Did you know that one of the most popular YouTubers in the world makes gluten-free cookies?
Famed influencer MrBeast makes a line of gluten-free cookies touted as “plant-based” and “gluten-free.” They’re marketed through his food brand, Feastables.
The cookies come in three flavors: Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin.
Honestly, I would have never purchased these cookies had I seen them on the shelf. The cookies don’t look good if I’m being honest, and I’d never heard of MrBeast (because I’m old).
However, a reader asked me to test the cookies for hidden gluten because she noticed they had reformulated to contain oats and oat flour, and there’s a new allergen warning on the back of the package that reads, “May Contain Wheat.”
Oats are naturally gluten-free but are exposed to wheat during growing, harvesting, and manufacturing. This means oats are highly cross-contaminated with wheat (gluten). Only labeled gluten-free oats are safe for people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity to eat.
Response From MrBeast
I contacted Feastables to ask if they used gluten-free oats and how they tested their cookies to ensure it met the FDA’s Gluten-Free Labeling Guidelines.
They told me that “oats are naturally gluten-free” and said they changed their recipe to improve the cookie quality but that the cookies are still gluten-free. They did not address my other concerns about oats, even after I sent a follow-up email.
As for the May Contain Wheat warning, the spokesperson said each Feastables cookie is made in a shared facility with allergens, including wheat.
The spokesperson says the company performs “full allergen washes” when allergens are present, but she said there’s always a risk for cross-contamination in a shared facility.
Editor’s Note: Many gluten-free products are made on shared lines. Please read Certified Gluten-Free, but Made on Shared Equipment? to learn more about how this works and if it’s safe.
Nima Testing MrBeast Cookies
I used my trusty Nima Sensor to test MrBeast cookies for hidden gluten. Nima is a portable gluten-detecting device that enables you to test a small, pea-sized portion of your food for hidden gluten.
As you can see, Nima displayed a smiley face, which means it didn’t find any 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.
Please note that Nima capsules have been on backorder for nearly four months and are currently unavailable (October 2023). I used a recently expired test capsule for this test.
MrBeast Cookie Review
Because Nima didn’t find any gluten, and the product is labeled “gluten-free,” I felt comfortable eating one of the cookies to see how it tasted.
The cookies looked good. I could see plenty of tiny chocolate pieces throughout each cookie. I love cookies with a generous amount of chocolate chips.
However, it wasn’t love at first bite. I thought the cookie had a soft but gritty texture and a weird aftertaste. The cookie crumbled and didn’t hold together well.
My husband tried one of the cookies and said it was “not bad,” but as he ate it, it started to crumble.
These cookies are not for me, but I recognize everyone has different taste buds, so you may have to try them for yourself.
Personally, I can’t help but wonder if MrBeast actually eats these, or he just slapped his name on something to capitalize on his fleeting Internet fame.
Where to Buy MrBeast Cookies
I found MrBeast cookies at Safeway/Albertsons. They’re also available at Walmart and other grocery stores nationwide. Check the Feastables store locator for a location near you or order on Amazon.
Related Reading
You might enjoy these articles, too:
- Doubletree Hotel Offers Gluten-Free Welcome Cookie; But Does It Taste Good?
- Trader Joe’s Launches Gluten-Free Cookie Dough… and It’s Fabulous
- Which Gluten-Free Flour is Best for Making Chocolate Chip Cookies? I Tested 5 Flours With 1 Recipe to Find Out
- What You Need to Know About Nima Sensor Before You Buy – Perspective from a Celiac & Nutrition Professional
- Certified Gluten-Free, but Made on Shared Equipment?
- Are Oats Gluten-Free? Unpacking Confusing and Contradictory Information
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