Is Soda Gluten-Free?

Can you feel safe sipping your favorite soda if you’re avoiding gluten and is soda gluten-free? Let’s take a look!

two glasses of coke with cherries, lime and a straw

Is soda gluten-free?

Wondering if your favorite soda pop contains gluten? If you live in North America, most sodas are gluten-free. According to their manufacturers, all major brands, including Sprite, Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and 7-Up, are gluten-free. The same applies to smaller craft brands and generic soft drinks. It is always a good idea to check the label.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains like barley and rye. Unfortunately, determining if a product is gluten-free isn’t as simple as checking the label for wheat, barley and rye. Gluten also lurks in a number of sneaky ingredients like soy and malt and may also lurk in some colorings and “natural” flavorings.

How to tell if soda is gluten-free

Although virtually all major soda brands claim their product is gluten-free, most do not make label claims or display any certifications. To confirm that a soda is gluten-free, start by checking the label for wheat, barley and rye. It is incredibly unlikely to find any of those ingredients in soda pop. You’ll want to look for ingredients that may seem tricky like malt and artificial colorings or flavorings. The next step is to check with the manufacturer if you see any suspicious ingredients.

close up of a glass of soda with a cherry and lime

A few tricky ingredients

Maltodextrin

Some sodas contain maltodextrin - which sounds like it could be a sneaky source of gluten. You can rest assured on this ingredient though because the National Celiac Association states that maltodextrin is actually gluten-free.

Caramel Coloring

Caramel coloring can be tricky because some - but not all - caramel colorings contain gluten. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires the manufacturer to list wheat as an allergen on the label if the caramel coloring used by the manufacturer contains gluten.

two glasses of coke with a six pack of coke

Healthier, gluten-free alternatives to soda

Making your own easy, healthy, delicious alternatives to soda (including a "hard" spritzer!) is simple. By making your own, you can be sure your beverage is gluten-free and without all the artificial additives in many commercially produced soda.