Mosaics' Blog

There seems to be some question amongst celiac sufferers as to whether Lawry's Seasoned Salt has gluten in it. I use the product often and, personally, have suffered no reaction from it.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A13):
 

Lawry's is a Unilever product and here's what they have to say:

"Some of the people in my family have food intolerances and food allergies, can you tell me which food allergens are in your products?

Our product formulations and ingredients change from time to time; therefore we do not have a list which identifies specific sources of allergens or gluten in our products. If our ingredients contain even trace amounts of peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, eggs, fish, soy, sulfites or wheat (and ingredients that may contain gluten), it will be stated on the label."

The ingredients in the seasoned salt are as follows: salt, sugar, spices (including paprika and turmeric), onion, cornstarch, garlic, tricalcium phosphate (prevents caking), paprika oleoresin (for color), natural flavor, soy lecithin.

Other than possible cross contamination by using the same equipment to process the salt as they use to process gluten containing products, the only suspect in the ingredients list is the "natural flavor".

According to "flavoring experts", gluten-containing grains are not commonly used in flavorings. However, there are two exceptions:

1. Barley Malt can be used as a flavoring agent and is usually listed on the label. It might be listed as barley malt, barley malt extract or barley malt flavoring. Some companies may list it as a "flavor (contains barley protein)" or occasionally delare it only as "flavor".

2. Hydrolyzed wheat, corn, and/or soy protein can be used as "flavor" or "flavor enhancers" in a variety of foods. However, in Canada and the USA, they must be declared as "hydrolyzed proteins" and not hidden on the label as "flavor" or "natural flavor". They must be specified, e.g. "hydrolyzed wheat protein".

However, if Unilever can be believed and/or trusted, if there is any gluten, even trace amounts, in the seasoned salt, it would be stated on the label. And it isn't.