Is Kirkland Bacon Gluten-Free?

Bacon is a breakfast staple for many, but people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to be careful about which brands they choose. Kirkland is Costco’s signature brand, so it’s a common question whether Kirkland bacon contains gluten.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Kirkland bacon to determine if it’s gluten-free and safe for people avoiding gluten.

What Is Kirkland Bacon?

Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private label brand It offers buyers quality products at low prices.

Costco introduced Kirkland bacon as an alternative to more expensive national brands It comes from the pork belly and is sold precooked or raw.

Kirkland sells several bacon varieties, including thick-cut bacon, center-cut bacon, turkey bacon, and precooked bacon crumbles. You can find it in the refrigerator or freezer section at Costco.

Is Bacon Normally Gluten-Free?

Most pure bacon contains no gluten ingredients. Bacon is simply cured and smoked pork belly. The basic curing process involves salt, sugar, and nitrates.

However, some bacon manufacturers add flavorings or preservatives that may contain gluten. Barley malt is a common ingredient.

For people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, it’s essential to check labels and buy certified gluten-free bacon when possible.

Is Kirkland Bacon Certified Gluten-Free?

Unfortunately, Kirkland bacon is not certified gluten-free. Costco’s supplier makes the bacon without wheat, barley, rye, or oats, but there’s still a chance of gluten cross-contamination.

People with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity should avoid products that are not certified gluten-free, even if they don’t list gluten grains as ingredients.

Who Makes Kirkland Bacon?

Hormel manufactures most Kirkland bacon products. Hormel is a large meat company that produces foods like Spam, Applegate deli meats, and Jennie-O turkey.

According to Hormel, their Kirkland bacon varieties do not contain wheat, rye, barley, or oats. However, they don’t test for gluten or label products gluten-free due to the risk of cross-contamination.

Jennie-O, a Hormel brand, does make certified gluten-free turkey bacon. But regular Kirkland bacon is not certified gluten-free.

Is There Any Testing?

Without third-party certification, there are no guarantees that Kirkland bacon is gluten-free.

However, some folks with celiac disease and gluten issues still feel comfortable eating it based on ingredient labels.

Costco states that Kirkland products undergo regular food safety and quality testing. But there is no mention of specific testing for gluten.

The Celiac Disease Foundation notes that most people with celiac disease can tolerate traces of gluten. But there are no established safe gluten limits.

Those who are highly sensitive should avoid products without certification, even if testing shows very low gluten levels.

What About Other Kirkland Products?

Many other Kirkland food products explicitly say “gluten-free” on labels if they meet the FDA requirements.

For example, Kirkland nut bars, protein bars, and nut clusters have gluten-free labeling. Some buyers rely on these labels to identify Kirkland items that are safer for gluten-free diets.

However, it’s still important to check labels each time, even on products previously marked gluten-free. Manufacturers can change recipes without warning.

Other Bacon Brands

Here are some alternative bacon brands that are certified gluten-free:

• Nueske’s
• Wellshire Farms
• Pederson’s Natural Farms
• Jones Dairy Farm
• Applegate Farms Sunday Bacon
• Shelton’s Turkey Bacon

Sticking with certified gluten-free bacon helps eliminate any doubt about safety. There are also many kinds beyond traditional pork bacon.

Turkey bacon, beef bacon, and chicken bacon offer fun gluten-free twists. Or explore bacon-flavored products like coconut flakes and almond bacon.

Is Kirkland Bacon Gluten-Free: The Verdict

Without third-party certification, cross-contamination remains a possibility. Those highly sensitive to trace gluten should avoid Kirkland bacon and opt for a certified brand instead.

In general, products labeled gluten-free offer more assurance than items only confirmed to not contain wheat, rye, barley or oats. When unsure, certified gluten-free alternatives are the safest choice.

Kirkland: 18
bacon: 24
gluten: 16
gluten-free: 15
Costco: 3
celiac disease: 3
ingredients: 2
cross-contamination: 2
pork: 2