Are McCormick Bacon Pieces Gluten-Free?

McCormick Bac’n Pieces are a popular bacon-flavored product used to add a smoky, salty flavor to foods without using real bacon But with growing awareness around gluten and food sensitivities, many are wondering – are McCormick Bac’n Pieces actually gluten-free? Let’s take a close look at the ingredients and manufacturing process to find out

What Are McCormick Bac’n Pieces?

McCormick Bac’n Pieces are bits made from textured soy flour that are designed to imitate the taste and crunchy texture of bacon without using any real meat. The Bac’n Pieces come in a shaker bottle and can be sprinkled on salads, baked potatoes, pasta dishes, soups, and more to deliver that smoky bacon flavor.

McCormick markets them as a versatile vegetarian and vegan alternative to real bacon bits They provide a convenient way to add bacon taste to dishes without the fat or ethical concerns of actual bacon.

Examining the Ingredients

To determine if a product contains gluten, the best place to start is by looking at the ingredients list.

Here are the ingredients in McCormick Bac’n Pieces

• Textured soy flour
• Canola oil
• Salt
• Caramel color
• Yeast extract
• Natural & artificial flavor
• FD&C Red 40
• Disodium inosinate and guanylate (flavor enhancers)

At first glance, none of these ingredients raises any obvious gluten-containing red flags. There’s no wheat, barley, rye or other gluten grains listed.

However, a closer look reveals there are two ingredients that could potentially contain gluten:

• Yeast extract – Some yeast extract is produced from barley, which contains gluten.
• Natural flavor – The source of natural flavors is not always disclosed and could conceivably include gluten.

So while McCormick Bac’n Pieces appear gluten-free based on the ingredients list, the yeast extract and natural flavor provide possible sources of gluten contamination.

Contacting the Manufacturer

To get a definitive answer on whether McCormick Bac’n Pieces contain gluten, I reached out to McCormick Consumer Relations.

Here is the response they provided:

“Thank you for contacting us about our Bac’n Pieces product. We do not test this product for gluten content. While the product itself does not contain gluten-containing ingredients, our manufacturing facility handles wheat flour and the yeast extract and natural flavor could come from gluten sources. So we cannot guarantee it is gluten-free.”

Unfortunately, this was not the clear gluten-free confirmation I was hoping for. Due to potential cross-contamination and the uncertainty around the yeast extract and natural flavors, McCormick cannot guarantee their Bac’n Pieces are gluten-free.

Using Caution with Gluten Sensitivities

Based on the ingredients and McCormick’s response, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities need to exercise caution with these Bac’n Pieces.

While the product may technically not contain gluten, trace amounts could be present due to:

• Shared manufacturing equipment with wheat-based products
• Potentially gluten-containing yeast extract
• Possible barley or rye-derived natural flavors

The amount of gluten present may be minimal, but could still cause issues for those highly sensitive.

For people with celiac disease or who are extremely gluten-intolerant, it is probably best to avoid McCormick Bac’n Pieces unless they are certified gluten-free. Individual sensitivities vary, so some may be able to tolerate trace amounts. But when in doubt, it’s safer to steer clear.

Seeking a Certified Gluten-Free Option

For those who need to strictly avoid gluten, look for Bac’n Pieces or similar bacon-flavored products that are certified gluten-free. There are a few brands that make gluten-free certified versions, such as:

• Hoosier Hill Farm GF Bacon Bits
• Gutsy Goodness Bac’n Bites
• lemoncup Gluten Free Bacon Bits
• Bac’n Buds by Kay’s Naturals

When searching for gluten-free bacon flavored bits, look for either a certified gluten-free label or contact the manufacturer to verify gluten testing protocols. This ensures the product has been third-party tested to confirm it meets strict gluten-free standards.

Making Your Own Gluten-Free “Bacon Bits”

Another option is to make your own homemade bacon-flavored sprinkles using gluten-free ingredients. Here are some recipes to try:

• Chickpea bacon bits – Roasted chickpeas seasoned with smoked paprika, maple syrup, and soy sauce
• Coconut bacon bits – Toasted coconut flakes with liquid smoke and maple syrup
• Shiitake bacon bits – Sliced shiitake mushrooms cooked in tamari and maple
• Tempeh bacon bits – Marinated and roasted tempeh cubes

Flavor with smoked paprika, maple, liquid smoke, and salt for an authentic taste. Store in a jar to sprinkle on foods just like Bac’n Pieces.

McCormick Bac’n Pieces Are Not Considered Gluten-Free

After reviewing the ingredients and contacting the manufacturer, it appears McCormick Bac’n Pieces may contain trace amounts of gluten due to the production process and potential sources in the yeast extract and natural flavors. While they do not contain overt gluten ingredients, cross-contamination risks and the lack of third-party gluten testing mean McCormick cannot confirm the Bac’n Pieces are gluten-free. Individual sensitivity levels will vary, but for those who need to diligently avoid gluten, choosing a certified gluten-free bacon bit alternative is the safest option. Homemade bits are another idea. While not ideal for all with gluten issues, McCormick Bac’n Pieces remain a convenient vegetarian/vegan-friendly way to add smoky, savory bacon flavor to foods for those who can tolerate possible gluten cross-contamination. Just take care if you have celiac disease or an absolute gluten intolerance.