Our Canadian style bacon is a whole muscle product made from pork loins. It is naturally hardwood smoked. A natural juice product giving it a firm bite.
As someone who follows a gluten-free diet, I’m always on the lookout for tasty bacon options that fit my dietary needs President’s Choice (PC) is a popular Canadian grocery brand with a line of products labeled “Free From”. But are their bacon products truly gluten-free? I decided to investigate further
What is Gluten and Why Avoid It?
For anyone unfamiliar with gluten, here’s a quick rundown. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. It acts as a glue that holds food together, giving breads and baked goods their chewy texture.
However for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune reaction that damages the small intestine. This can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and fatigue.
The only treatment is adhering to a strict lifelong gluten-free diet by avoiding foods containing gluten. This includes obvious sources like bread, pasta, and baked goods. But gluten can also lurk in less apparent products like sauces, seasonings, and processed meats.
Reading labels carefully and looking for “gluten-free” certification is key for us gluten-free folks. Which leads me to examining PC’s “Free From” bacon…
Overview of PC’s Free From Bacon Selections
I took a close look at two popular bacon products from PC carrying the “Free From” label:
- PC Free From Bacon Naturally Smoked
- PC Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon
Both products are marketed as being:
- Raised without antibiotics
- Gluten-free
- No added hormones
On the surface, the “gluten-free” callout seems promising. But it’s important to dive deeper into the ingredients and production process.
Ingredients Analysis
Upon inspecting the listed ingredients for PC’s Free From bacon, here is what I found:
PC Free From Bacon Naturally Smoked
- Pork
- Water
- Sea salt
- Sugar
- Cultured celery extract
- Spice extract
- Smoke
PC Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon
- Pork
- Water
- Sea salt
- Sugars (sugar, caramelized cane sugar)
- Cultured celery extract
- Maple flavor
- Spice extract
- Smoke
The ingredients appear straightforward, with no obvious gluten-containing grains like wheat. Two questions remain:
- Could the “spice extract” contain gluten?
- Is cross-contamination a concern?
Assessing Risk of Gluten Cross-Contamination
When it comes to processed meats like bacon, cross-contamination poses the biggest risk for gluten exposure. This can occur when gluten-containing grains come into contact with gluten-free foods during processing or manufacturing.
Some potential ways bacon could get cross-contaminated include:
- Shared equipment for processing/slicing glutenous products
- Shared storage or transportation
- Airborne wheat dust in facilities
So even if the ingredients look gluten-free, cross-contamination is still a possibility.
I checked PC’s website and customer service line to learn more about their production process. Here is what I found out:
- PC bacon is produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility that only processes meat products
- No gluten-containing ingredients are used in the facility
- Extensive sanitation protocols are in place to avoid cross-contamination
This gave me assurance that PC takes steps to avoid gluten cross-contamination during bacon processing.
Verdict: Yes, PC’s Free From Bacon is Gluten-Free!
After conducting thorough research into the ingredients lists, production practices, and customer inquiries, I’m confident deeming PC’s Free From bacon selection gluten-free.
PC seems to take great care to avoid gluten cross-contamination. And the simple bacon ingredients of pork, water, salt, sugar, and spices should not pose any gluten risk.
One thing I appreciate is PC’s transparency about their production process. They provide adequate information to make me feel comfortable consuming their bacon as a celiac.
Some key takeaways:
- Ingredients – Pork, water, sea salt, sugar, spices – do not contain gluten
- Facilities – Dedicated gluten-free facilities greatly reduce risk of cross-contamination
- “Gluten-Free” label – Provides added assurance the products have been properly tested
While I always recommend celiacs verify labels and protocols for themselves, PC’s Free From Bacon gets my seal of approval. I feel comfortable incorporating it into my gluten-free lifestyle. It’s refreshing to find tasty convenient bacon options I can safely enjoy.
So fellow gluten-free friends, go ahead and enjoy some PC bacon with peace of mind! Just be sure to look specifically for products carrying the “Free From” label, as PC produces other bacon not labeled gluten-free. With so many great bacon options now, there’s no need to miss out thanks to your diet.
Save. Compare. Share. WHY USE IT?
- While you’re on the site, save items and menu ideas that you like.
- Send a list of your choices to a Hormel Sales Representative and ask them questions or get help.
- Make a list that you can use again later or send to yourself or your coworkers.
Suggested Use & Menu Ideas
Great as a pizza topping or as an ingredient. Also great for breakfast.
Fully cooked. Serve warm or cold. Simply open package and slice to desired thickness.
Part Three! What’s for Dinner?! #easypeasy #broccoli #bacon #salsachicken #pc #glutenfree #dairyfree
Is Bar-S Bacon gluten free?
Cross-Contact: All Bar-S bacon is gluten free, but they don’t have any information about how they avoid cross-contact with gluten. We emailed them to find out more, and we were told that all of their gluten-free products are produced in dedicated facilities. (Source: Bar-S) Here’s a list of Boar’s Head gluten-free bacon options:
Is coconut gluten free?
Coconut is naturally gluten-free, but its pulp and products made from coconut can become contaminated during the handling process, when utensils or surfaces that are used to handle gluten-containing foods are also used to handle coconut. This is called cross contamination.
Is Bacon gluten-free?
Now, bacon is just raw or smoked pork belly that has been preserved. Unless gluten is added, bacon doesn’t usually contain gluten ingredients and can usually be considered gluten-free. However, for anyone wanting to be sure, the brands and varieties of bacon listed below are labeled or certified gluten-free.
Are bacon bits gluten free?
Okay, so bacon bits are where the gluten free rules tend to change. The thing about bacon bits, is that quite often they aren’t real bacon. Imitation bacon bits do often contain gluten, so it is important to be especially careful here.
Can you eat bacon on a gluten-free diet?
Bacon is a popular food that you may want to continue eating if you are on a gluten-free diet. However, only a few bacon manufacturers guarantee the gluten-free status of their bacon. Keep reading to find out which bacon brands are safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Is Bacon Gluten-Free?
Is smoked bacon gluten free?
Smoked bacon can be gluten free, but that doesn’t always mean it is. Sometimes smoked bacon can be made with gluten or gluten containing ingredients that would make it unsafe to eat. Always check the labels and look for allergen statements as well as gluten free claims or certification to know for sure. Is Turkey Bacon Gluten Free?