Is Hillshire Sausage Gluten Free? A Detailed Look at Ingredients and Manufacturing

Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause serious health issues. This has led many people to adopt gluten-free diets, avoiding foods containing gluten.

One popular food that those on gluten-free diets often miss is sausage. Sausages frequently contain fillers, seasonings or coatings that have gluten So an important question for those avoiding gluten is – is Hillshire Farm sausage gluten free?

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at Hillshire Farm sausages, their ingredients, manufacturing processes and what the company says about gluten content.

A Quick Overview of Hillshire Brands

Hillshire Brands is one of the largest meat producers in the United States. Their major brands include Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Ball Park State Fair and Aidells. The company sells a wide range of meat products including sausages, hot dogs, lunch meats, bacon, and burgers.

Hillshire Brands has major production facilities in 7 U.S. states. They also have foreign production facilities in China and Australia.

Do Hillshire Sausages Contain Gluten?

Many people report being able to eat Hillshire Farm sausages without reacted. However, the company itself does not claim most of its sausage products are gluten free.

On their website’s FAQ, Hillshire states:

“At this time we only have limited products certified and stamped on the label as gluten free: some of our Sara Lee Deli meats, Jimmy Dean sausages, and our Aidells sausage products. We do not promote or certify that any of our other products are gluten free currently, as we do not test for gluten.”

So while some specific Jimmy Dean and Aidells sausage varieties are labeled gluten free, most other Hillshire products do not carry a gluten free claim.

This leaves consumers looking for clarity on whether common Hillshire Farm sausage products like smoked sausages, beef sausages and chicken sausages are gluten free or not.

Why Aren’t Hillshire Sausages Labeled Gluten Free?

There are a few potential reasons Hillshire does not label most of their sausages as gluten free:

1. They contain gluten ingredients

Sausage fillers often include wheat flour, wheat starch or other gluten containing ingredients. The beef and seasoning mixes may also contain gluten.

However, a read through of the ingredients on common Hillshire Farm sausages does not reveal any obvious gluten ingredients.

2. Cross-contamination risks

Even when no gluten ingredients are present, cross-contamination is still a risk in food production facilities. Shared equipment, processing lines and facilities can allow trace amounts of gluten to get into gluten free products.

Hillshire uses a lot of shared equipment across their different meat products. So cross-contamination is certainly a possibility.

3. They don’t specifically test products for gluten

Per their statement, Hillshire only tests some products for gluten rather than their whole line. Without specific testing, they can’t verify the gluten free status for most sausages.

4. Concerns over liability

If a product contains any trace of gluten, it can trigger reactions in highly sensitive celiacs. Labeling as gluten free when there is the possibility of cross-contamination opens the company up to potential liability concerns.

So Hillshire takes a conservative approach with gluten free labeling. Only the products validated through gluten testing can be called gluten free. Everything else is not promoted as gluten free.

Looking at Hillshire Sausage Ingredients

While Hillshire is vague on the gluten status of most sausage varieties, we can look at the ingredients lists for clues.

Here are the ingredients of some common Hillshire Farm sausages:

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage
Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less: Salt, Spice, Dextrose, Natural Flavors, Sodium Phosphates.

Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies
Pork, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less Salt, Dextrose, Spice Extractives, Sodium Phosphates.

Hillshire Farm Kielbasa Sausage
Pork, Turkey, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less: Salt, Dextrose, Spices.

Hillshire Farm Beef Sausage Links
Beef, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less: Salt, Spice, Dextrose, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavors, Sodium Phosphate.

Hillshire Farm Chicken Apple Sausage
Chicken, water, apple juice concentrate, corn syrup, honey, salt, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, spices, garlic, onion, natural flavors.

As you can see, none of these popular Hillshire products list any clearly gluten-containing ingredients. No wheat, barley, rye or malt.

The main ingredients are the expected meats, water, and flavors. Other common additions are corn syrup, dextrose, sodium phosphates and monosodium glutamate.

Based on ingredients alone, these sausage products appear likely to be gluten free. But ingredients alone don’t guarantee something is gluten free. Manufacturing and cross-contamination issues also come into play.

What Hillshire Says About Gluten Free Status

The best way to know if a food is really gluten free is to ask the manufacturer directly.

Hillshire’s public stance is that only certain products labeled “gluten free” should be considered gluten free. Their FAQ states:

“We do not promote or certify that any of our other products are gluten free currently, as we do not test for gluten.”

However, consumer experiences show many people consume Hillshire sausages without gluten reactions.

On celiac forums, some posters report contacting Hillshire and receiving assurance specific sausage products are gluten free:

“I contacted Hillshire Farms and they assured me the [beef smoked sausages] do not contain any wheat ingredients and are gluten free.”

“I called Hillshire Farms about their beef smoked sausage recipe. They assured me it’s gluten free.”

But such individual assurances do not constitute an official gluten free claim by the company. Hillshire only stands behind the gluten free status of items with gluten free labeling.

Best Practices for Consuming Hillshire Sausages

So where does this leave the gluten free consumer?

While not definitive, the evidence suggests many popular Hillshire sausages are likely gluten free based on their ingredients. But without a gluten free guarantee from Hillshire, individuals have to weigh their own sensitivity and risk comfort levels.

Those who are less sensitive may feel comfortable continuing to eat brands like Hillshire Farm, Lit’l Smokies and Beef Smoked Sausages.

For those who are highly sensitive and wish to take a very cautious approach, it may be best to avoid Hillshire products without a gluten free label.

No matter your individual sensitivity, following some best practices can help reduce risk:

• Carefully inspect the ingredients list of any new Hillshire product before eating
• Call Hillshire to inquire about the gluten free status of specific sausage products
• Start with a small serving size to test for any reactions when trying a new product
• Avoid products made on shared lines with gluten ingredients (like the Chicken Apple Sausage)
• Look for Hillshire items with gluten-free labeling for the most assurance

While not definitive, Hillshire sausages remain a popular grey area food for many gluten free consumers. By understanding manufacturing practices, ingredients and using proper precautions, individuals can make an informed decision on what Hillshire varieties fit into their gluten free diet.