Are Pringles chips gluten-free?

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Pringles are probably one of the most popular chips on the market, but the question is; are Pringles gluten-free?

I get a lot of questions about whether or not different potato chips are gluten-free or not. I get the confusion because potato chips are typically made from potatoes, and potatoes are gluten-free. Pringles brand chips come up a lot because they are undoubtedly a very popular brand of potato chips.

An open can of Pringles original flavor with a few scattered chips next to it.

Are Pringles gluten-free?

Unfortunately, no, Pringles are not gluten-free. Several flavors contain wheat ingredients which make these chips not considered gluten-free.

What makes Pringles not gluten-free?

Pringles contain the ingredient wheat starch and is labeled as containing wheat ingredients on the can of chips.

An up close look at the ingredients list of a can of Pringles original chips.

What is wheat starch?

Wheat starch is an ingredient that is made as the result of the production of wheat and gluten. It is the residual starch and protein that remains and has a consistency similar to corn starch with an appearance similar to flour.

Does the FDA allow gluten-free products to contain wheat starch?

Yes, technically, the FDA does allow wheat starch to be included in products that are considered gluten-free. But how is that possible?

Wheat starch is considered a "gluten-removed" ingredient. Wheat starch is not the full wheat grain, but it is hard to completely separate the wheat grain into the protein and the starch. It is because of this that small amounts of gluten protein remain.

The FDA allows this ingredient to be included on gluten-free labels when the amount of gluten in the wheat starch is below the 20 ppm requirement to be considered gluten-free.

Since Pringles lists wheat as an ingredient, we can conclude that the wheat starch used in Pringles is not gluten-free.

Are there chips similar to Pringles that are gluten-free?

Yes, there are a few options for people on a gluten-free diet that want a chip with a similar feel to Pringles.

My favorite gluten-free options are below.

The Good Crisps

These look like you are digging into a can of Pringles with a similar can design. However, they taste SO MUCH BETTER. Not even joking; my husband, who is not gluten-free, prefers these and will literally eat an entire can in one sitting. We usually have to buy a few cans if I want any of them to make it from the store to the house.
They also come in several varieties of flavors, including sour cream and onion, salt and vinegar, BBQ, aged white cheddar, and of course, original.
The best part is I can find these chips easily at Walmart and several other local grocery stores.
They are a little bit more expensive than Pringles, but I can usually find them under $3.00 a can and that's a good price point for a certified gluten-free snack in my book.

Lays Staxs

Lays Stax is made by PepsiCo, and according to their site, none of the Lays Stax chips contain gluten ingredients.

Of the varieties that I have been able to find locally, all of the cans have also been labeled gluten-free.
Since Lays Stax is made by such a large company, they are easy to find at pretty much anywhere chips are sold.
The price point for these gluten-free chips is about $2.00 in my local area.

These come in second in my book only because while they are gluten-free, the ingredient lists are much longer. They also do contain a lot more artificial ingredients.

Up close look at the gluten-free labels on a can of The Good Crisps chips and Lays Stacks chips.

Other options for chips.

I have a friend who loves Veggie Straws (which are gluten-free). Sensible Portions brand, the brand that makes Veggie Straws, also has a product called Garden Veggie Chips which are shaped and packaged the same way as Pringles. The difference is they contain more vegetable ingredients and no artificial ingredients and preservatives.

She says they taste better than Pringles, and even her kids love them.

Conclusion.

No, Pringles chips are not considered gluten-free and are not safe for anyone who is on a gluten-free diet or someone who has celiac disease.

However, there are several companies that make chips with a similar shape and feel that are gluten-free. Don't worry you can still open a can of delicious gluten-free potato chips to enjoy.