Can You Trust the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Label?

People tell me time and time again that they don’t trust Trader Joe’s gluten-free labels. 

Maybe it’s because the products aren’t certified gluten-free by a third party, or people were exposed to misinformation or hypervigilant “experts” telling them to avoid Trader Joe’s somewhere along their gluten-free journey.

Or maybe it’s because the embattled Mom’s Across America (MAA) report found gluten in many beloved gluten-free products, including Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Almost Everything Bagels.

About the Mom’s Across America Gluten-Free Report

I don’t want to give too much time and credence to the MAA report because it has really scared the gluten-free community, and all of its gluten-free findings have been DEBUNKED.

But in summary, MAA found that six gluten-free products (five were GFCO-certified products) contained gluten above the FDA’s set limit (20 parts per million or ppm of gluten) or above the stricter GFCO’s set limit (10 ppm of gluten). The GFCO is a third-party certification agency and a non-profit.

Within a few weeks, the GFCO tested the lot numbers of the GFCO-certified products named in the MAA report and found none contained gluten.

Do Trader Joe’s Almost Everything Bagels Contain Gluten?

The GFCO did not test Trader Joe’s Almost Everything Bagel because it’s not a GFCO-certified product. However, the product was named in the report as having a crazy-high level of gluten, well above the 20 ppm limit set by the FDA.

This week, The Gluten Free Watchdog tested the Trader Joe’s Everything Bagels named in the report and found that they tested at < 5 parts per million of gluten (ppm), which is well below the FDA’s gluten-free labeling guidelines and requirements. Remember, the FDA requires a product to contain < 20 ppm of gluten. The disparaged bagels contained less than five ppm of gluten.

Once again, the MAA report was debunked! The Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Everything Bagel does not contain gluten.

Did MAA Libel a Bunch of Companies for Nothing?

Alas, the damage is done, and many of the brands named in the report have experienced a firestorm of anger from consumers demanding to know, “What gives?!?”

Yet, despite these claims being debunked by trusted gluten-free organizations (GFCO and The Gluten Free Watchdog), MAA has not issued a retraction.

You Can’t Always Blame Gluten

I want the gluten-free community to take away a few things from this report:

(1) You must carefully vet all sources of information. Not everyone is an “expert” or trusted source. Many organizations and individuals have an agenda.

(2) You can’t blame everything on gluten.

We now know the Trader Joe’s bagels are indeed gluten-free, but these are actual comments from people disparaging the bagels:

That said, not everything can or should be blamed on gluten. I had a tummy ache the other day. Why? I ate too much watermelon in one sitting. Did the watermelon have gluten in it? No! 

The gluten-free community should use caution before blaming gluten for all of its tummy woes (present company included).

You could have another food intolerance, indigestion, or we have no idea what’s inside our food in terms of chemicals and pesticides. There are too many outside factors that can make us feel sick, and I promise you, it’s not ALWAYS due to gluten.

Gluten-Free Labeled Trader Joe’s Products are Safe

Foods labeled gluten-free from Trader Joe’s are safe for you to eat whether you have celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or you’re simply avoiding gluten.

Here’s why:

(1) Trader Joe’s validates its gluten-free-labeled products.

According to Trader Joe’s, when you see “Gluten Free” on a product, it means it has been validated to contain < 20 ppm of gluten.

Here’s a screenshot taken directly from the Trader Joe’s website:

(2) I’ve never found gluten in a Trader Joe’s product labeled “gluten-free.”

I’ve been using my Nima Sensor for years, and although I have my fair share of gripes with the company and product, and many dispute the device’s accuracy, Nima has never found gluten in a “gluten-free” Trader Joe’s product (for what it’s worth).

Here are a few articles that feature products from Trader Joe’s that I tested for hidden gluten:

• Testing Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Products for Hidden Gluten
• Are Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s Gluten-Free? I Tested the Cereal to Find Out
• Trader Joe’s Launches New Gluten-Free Donut Holes
• Trader Joe’s Introduces Gluten-Free Madeleine Cookies [Review & Nima Test]

I understand that some people still choose not to eat gluten-free-labeled foods at Trader Joe’s. Maybe they get sick from them. It’s possible, but the truth is that many foods can make you sick, especially if you have a compromised digestive system.

I hope this information helps. Unfortunately, gluten-free labeling is the Wild West these days. I hope this information helps you eat with less stress and more freedom.

Additional Reading

You might enjoy these articles, too:

• What Gluten-Free Labeling Laws and Certifications Really Mean
• Is the FDA’s 20 ppm Gluten Threshold Enough?
• What You Need to Know About the Food Labeling Modernization Act When You’re Gluten-Free
• Can You Be Too Gluten-Free? How to Balance Dietary Vigilance Without Losing Your Mind