Finding a gluten-free breakfast on the go isn't easy. Let's deep dive into Starbucks egg bites and if, in fact, they are gluten-free.
If you look at the Starbucks menu, you can see that they offer quite a variety of breakfast menu items. Most are obviously NOT gluten-free, but let's look a little close into their sous vide egg bites.
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Quick answer.
Yes, at the current moment, all varieties of Starbucks egg bites are considered gluten-free.
Starbucks egg bite ingredients.
Starbucks currently offers three different varieties of their sous vide egg bites.
Kale and Mushroom - Cottage Cheese [Cultured Nonfat Milk, Milk, Nonfat Milk, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Whey, Salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Mono- And Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Carbon Dioxide (To Maintain Freshness), Microbial And Vegetal Enzymes], Eggs [Eggs, Citric Acid, Water], Monterey Jack Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Microbial Enzymes, Potato Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Natamycin (Mold Inhibitor)], Portabella Mushrooms, Swiss Cheese [Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Microbial Enzymes, Potato Starch And Cornstarch, Natamycin (Mold Inhibitor)], Kale, Rice Starch, Unsalted Butter [Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavors], Parsley, Garlic, Hot Sauce [Distilled Vinegar, Red Pepper, Salt], Salt, White Distilled Vinegar, Black Pepper, Contains Bioengineered Food Ingredients.
Bacon and Gruyere - COTTAGE CHEESE [CULTURED NONFAT MILK, MILK, NONFAT MILK, CONTAINS 2 % OR LESS OF: WHEY, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, CITRIC ACID, CARRAGEENAN, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, LOCUST BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, NATURAL FLAVORS, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, CARBON DIOXIDE (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), ENZYMES], EGGS [EGGS, CITRIC ACID, WATER], CHEESE BLEND [MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), GRUYERE CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), POTATO STARCH, POWDERED CELLULOSE, NATAMYCIN (A NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR)], UNSALTED BUTTER [PASTEURIZED CREAM, NATURAL FLAVORS], UNCURED BACON - NO NITRITES OR NITRATES ADDED EXCEPT AS NATURALLY OCCURRING IN SEA SALT AND CELERY JUICE POWDER [PORK, WATER, SEA SALT, CANE SUGAR, CULTURED CELERY JUICE, CHERRY POWDER], RICE STARCH, CORN STARCH, SALT, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR [DILUTED WITH WATER TO 4% ACIDITY], HOT SAUCE [DISTILLED VINEGAR, RED PEPPER, SALT]
Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper - Egg Whites, Cottage Cheese [Cultured Nonfat Milk, Milk, Nonfat Milk, Contains 2 % Or Less Of: Whey, Salt, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Mono- And Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Carbon Dioxide (To Maintain Freshness), Enzymes], Monterey Jack Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Potato Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Natamycin (A Natural Mold Inhibitor)], Red Bell Pepper, Rice Starch, Unsalted Butter [Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavors], Spinach, Canola Oil, Feta Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Cheese Culture, Enzymes, Potato Starch], Green Onion, Salt, Hot Sauce [Distilled Vinegar, Red Pepper, Salt], Canola Oil, Spice, Contains Bioengineered Food Ingredients (https://www.starbucks.com/menu/)
Cross-contact risk.
While the Starbucks egg bites are considered gluten-free since they contain no gluten or wheat ingredients, there is still a risk of cross-contact, which can make these egg bites considered not safe for someone with a wheat allergy or celiac disease.
Starbucks warms the egg bites before serving them, and employees usually handle them with tongs. These tongs often touch a variety of other items that are warmed up throughout the day, including gluten. It is always best practice to ask the employee nicely to use a new set of tongs when handling your egg bites to help reduce the possibility of cross-contact.
Other dietary and allergen risks.
- Vegetarian. - Both the kale and mushroom and the egg white and roasted red pepper egg bites at Starbucks are listed as being vegetarian.
- Dairy. - All varieties of Starbucks egg bites contain dairy and are not to be considered safe for someone with a dairy allergy.
- Eggs. - All of the Starbucks egg bites contain actual egg products and are not to be considered safe for someone with an egg allergy.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, Starbucks egg bites are considered to be gluten-free and generally safe to consume for those who are gluten-free or that have celiac disease. As with anything having to do with eating out gluten-free, it's always best to ask your local location any questions before ordering and consuming to evaluate your own personal risk.
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Betsy Bryant says
Hi! The ingredient maltodextrin is not safe for people with celiac as it is derived from malt.