savory onion flavor. Their crunch uniqueness and inimitable taste have made them one of the favorite options over several decades. However, with the increasing popularity of gluten-free lifestyles due to health concerns, one question has arisen and that question is Are Funyuns gluten free?
The answer to this question is not a matter of choice to someone having a wheat allergy, a gluten sensitivity or a celiac disease–it is a necessity to their health. This is a complete guide that will discuss the ingredients in Funyuns, the manufacturing process, and explain what Frito-Lay claims about their gluten status. The alternative will be safe and gluten free as well such that you can quench your crunchy savory desires without any danger.
Learning about Gluten and its Effect
We will examine Funyuns as a particular case, but it would be worthwhile to first find out what gluten is and why it is such an issue to a good number of people. Gluten is a protein family occurring in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. It is what makes dough elastic and bread chew-like. Although it is not harmful to the majority of the population, it may have serious health consequences on other individuals.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a severe autoimmune disease in which consumption of gluten causes damage in the small intestine. In the case of a person with celiac disease, the immune system of the disease attacks the lining of the small intestine when the person consumes gluten.
This attack does not allow the body to absorb the nutrients normally and the symptoms of this attack are very numerous including digestive complications, chronic fatigue as well as long term health complications once this attack is not treated. These people have no other treatment but a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), commonly simply referred to as gluten intolerance, is a disease in which individuals develop symptoms resembling those of the celiac disease, yet do not develop the same bowel damage or anti-gluten antibodies. The symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, headaches, and brain fog. Although the mechanisms of NCGS are yet to be studied, the symptoms are usually solved once gluten is avoided.
Wheat Allergy
The wheat allergy contrasts with the celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. It is a reaction of allergy to the protein of wheat such as gluten. The immune system becomes hyper-reactive and leads to such symptoms as mild (hives, itching) and life-threatening (anaphylaxis). Wheat allergies require the person to avoid any wheat products, however, other grains that are glutenous such as barley and rye may be accepted.
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What’s Inside a Bag of Funyuns?
The ingredients of Funyuns need to be his or her first step to know whether they are gluten-free or not. Frito-Lay produces funyuns which are known to have a corn composition as opposed to a wheat one.
The original Funyuns usually have the following ingredients:
- Enriched Corn Meal ( Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and / or Sunflower Oil)
- And less than 2% of the next: Corn Starch, Sugar, Corn Flour, Buttermilk, Maltodextrin (Made with Corn), Onion Powder, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Dextrose, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavors and Gum Arabic.
The most important thing to learn here is that, the main ingredient is the naturally gluten-free cornmeal. The close examination of the list does not show any gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley, or rye. The same can also be said of the Flamin’ Hot Funyuns flavor which contains the same base ingredients with the addition of spices and cheese powders. This sounds good on paper to the gluten avoiders.
The Unidentified Hazard: Cross-Contamination
Although Funyuns are made not using any ingredients with gluten, it does not necessarily make them safe to all who are on a gluten free diet. Cross-contamination is the most serious issue, and it may take place in the production process.
Cross-contamination occurs when a gluten-free product becomes contaminated with gluten resulting to the food being unsafe to people with celiac disease or severe allergies. This may occur in a large-scale food production plant in one of a number of ways:
- Shared Equipment: Frito-Lay makes an enormous number of snacks, most of which include wheat (such as pretzels and some flavors of chips). Assuming Funyuns are produced on the same lines as these products containing gluten, a small portion of gluten can be rolled over.
- Airborne Particles: Flour and other powders containing gluten can become airborne within a factory and land on surfaces and other products including gluten-free ones.
- Transport and Storage: Finished products may be contaminated by being stored or being transported near gluten containing products.
- Human Error: When workers are working with various types of products, they may unintentionally transfer the gluten particles to another snack.
Gluten, even in minute quantities, which are measured in parts per million (ppm), can result in a response in extremely sensitive people. To have a gluten-free product in the United States, it should not have more than 20 ppm of gluten.
Identifying Gluten-Free Products
Labels come in handy when you are browsing through the aisles at the grocery store. Here is the way to understand whether a product is safe in your gluten-free diet or not:
Find a Certification of Gluten-Free
A certified label that has the gluten-free label is the surest way of knowing that a product is safe. This label means that the manufacturer has passed a strict test imposed by another third party organization (such as the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, GFCO) and that the product is frequently checked to see if it is under 20 ppm of gluten (or 10 ppm according to GFCO).
Read the Ingredient List
The most glutenous sources, such as wheat, barley, rye, malt, and brewer yeast, are obvious and must always be scanned on the ingredient list.
Test the Contains Statement
Manufacturers of food must specify major allergens such as wheat in a Contains statement below the ingredients list. Wheat as a product should not be considered a gluten-free product if you see the label says “Contains: Wheat” on it. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this is not applicable to barley or rye and thus you must still read the entire list of ingredients.
The Official Position of Frito-Lay on Funyuns
What then does Frito-Lay say about Funyuns? The company is open to manufacturing processes. Frito-Lay classifies its products into two groups in respect to gluten:
- Products Certified as Gluten-Free: Gluten-Free products are tested and approved to have less than 20ppm of gluten content and have the claim of Gluten-Free on the label.
- Snacks that do not contain any gluten Ingredients: These are snacks that are not prepared using any gluten-bearing ingredients but they are not certified as gluten-free.
- Funyuns are in the second category: Frito-Lay mentions that during the times they clean the production lines in between a production run, they cannot rule out the possibility that there is no cross-contamination whatsoever. Owing to this danger, they fail to declare Funyuns as gluten-free.
This distinction is crucial. It may be a risk worth taking to someone with mild gluten intolerance or an individual who does not consume gluten at all, but does so voluntarily. However, to a person with celiac disease or a severe sensitivity to gluten, cross-contamination is a possibility, and Funyuns is a dangerous meal.
Nutritional Information at Funyuns
In addition to the gluten issue, it is also useful to examine the nutritional profile of Funyuns. They are snack food and are to be eaten in moderation as a balanced diet.
One serving bag (1 oz or approximately 28g) of Original Funyuns contains:
- Calories: 140
- Total Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 19g
- Dietary Fiber: <1g
- Sugars: <1g
- Protein: 2g
The nutritional profile of Flamin’ Hot Funyuns is a bit different since it mostly includes more calories and fat with the addition of cheese and oil-based flavorings.
Fungyuns have substitutes, which are safe and gluten-free
And don’t fret, if you love the savory oniony crunch of Funyuns, yet are required to eat certified gluten-free. The gluten free snack market has gone sky high and safe snacks are quite a number, and they are pretty tasting. Find these gluten-free products, which are clearly marked as gluten-free:
- Cosmos Creations Sweet Maui Onion Rings: This is a gluten-free, baked corn puff, which provides an equivalent taste and crunchy bite to that of the onions.
- Vidalia Baked Onion Petals: These are another baked corn snack that has a zesty onion flavor, and is a good gluten-free alternative.
- PeaTos Crunchy Rings Snacks: The PeaTos are prepared by using the same ingredients, such as Classic Onion, and is certified gluten-free, giving the same ring-snack.
- Harvest Snaps Red Lentil Crunchy Loops: this is a Onion and thyme flavored lentil-based cold snack that is certified to be gluten-free.
Good Health Olive Oil Kettle Style Potato Chips, Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt with a Taste of Onion: These are not onion rings but chips that give a good savory taste of onion both certified gluten-free.
The Final Verdict
So, are Funyuns gluten-free? The answer is nuanced. Funyuns are prepared using no gluten-containing form of food, however, they are not approved as gluten-free because of the high risk of cross-contamination during production.
People who have a severe gluten sensitivity or are celiac should not consume Funyuns, but instead use a gluten-free version that is certified. With a less severe intolerance or with other causes to avoid gluten, Funyuns might be okay, however, it must be a personal decision depending on tolerance and risk evaluation.
Knowledge and vigilance are the greatest assets when it comes to the management of a gluten-free diet. It is important to always read labels, be aware of the dangers and when you are unsure about a product, always buy one that you can be sure to be safe. Health will always come first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Flamin’ Hot Funyuns gluten free?
Similar to the original taste, Flamin’ Hot Funyuns are gluten-free, however, they are also in danger of cross-contamination. Celiac disease patients do not regard them as safe.
Do onion rings have gluten?
Conventional onion rings are prepared by battering cut onions of which the batter is commonly composed of wheat flour, hence not gluten-free. Nevertheless, most brands currently have gluten-free alternatives that use other flours such as rice or corn flour.
Which snacks of Frito-Lay are gluten-free?
Frito-Lay provides the list of the validated gluten-free products on its webpage. There are numerous varieties of the Lay’s brand, Tostito, Cheetos (Puffs), and Doritos ( Simply Organic). The label of the package should always contain the Gluten-Free in it.
Will it allow me to make Funyuns at home?
Yes! It is an excellent idea to make a homemade version and make sure that your snack is entirely gluten-free. There are several recipes available on the internet that use gluten-free cornmeal, onion powder, and other spices to get a similar type of snack that is a crunchy ring, but can be either fried or baked.
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