Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for medical reasons or simply as a lifestyle choice. For those following a gluten-free diet, checking labels and researching products is essential to ensure they do not contain any gluten. One popular condiment that often comes under scrutiny is Sweet Baby Ray’s Original barbecue sauce. With its sweet, tangy flavor, this sauce is a staple at many summer barbecues and cookouts. But is it safe for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease? Let’s take a closer look.
What is gluten?
Before determining if a product contains gluten, it is important to understand what exactly gluten is. Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and other related cereal grains.
The two specific gluten proteins that cause issues for those sensitive are:
- Gliadin
- Glutenin
When flour is mixed with water, these proteins bind together and give breads and other baked goods an elastic texture. Gluten helps them rise and keep their shape.
Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity
For those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten triggers an abnormal immune response in the body. When they eat gluten, it damages the small intestine and prevents the absorption of important nutrients. This can cause a variety of gastrointestinal and other symptoms.
Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects nearly 1% of the population. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is estimated to impact 6-7% of people.
The only treatment for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is strictly following a 100% gluten-free diet. This requires diligence reading labels and avoiding even small amounts of gluten from sauces, condiments, and other products.
Gluten in condiments
When used in moderation, condiments like ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce can add lots of flavor. But for those avoiding gluten, condiments can be a source of hidden gluten.
Gluten can make its way into condiments through ingredients such as malt vinegar, soy sauce, modified food starch, flavorings, and thickeners. Certain condiments are also more likely to contain gluten-based ingredients:
- Teriyaki sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Malt vinegar
Thankfully, there are many gluten-free versions of popular condiments available today. But it remains important to always check the label for gluten-containing ingredients.
Key facts about Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce
Now that we understand what gluten is and why people need to avoid it, let’s take a look at some key facts about Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce:
- Made by Sweet Baby Ray’s, a popular condiment brand founded in 1985.
- Sweet, tangy flavor often described as “classic American barbecue taste.”
- Best-selling product from Sweet Baby Ray’s.
- Available nationwide in the U.S. at grocery stores, warehouse clubs, etc.
- Comes in an 18 oz/510 gram squeeze bottle.
- Ingredients include tomato puree, high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, molasses, natural flavors, and spices.
Nutrition facts
The nutrition facts panel provides details on serving size, calories, sugar, sodium and more. But most importantly for our purposes, it lists out all ingredients.
Here are the nutrition facts for Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce (per 2 tbsp serving):
| Calories | 60 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 260 mg |
| Total Carbs | 15 g |
| Sugars | 13 g |
Ingredients
Now let’s take a look at the actual ingredients list printed on the bottle:
Ingredients: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, molasses, natural flavors, modified food starch, salt, dried onion, dried garlic, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (as preservatives), spice, soybean oil, caramel color, dried red and green bell peppers, citric acid, natural smoke flavor.
Analyzing the ingredients
At first glance, the ingredients list does not appear to contain any obvious gluten sources like wheat, barley or rye. But to be sure, we need to analyze each ingredient that could potentially contain hidden gluten.
Here are the key ingredients that need closer evaluation:
- Modified food starch – Can sometimes be made from wheat. Need to investigate the source.
- Natural flavors – May contain barley or wheat-derived ingredients. Need more details.
- Soybean oil – Highly refined soybean oil is typically gluten-free but could be contaminated.
- Caramel color – Certain manufacturers use wheat or barley in production. Need confirmation that gluten-free.
- Natural smoke flavor – Another potential source of gluten. Requires investigation.
All other ingredients – including the tomato puree, vinegar, molasses, spices, etc – do not contain gluten and are considered gluten-free.
Contacting the manufacturer
To get definitive answers about these potentially gluten-containing ingredients, the next step is to reach out directly to the manufacturer, Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Many companies have helpful customer service teams and readily provide information on the gluten status of their products. There are a few recommended ways to contact them:
- Call the customer support phone number listed on the product’s website.
- Initiate a live online chat session on their website.
- Email their customer service department.
- Reach out via social media channels like Twitter or Facebook.
When contacting Sweet Baby Ray’s, here are some example questions to ask:
- Is your original barbecue sauce gluten-free?
- Do you use any wheat, barley, rye or derivatives in the natural flavors?
- What is the source of the modified food starch?
- Is the caramel color produced gluten-free?
Reputable companies should provide prompt, thorough responses to inquiries about gluten ingredients. However, always be sure to get answers directly in writing for documentation.
Sweet Baby Ray’s response
After contacting Sweet Baby Ray’s via email and phone, here is the response received from their customer service department:
“Thank you for contacting us regarding the gluten-free status of our Original Barbecue Sauce. We are happy to confirm that Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce is gluten-free. None of our flavors or other ingredients contain wheat, barley, rye or gluten derivatives. The modified food starch is made from corn, and our caramel color supplier also confirms their caramel color is gluten-free. Please let us know if you have any other questions!”
Third-party certification
In addition to contacting the manufacturer directly, one of the best ways to verify the gluten status of a product is to look for credible third-party gluten-free certifications.
Here are some of the major gluten-free certifying organizations:
- Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO)
- Celiac Sprue Association (CSA)
- National Celiac Association (NCA)
- Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG)
Products bearing the official symbols of these organizations have been rigorously tested and audited to confirm they contain less than 10-20ppm of gluten. This is considered safe for the vast majority of those avoiding gluten.
Sweet Baby Ray’s certifications
After investigating further, Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce does not appear to carry any of the major gluten-free certifications at this time.
While third-party certification provides an added layer of assurance, the manufacturer’s direct confirmation that the product is gluten-free should provide sufficient confirmation of its safety. Reputable companies take care to ensure their gluten-free claims are truthful and well-documented.
Other varieties
While this investigation focused specifically on Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce, it is important to note that other varieties and flavors may have different ingredients. For example, their Honey barbecue sauce contains wheat flour.
Those avoiding gluten should always check each individual variety, as ingredients frequently vary between flavors, even within the same product line.
Conclusion
Based on the ingredients list, direct confirmation from the manufacturer, and lack of any clearly gluten-containing ingredients – Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce can be considered gluten-free.
Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can feel comfortable consuming this popular barbecue sauce, provided they tolerate other ingredients like garlic, onions, peppers, etc. Always enjoy condiments like barbecue sauce in moderation as part of a healthy gluten-free diet.
Of course, if any symptoms or negative reactions occur after consuming this product, discontinue use and check with your healthcare provider.
With proper research and care reading labels, many favorite condiments and barbecue sauces can be safely enjoyed as part of a gluten-free lifestyle.
