Is it safe to sip your favorite soda if you’re avoiding gluten? Let’s take a look!
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. As a rule, this also applies to smaller craft brands and generic soft drinks. However, it’s 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 lurks in a number of sneaky ingredients like soy, malt, and even 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. In this case, it’s 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. If you see any suspicious ingredients, the next step is to check with the manufacturer.
A few tricky ingredients
Maltodextrin
Some sodas contain maltodextrin - which sounds like it could be a sneaky source of gluten. However, according to the National Celiac Association maltodextrin this is actually gluten-free.
Caramel Coloring
Some - but not all - caramel colorings contain gluten. If the caramel coloring used by the manufacturer contains wheat, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act requires the manufacturer to list wheat as an allergen on the label.
Healthier, gluten-free alternatives to soda
It is simple to make your own easy, healthy, delicious alternatives to soda (including a "hard" spritzer!). This way you can be sure your beverage is gluten-free and without all the artificial additives in many commercially produced soda.
Strawberry Agua Fresca
Agua Fresca is a non-alcoholic Mexican drink. It’s often served with spicy foods to help temper the heat. We especially love this Strawberry Agua Fresca from Salt and Wind.
Cucumber Herb Spritzer
Fans of spa water will adore my Cucumber Herb Spritzer. I make mine with California white wine, but you can mix up a non-alcoholic version using sparkling water.
Blueberry Lemonade
Meg’s Blueberry Lemonade is the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
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