Is Jennie-O Turkey Gluten Free?

Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, even among people who do not have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. With more people avoiding gluten, demand has grown for gluten-free options of foods that traditionally contain gluten – like turkey products from brands such as Jennie-O.

As a leading turkey producer, Jennie-O offers several gluten-free turkey products to meet this demand. However, not all Jennie-O products are gluten-free. So is Jennie-O turkey gluten free? Here’s what you need to know:

An Overview of Jennie-O’s Gluten-Free Turkey Offerings

Many Jennie-O turkey products are certified gluten-free, meaning they contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten These gluten-free options include

• Jennie-O® Turkey Burgers – Made with White Turkey
• Jennie-O® Tender & Juicy Young Turkey
• Jennie-O® Tender & Juicy Young Turkey Breast
• Jennie-O® Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast – Raised With No Antibiotics Ever
• Jennie-O® Ground Turkey Roll
• Jennie-O® Ground Turkey
• Jennie-O® Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast
• Jennie-O® Lean Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey
• Jennie-O® Lean Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey
• Jennie-O® Lean Ground Turkey – Raised With No Antibiotics Ever
• Jennie-O® Lean Ground Turkey
• Jennie-O® Lean Ground Turkey Roll
• Jennie-O® OVEN READYTM Whole Turkey
• Jennie-O® Fresh All Natural Young Turkey
• Jennie-O® Premium Fresh Young Turkey
• Jennie-O® Premium Fresh All Natural Young Turkey

Jennie-O clearly labels these products as “GF” for gluten-free on their website,

Watch Out for Gravies and Stuffings

While the actual turkey meat from Jennie-O is often gluten-free, some accompaniments like gravies, stuffings and broths may contain gluten.

For example, Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkey Breast says “gluten-free” on the label but comes with a gravy packet that contains wheat. Some stuffed turkey products also contain gluten additives.

So it’s important to thoroughly read labels and ingredient lists, and verify gluten-free status even on turkey products marketed as gluten-free. Don’t assume accompaniments are automatically gluten-free.

How Jennie-O Manufactures Gluten-Free Turkey

To make gluten-free turkey products, Jennie-O has procedures in place to avoid cross-contamination during processing and manufacturing.

Turkey meat is naturally gluten-free. So the main priority is keeping it separate from gluten-containing ingredients.

Here are some of the ways Jennie-O maintains gluten-free integrity:

• Using dedicated equipment for gluten-free turkey, separate from equipment used for gluten-containing foods.
• Following thorough cleaning procedures between running different products.
• Testing finished products to verify gluten-free status.
• Labeling turkey accurately as “gluten-free” or not.

Jennie-O also manufactures some turkey products on shared lines that process gluten. These products are not labeled gluten-free.

How to Verify If a Jennie-O Turkey Product is Gluten-Free

To determine if a Jennie-O turkey product is gluten-free, here are some tips:

• Check the label: Gluten-free Jennie-O products are clearly marked “GF” on the website label.

• Read the ingredient list: All ingredients should be inherently gluten-free. Watch out for wheat, barley, rye, malt, and ambiguous ingredients like “starch.”

• Look for certification: Some products feature certification from GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization). This confirms rigorous testing for gluten.

• When in doubt, contact the company: You can call or email Jennie-O’s customer service to verify gluten-free status. Be sure to get confirmation in writing.

• Research online: Reputable sites like Celiac.com forums may have user reviews indicating if a product is gluten-free. But information online isn’t always reliable or up-to-date.

Precautions When Eating Jennie-O’s Gluten-Free Turkey

If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive to gluten, take these extra precautions with Jennie-O turkey:

• Check for signs of cross-contact like crumbs, sauce or seasoning on the turkey.

• Verify any accompaniments like gravy, broth or stuffing are gluten-free. Don’t assume they are even if the turkey is labeled gluten-free.

• Wash hands, prep tools and surfaces thoroughly before and after handling the turkey to prevent cross-contamination.

• If also preparing gluten-containing items, keep them separate from the gluten-free turkey during prep and cooking.

The Bottom Line

Many Jennie-O turkey products are gluten-free, but not all. Gravies, broths and stuffings in particular may contain gluten even when paired with gluten-free turkey. Always thoroughly check the label and ingredient list. When in doubt, reach out to Jennie-O’s customer service team. With proper precautions, those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance can safely enjoy Jennie-O’s gluten-free turkey offerings.