Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people opting to avoid gluten for medical reasons or simply as a lifestyle choice. For those following a gluten free diet, checking labels and carefully reading ingredients lists is crucial to ensure you’re only consuming foods that are guaranteed gluten free.
One popular brand of pre-packaged dessert pudding that you may be wondering about is Snack Pack’s banana cream pie pudding. With its tasty banana and creamy vanilla flavors, this pudding cup seems like it would be the perfect gluten free treat. But is Snack Pack’s banana cream pie pudding really gluten free? Let’s find out.
What is gluten and why do people avoid it?
Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For most people, consuming gluten is not a problem. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten can cause issues.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is consumed. This damage prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients from food. Symptoms of celiac disease may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is strictly following a gluten free diet.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity causes some symptoms similar to celiac disease when gluten is consumed, but does not cause long-term damage to the small intestine. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may experience issues like brain fog, headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress after eating gluten. The only treatment is removal of gluten from the diet.
Beyond those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, many others choose to go gluten free because they feel it improves health issues, aids in weight loss, or simply makes them feel better. Gluten free diets have risen in popularity over the past decade. According to 2017 survey data, approximately 3.1 million Americans, or 1.76% of the population, follows a gluten free diet. Of these, 1.76 million have celiac disease and 1.34 million follow a gluten free diet for reasons other than celiac disease.
What ingredients typically contain gluten?
Gluten is naturally found in wheat and grains like barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and triticale. This means any foods made with these grain flours contain gluten. Some examples of gluten-containing grain ingredients are:
– Wheat flour
– Barley malt
– Rye flour
– Wheat bran
– Couscous
– Wheat germ
– Bulgur
– Durum flour
– Semolina
– Farina
Beyond flours made directly from gluten-containing grains, gluten can also be found in many processed ingredients derived from these grains. This includes ingredients like maltodextrin, malt syrup, malt extract, dextrin, food starch, modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), soy sauce, and more.
Gluten may also be found in beer, soy sauce, salad dressings, sauces, flavored coffee, and other processed foods made using gluten-containing grains or additives. It’s important to always check the ingredient list when evaluating packaged foods for gluten.
What ingredients are naturally gluten free?
Many whole foods and ingredients are naturally gluten free, including:
– Fruits and vegetables
– Beans, legumes, nuts and seeds
– Unprocessed meats, fish and poultry
– Eggs
– Milk and other dairy products
– Rice
– Corn
– Quinoa
– Buckwheat
– Arrowroot
– Amaranth
– Teff
– Cassava
– Flax
– Chia
– Potato starch
– Tapioca
– Sorghum
– Soy
When looking for gluten free packaged foods, checking for these naturally gluten free ingredients can help identify if a product may be safe for a gluten free diet.
Does Snack Pack banana cream pie pudding contain gluten?
To determine if Snack Pack banana cream pie pudding contains gluten, we need to look at the ingredients list:
Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, corn starch, contains less than 2% of water, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, natural and artificial flavors, yellow 5, yellow 6, carrageenan, salt.
None of the ingredients in Snack Pack banana cream pie pudding are made from wheat, barley, rye or other gluten-containing grains. The thickening agents used include corn starch, cellulose, and carrageenan, which are all gluten free ingredients. The artificial flavors also do not contain any gluten.
So looking at the ingredients list, Snack Pack’s banana cream pie pudding does not contain any gluten-based ingredients and is considered gluten free.
Some key takeaways:
– Snack Pack banana cream pie pudding does not list any ingredients made from wheat, barley, rye or other gluten-containing grains.
– Corn starch is used as a thickener instead of wheat-based starches.
– Other thickeners like cellulose and carrageenan are gluten free.
– The artificial flavors do not contain gluten.
– No maltodextrin, dextrin, malt syrup or other gluten-containing additives are in the banana cream pie pudding.
So you can feel confident that Snack Pack’s banana cream pie pudding is a gluten free friendly food!
Are other Snack Pack pudding flavors gluten free as well?
Given that Snack Pack’s banana cream pie pudding is gluten free, you may be wondering if other Snack Pack pudding flavors are also gluten free.
To find out, we can analyze the ingredients lists of other popular Snack Pack pudding flavor varieties:
Chocolate Pudding
– Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, corn starch, cocoa processed with alkali, contains less than 2% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, natural and artificial flavor, salt, carrageenan.
Like the banana cream pie pudding, chocolate pudding uses corn starch as the thickener and does not contain any gluten ingredients. So Snack Pack chocolate pudding is gluten free.
Vanilla Pudding
– Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, corn starch, contains less than 2% of artificial flavor, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, yellow 5, yellow 6, carrageenan, salt.
Again, we see corn starch as the thickener here with no gluten-based ingredients. Snack Pack vanilla pudding is gluten free.
Butterscotch Pudding
– Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, corn starch, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, salt, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, carrageenan, yellow 5, yellow 6.
No gluten ingredients are used in Snack Pack butterscotch pudding, making it another gluten free variety.
Tapioca Pudding
– Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, modified tapioca starch, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial vanilla flavor, salt, carrageenan, yellow 5, yellow 6.
Instead of corn starch, the tapioca pudding uses modified tapioca starch as the thickener, which is a gluten free ingredient derived from cassava root. So Snack Pack tapioca pudding is also gluten free.
Pistachio Pudding
– Ingredients: Nonfat milk, sugar, corn starch, pistachio, contains less than 2% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, artificial flavors, carrageenan, yellow 5 & 6, blue 1.
The pistachio pudding contains pistachio nuts and the same gluten free corn starch and thickening agents seen in other varieties. Snack Pack pistachio pudding is gluten free.
Key Takeaways on Snack Pack Pudding Flavors
In summary:
– All Snack Pack pudding varieties reviewed use corn starch or tapioca starch instead of wheat-based starches.
– No gluten containing ingredients like barley malt, maltodextrin, or wheat-based additives are present.
– Both natural and artificial flavors used across flavors are gluten free.
– Carrageenan and cellulose are used as additional thickeners and stabilizers instead of gluten additives.
So you can be confident that Snack Pack pudding flavors including chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, tapioca, and pistachio are all gluten free! Check the ingredients list on any flavor for the latest ingredient information to be sure.
Should those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity consume Snack Pack puddings?
While Snack Pack pudding flavors appear to all be gluten free based on ingredients, those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity should use some additional caution with these products.
For those with celiac disease, even tiny traces of gluten from cross-contamination can cause issues. Most people with celiac follow a strict gluten free diet and avoid any products with advisory warnings related to gluten.
Snack Pack puddings state on packaging: “Good Manufacturing Practices are utilized to segregate ingredients in our facility to reduce possibility of cross-contamination of ingredients. However, this product is produced on equipment that may also process milk ingredients containing gluten.”
So while the pudding contains no gluten-based ingredients, there is a chance of cross-contamination with dairy ingredients containing gluten processed on the same equipment. Those with celiac or gluten sensitivities should weigh risks and benefits when consuming.
Some recommendations around Snack Pack puddings for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity include:
– Consult your doctor before consuming to see if these products fit into your gluten free diet plan.
– Look for pudding brands that are certified gluten free and have facilities dedicated to avoiding cross-contamination.
– If you do consume Snack Pack puddings, enjoy them only occasionally to limit potential exposure to traces of gluten.
– Be sure to closely monitor symptoms and reactions when testing out these products.
While Snack Pack puddings appear gluten free by ingredients, the advisory statements suggest potential for gluten exposure. Those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity should take extra care when consuming.
Should those following a gluten free diet for other reasons consume Snack Pack puddings?
For those who follow a gluten free diet for reasons other than medical necessity, such as to improve health, lose weight, or increase energy, Snack Pack puddings are likely fine to eat in moderation.
Since these individuals do not have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there is less risk if small traces of gluten exposure were to occur through cross-contamination. The amount of gluten exposure would likely be minimal.
However, those wanting to follow a stricter gluten free diet may want to avoid Snack Pack puddings or consume minimally due to the manufacturing advisory. Checking for certified gluten free brands without cross-contamination concerns is recommended for stricter gluten free diets.
But for many following gluten free for non-medical reasons, the amount of potential exposure from Snack Pack puddings would likely be inconsequential. These individuals could safely consume Snack Pack pudding flavors and benefit from their convenience as a tasty gluten free treat.
Are there potential alternatives to Snack Pack pudding?
For those wanting to avoid even marginal risks of gluten exposure from cross-contamination warnings, there are some alternative pudding brands to consider instead of Snack Pack.
Some potential gluten free pudding alternatives include:
Jell-O Instant Pudding
Jell-O instant pudding mixes use corn starch and modified food starch as thickeners instead of wheat-based starches. The pudding mixes are gluten free, though individual products should be checked. Pre-made Jell-O pudding cups also clearly state “gluten free” on packaging.
Kozy Shack Pudding
Kozy Shack makes a variety of gluten free rice puddings and tapioca puddings. Their no-cook puddings come in individual servings and are made in a dedicated gluten free facility.
ZenSweet Desserts Pudding
ZenSweet makes dairy-free, vegan pudding cups and pouches in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch. They are certified gluten free, soy free, and kosher.
Dr. Oetker Organic Pudding
Dr. Oetker Organic pudding cups are USDA Organic and made without gluten-containing ingredients. Flavors include chocolate, vanilla, and coconut milk.
Checking for a “gluten free” certification label on pudding products can help identify brands appropriate for a strict gluten free diet and avoid the risks of cross-contamination.
Conclusion
Snack Pack pudding flavors like banana cream pie, chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, pistachio, and tapioca all have ingredient lists free of gluten-containing grains, flours, and additives. However, the advisory statements on packaging indicate a potential for gluten cross-contamination from shared manufacturing equipment.
Those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity should exercise caution when consuming Snack Pack puddings and closely monitor for symptom reactions. Individuals following a gluten free diet for other reasons can likely safely consume Snack Pack products in moderation. But stricter gluten free diets may prefer certified gluten free pudding alternatives from brands like Jell-O, Kozy Shack, ZenSweet, or Dr. Oetker.
Overall, Snack Pack puddings appear to be a good gluten free option based on ingredients alone. But the risks of trace gluten exposure through manufacturing equipment may make them less suitable for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities requiring a strict diet. Checking for brands advertising certification for gluten free production can help identify the safest pudding choices for those wanting to avoid even marginal gluten cross-contamination.
