If you follow a gluten-free diet, it can be challenging to find desserts and dessert toppings that fit your dietary restrictions. Cool Whip is a popular whipped topping that many people enjoy, but if you’re gluten-free, you may wonder if it’s safe. In this article, we’ll explore whether or not Cool Whip is gluten-free and what you need to know to enjoy it without compromising your health. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.
Cool Whip is a brand of whipped topping that was first introduced in the United States in 1966. It’s made by Kraft Foods and is commonly used as a dessert topping for pies, cakes, and other sweet treats.
In this article, I’ll examine the ingredients inside Cool Whip, discuss any potential sources of gluten, and share how Cool Whip performed when put to the Nima Sensor test.
Cool Whip Ingredients
Cool Whip offers a light and fluffy texture even though it’s primarily made with non-dairy ingredients such as water, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, natural and article flavors, xanthan and guar gums, modified food starch, etc.
However, Cool Whip still contains dairy and is not considered dairy-free. It also contains skim milk, light cream, and caseinate derived from milk.
Is Cool Whip Gluten-Free?
Yes, Cool Whip is gluten-free, and I offer two proof points to put your mind at ease.
(1) Kraft Heinz says that all of its products are labeled for possible sources of nine major food allergens (eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, wheat, and sesame) AND that it also voluntarily labels for allergens including celery, mustard, lupin, mollusks, sunflower seeds, poppyseeds, cottonseed, all sources of gluten, and sulfites in levels over 10 ppm.
The only allergen listed on the packaging is milk.
Remember, as of 2023, manufacturers only have to disclose if their products contain any of the nine major allergens, including wheat, but they don’t have to disclose if their products contain barley and rye.
Should the Food Modernization Act of 2023 pass into law, manufacturers will be required by law to disclose ALL gluten sources, including wheat, barley, and rye.
(2) I independently tested Cool Whip for hidden gluten with my Nima Sensor, a portable gluten-detecting device that can test a small piece of your food for hidden gluten.
You can learn more about Nima in my article, What You Need to Know About Nima Sensor Before You Buy – Perspective from a Celiac & Nutrition Professional.
As you can see in the picture below, Nima displayed a smiley face, which means it didn’t find any gluten and that Cool Whip is gluten-free.
The Bottom Line
While Cool Whip isn’t labeled gluten-free, it doesn’t contain gluten ingredients and passed the Nima Sensor test.
Cool Whip topping is gluten-free and safe to consume if you follow a gluten-free diet.
My favorite way to enjoy Cool Whip is with fresh cut-up strawberries. I also love it on top of gluten-free strawberry shortcake or gluten-free angel food cake.
Additional Reading
You might enjoy these Nima Sensor-tested products, too:
Cool Whip may be gluten-free, but it contains high fructose corn syrup. It’s one of the most unhealthy foods. It’s cheap and that’s why it is in so many products. I’d advise finding an alternative dairy free cream. Andrea Meryl Skolnick, GF Lifestyle Coach