverage.
However, many celiacs are able to drink Smirnoff Ice without issues due to the very low gluten content. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should check their personal tolerance.
Other low gluten flavored malt beverages
In addition to Smirnoff Ice, some other popular flavored malt beverages that are considered low gluten include:
- Mike’s Hard Lemonade
- Bacardi Breezer
- Twisted Tea
- Redd’s Apple Ale
These beverages follow a similar production process to Smirnoff Ice. They use mainly gluten-free grains like sorghum and corn in the malt base but include a small percentage of barley malt that contains gluten.
True gluten-free flavored malt beverages
There are some flavored malt beverage brands that are produced to be 100% gluten-free. These include:
- Redbridge by Anheuser Busch
- Burkhardt’s Lyte Hard Ciders
- Green’s Quest
Rather than using barley malt in their production process, these gluten-free brands make their malt base exclusively from gluten-free grains like sorghum, rice, buckwheat, or corn. They test under 20ppm of gluten.
Is Smirnoff Ice safe for celiacs?
Most people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can safely consume Smirnoff Ice in moderation. The amount of gluten per serving is thought to be less than 20ppm.
One study tested malt beverages including Smirnoff Ice and found gluten levels between 5-18 ppm. This is well below the FDA requirement of less than 20 ppm to label a food as “gluten-free.”
However, celiacs with extreme sensitivity should avoid any gluten exposure from Smirnoff Ice until determining personal tolerance levels.
Tips for drinking Smirnoff Ice with celiac disease
Here are some tips for celiacs consuming Smirnoff Ice:
- Limit consumption to 1 serving
- Avoid if you have reacted to gluten traces in the past
- Do not drink on an empty stomach
- Check for personal reactions before consuming more
- Consider sticking to certified gluten-free beverages if very sensitive
Is Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice gluten-free?
No, Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice contains gluten. While the gluten amount is very low, under 20 ppm, it does not qualify as gluten-free. People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should consume with caution and awareness of potential trace gluten exposure.
Conclusion
Red White and Berry Smirnoff Ice does contain a small amount of gluten from its malt base ingredients. However, the gluten levels are considered low at under 20 ppm. Many people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease can enjoy Smirnoff Ice in moderation without issues. But those with high sensitivity should exercise caution and consider sticking to certified gluten-free beverages.
