Natural Maple Flavor, Hickory Smoke Flavor, Bacon (Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Nitrite), and Bacon (Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Nitrite). May Contain Potassium Chloride.
Oscar Mayer bacon bits are a popular snack topping and salad ingredient. But can people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eat them safely? Let’s take a look at whether Oscar Mayer bacon bits are gluten-free.
What Are Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits?
Oscar Mayer bacon bits are made from real bacon that has been cooked and crumbled into small bits. They come in a small plastic jar and are meant to be used as a topping for things like salads, baked potatoes, soups, and more.
The bacon bits add a nice salty, smoky, crunchy bacon flavor to foods without having to cook up whole strips of bacon. They’re very convenient.
Do Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits Contain Gluten?
The primary ingredient in Oscar Mayer bacon bits is real pork bacon Pork is naturally gluten-free. The bacon is then cooked, crumbled, and mixed with some additional flavorings
I examined the Oscar Mayer website and ingredient list carefully and did not see any ingredients that contain gluten or wheat, The main ingredients look like
- Bacon (cured with water, salt, smoke flavoring, sugar, sodium phosphate, erythorbate)
- Soybean oil
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Torula yeast
- 2% or less of silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)
- Flavorings (contains milk ingredients)
None of those contain gluten, so Oscar Mayer bacon bits should be considered gluten-free.
I also double checked on a couple of reputable gluten-free food sites:
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Celiac.com’s list of gluten-free bacon brands says Oscar Mayer bacon is gluten-free
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FoodisGood.com (a gluten-free grocery app) lists Oscar Mayer bacon bits as gluten-free
So multiple authoritative sources confirm that standard Oscar Mayer bacon bits do not contain gluten or wheat.
Are There Any Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits That Contain Gluten?
The regular Oscar Mayer bacon bits sold in the USA do not contain gluten. However, there are a few variety packs of Oscar Mayer bacon bits that may contain gluten:
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Oscar Mayer bacon crumbles variety pack: Some flavors in the variety pack contain wheat flour, including the original, maple, and honey smoked flavors. The peppered flavor does not contain gluten.
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Oscar Mayer pre-cooked bacon crumbles: The pre-cooked bacon crumbles contain wheat flour, so are not gluten-free.
So if you stick with the standard Oscar Mayer bacon bits in the yellow jar, those are gluten-free. But be cautious of variety packs or pre-cooked crumbles, as some of those may contain wheat.
Verdict: Yes, Oscar Mayer Bacon Bits Are Gluten-Free
The regular Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits sold in the yellow plastic jar are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. They are made from real cured pork bacon and do not contain any gluten ingredients.
However, some Oscar Mayer bacon crumble variety packs may contain wheat flour so need to be avoided. As long as you stick with the original Real Bacon Bits though, those are definitively gluten-free.
So go ahead and sprinkle away on your salads and baked potatoes without worry! Oscar Mayer bacon bits can be safely enjoyed on a gluten-free diet.
Is it Tree Nut Free?
Yes, we think this product is free of tree nuts since the label doesn’t list any tree nuts as an ingredient.
No. This item is not vegan because it has one ingredient that comes from animals and one ingredient that might come from animals depending on the source.
No. There is one ingredient in this product that comes from meat or fish, and another ingredient that could come from meat or fish depending on the source.
Is it Dairy Free?
Yes! We believe this product is dairy free as there are no dairy ingredients listed on the label.
Don’t Buy Bacon Bits Again Until You Watch This
Are Oscar Mayer bacon bits gluten free?
Oscar Mayer is a Kraft Foods brand. It is Kraft Food’s policy “to list gluten-containing ingredients in the ingredient statement on the package label”. Oscar Mayer makes many different types of bacon bits, both imitation and real. The best way to determine if the bacon bits you want are gluten free, is to read the labels.
Where can I find Oscar Mayer Bacon?
Oscar Mayer: Almost all of us can find Oscar Mayer bacon easily at a local store. Oscar Mayer is a Kraft Foods Co. brand, which means food labels will disclose the use of any wheat, barley or rye ingredients. However, Kraft does not guarantee that foods with any gluten ingredients listed are completely free of potential cross-contamination.
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.
Does McCormick bacon flavor bits contain gluten?
Bac’n Pieces Bacon Flavor Bits by McCormick does not contain gluten. Gluten and gluten products, when present in McCormick products, will always be declared on the product label by the common name of the gluten source such as “barley”, “wheat”, “rye”, “oats” or “triticale”.
Are Hormel real bacon bits gluten free?
Hormel Real Bacon Bits are labeled gluten free making them a great option. They are fully cooked and can be instantly added to salads, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, and more! Disable your ad blocking software to view this content. Buy Hormel Real Bacon Bits at Target here. If imitation bacon bits are your favorite, you’re in luck!
Are imitation bacon bits gluten free?
Imitation bacon bits do often contain gluten, so it is important to be especially careful here. Whether the bacon bits you’re choosing are real bacon or imitation bacon, the same rules to labeling and certification apply. I’ve included a separate section on safe bacon bit brands below as well. Can I eat bacon on a gluten free diet?