Is Hillshire Farm Ham Gluten-Free?

For those avoiding gluten, reading ingredient labels is a way of life. With so many products containing hidden sources of gluten, from additives to cross-contamination risks, it can be hard to know what’s really safe. Deli meats like ham and sausage are particularly tricky. So what about popular brands like Hillshire Farm? Can you enjoy Hillshire Farm ham on a gluten-free diet?

Hillshire Farm is one of the largest deli meat brands in the U.S. Their hams, sausages, lunch meats and more can be found in most grocery stores. But unlike some brands, Hillshire Farm does not label their standard ham products as gluten-free.

Does this mean Hillshire Farm ham contains gluten? Or are they just playing it safe by not making a gluten-free claim? I dug into the details to find out. Keep reading for the full scoop on Hillshire Farm ham and gluten

Hillshire Farm Ham Ingredients

According to Hillshire Farm the ingredients in their Natural Hardwood Smoked Ham are

• Pork
• Water
• Sea Salt
• Brown Sugar
• Natural Smoke Flavoring
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Erythorbate
• Sodium Nitrite

At first glance this ingredient list looks benign for gluten. None of the individual ingredients contain gluten. However the “natural smoke flavoring” does raise a potential red flag.

Smoke flavorings often contain wheat or malt barley which would make them unsuitable for a gluten-free diet. Unfortunately, Hillshire Farm does not disclose much about what exactly is in their natural smoke flavoring.

So this means it’s impossible to completely confirm if the natural smoke flavoring is gluten-free or not. There is a possibility it could contain a gluten source like wheat or malt.

Why Isn’t Hillshire Farm Ham Labeled Gluten-Free?

Hillshire Farm fully owns up to the fact that their standard ham and lunch meat products are not labeled as gluten-free. Here are the key reasons why:

1. Risk of cross-contact

On their FAQ page, Hillshire Farm states that even though the core ingredients may be gluten-free, there is a risk of cross-contact with other products containing gluten in their facilities.

2. No gluten-free designation from supplier

Hillshire Farm also admits that they cannot guarantee that all the ingredients, especially the natural smoke flavoring, are certified by their suppliers to be 100% gluten-free.

3. Not tested for gluten

Finally, Hillshire Farm reveals that their products are not regularly tested to ensure they fall under the FDA’s 20 ppm gluten threshold to be labeled gluten-free.

Tyson’s Limited Gluten-Free Offerings

Hillshire Farm is owned by food giant Tyson, which has the resources to produce gluten-free options if they wanted to. However, Tyson has been very conservative about labeling their vast portfolio of products, which includes Jimmy Dean, Ballpark hot dogs and Sara Lee, as gluten-free.

Currently Tyson only labels a handful of items gluten-free across all their major brands, mainly chicken nuggets and tenders. They do not label any Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean or Sara Lee branded ham, sausage or hot dogs as gluten-free.

Slim Possibility Hillshire Ham is Gluten-Free

While not definitive, Hillshire Farm’s hesitancy to label their ham and sausage gluten-free does indicate there is likely some degree of gluten risk. However, a few different Hillshire Farm customers report eating the ham without any reactions.

So while Hillshire Farm ham products are clearly not verified gluten-free, the general consensus is they most likely contain extremely low levels of gluten, if any. The amounts seem to be low enough that the majority of people with mild gluten sensitivity or non-celiac gluten sensitivity can tolerate Hillshire Farm ham.

However, people with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerances would probably still want to avoid Hillshire Farm ham to be 100% safe given the lack of validated gluten-free status.

More Reliable Gluten-Free Ham Options

Rather than chance it with Hillshire Farm, there are other deli meat brands that go the extra mile to test and verify their hams are gluten-free:

• Krakus Ham – Labeled gluten-free and made in a dedicated facility. Tests below 20 ppm gluten.

• Columbus Ham – Validated gluten-free to less than 5 ppm. No gluten ingredients.

• Wellshire Farms Ham – Labeled gluten-free and certified by GFCO. Uses all gluten-free ingredients.

• Niman Ranch Ham – Contains a gluten-free natural smoke flavoring and is processed separately from gluten.

• Peperoni Pals Ham – Gluten-free certified and keeps gluten segregated during processing.

The brands above provide much more assurance for following a strictly gluten-free diet compared to Hillshire Farm. While they may cost a bit more than mass-market Hillshire Farm ham, the extra confidence of their validated gluten-free status makes it worthwhile for those who need to completely eliminate gluten exposure.

Is Hillshire Farm Ham Safe in Small Doses?

At the end of the day, the approach to Hillshire Farm ham will come down to your own sensitivity levels and risk comfort.

If you know you badly react to even trace amounts of gluten, Hillshire Farm ham is probably best avoided altogether in favor of a validated gluten-free brand.

However, if you only experience mild symptoms from gluten, an occasional ham sandwich with Hillshire Farm deli meat is unlikely to cause big problems. Just don’t make it an everyday habit.

No matter what, be sure to watch carefully for any reactions after eating Hillshire Farm ham. And consider mixing it up with other fully gluten-free meats as an extra precaution.

The Bottom Line

Hillshire Farm does not claim or guarantee their standard ham and lunch meat products are 100% gluten-free. Due to the potential smoke flavoring ingredients and manufacturing processes, trace gluten is possible.

For maximum gluten protection, choose alternative deli brands that meticulously verify gluten-free status through independent lab testing. But occasional consumption of Hillshire Farm ham seems well tolerated by some people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance of risk avoidance and quality of life. Having to avoid beloved foods like deli ham completely can really impact morale and wellness. Thankfully there are now high quality gluten-free ham options so no one has to fully miss out.