Cheerios are a popular brand of breakfast cereal made from whole grains that are low in fat and calories. But rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
They are a nutritious choice for breakfast, providing the benefits of oats, low sugar, vitamins, and minerals.
If you’re gluten-sensitive, it can be challenging to know which type of Cheerios to consume, since not all of them are gluten-free.
Well, that’s why you need a guide like this.
In this article, we will explore how to know if this healthy breakfast option is also gluten-free.
And factors that determine whether a specific type of this cereal contains gluten or not.
So read on.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley that helps to give foods structure and elasticity.
It is often used in processed foods as a binding agent. But it provides no essential nutrients.
Most foods that contain gluten include bread, cereal, and pasta. And they can trigger an immune reaction in people who are gluten-intolerant.
When a person who is gluten-sensitive eats processed foods that contain gluten, it can result in celiac disease, a condition that damages the small intestine.
This is also why it’s always best to cross-check packaged foods before eating to ensure they do not contain traces of gluten.
Do all cheerios have gluten?
No, not all. According to Healthline, Cheerios are a popular, whole grain breakfast cereal that is low in fat and calories, and high in essential vitamins and minerals.
Most Cheerios have oats in them, which are naturally gluten-free.
However, some varieties come with wheat, barley, or other grains that contain gluten.
And they are, therefore, not suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
How to know cheerios that have gluten in them?
Well, the first place to look to find out if the snack is gluten-free or not is the labeling on the package of the cereal.
If it doesn’t have a gluten-free label on its package, it most likely contains gluten.
You can also check the ingredient list to see if the product contains wheat, barley, or other grains that naturally contain gluten.
Which cheerios are gluten-free?
The flavors that are gluten-free do not contain any ingredients made from wheat, barley, rye, or other grains that contain gluten.
The following are examples of its gluten-free cereal variant:
Plain Cheerios
Plain Cheerios come from whole-grain oats and have shapes like small rings.
Honey Nut Cheerios
Honey Nut Cheerios contain whole-grain oats and flavors like honey and almonds.
Frosted Cheerios
Frosted Cheerios have whole-grain oats. And are sweetened with a sugar coating.
Fruity Cheerios
Fruity Cheerios is a cereal that contains whole-grain oats, corn starch, sugar, corn flour, and oat flour.
Chocolate Cheerios
Chocolate Cheerios consist of whole grain oats, sugar, corn flour, cocoa powder, and chocolate flavor.
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios are made from whole grain oats, corn starch, sugar, salt, apple purée, and cinnamon.
Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
Pumpkin Spice Cheerios contain whole-grain oats and flavors like pumpkin spice (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices).
Which cheerios are not gluten-free?
According to Cheerios, their treats always comprise oats, which are naturally gluten-free.
However, some varieties still contain barley and wheat that contain gluten.
This includes:
Multi-Grain Peanut Butter Cheerios
It is made from a mixture of whole-grain oats, corn, wheat, barley, and rice and flavored with peanut butter, and has a crunchy texture.
Multi Grain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch
This Cheerios is made from a blend of whole-grain oats, corn, wheat, barley, and rice and flavored with dark chocolate.
Cheerios Protein Oats & Honey
This variety of Cheerios comprises whole grain oats, wheat protein isolate, sugar, honey, and other ingredients such as canola oil, salt, and natural flavors
What happens if you eat cheerios with gluten?
You risk developing or spiking celiac disease.
Eating cheerios with gluten should be for most people since most Cheerios have oats, which do not naturally contain gluten.
However, there are still some varieties of this snack that contain wheat, barley, and rye, which contain gluten.
This can be a problem for people who have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant as they may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue after consuming gluten.
Gluten-free cheerios ingredients
The following are the common ingredients that you’ll find in a gluten-free Cheerios:
- Whole Grain Oats
- Sugar
- Peanut Butter
- Peanuts
- Peanut Oil
- Salt
- BHT for freshness
More related questions
Are cheerios dairy free?
Cheerios are not dairy-free.
They are made from whole grain oats, corn starch, and barley malt extract, and also contain milk ingredients
Are plain cheerios gluten-free?
The answer is yes.
Plain Cheerios (otherwise called “Original Cheerios”) Cheerios are a product of whole-grain oats, which are naturally gluten-free.
Do whole-grain cheerios have gluten?
Yes, they do.
The cereal is made with whole-grain oats, whole-grain corn, whole-grain rice, and whole-grain sorghum which are gluten-free.
Conclusion
Cheerios are a nutritious, low-fat, and low-calorie breakfast cereal made from whole grains that are rich in important vitamins and minerals.
However, it can be challenging to choose safe types of Cheerios to eat for breakfast, particularly for people with celiac disease or who are dairy intolerant.
Most Cheerios contain oats, which are naturally gluten-free.
However, some varieties of Cheerios come with wheat, barley, or other grains that contain gluten.
Therefore it is important to check the labeling and ingredient list of Cheerios to determine whether they contain gluten.
If a package has a gluten-free label or its ingredient list does not include wheat, barley, or other gluten-containing grains, it is safe for individuals who are sensitive to gluten to consume.
