Is Bacon Gluten Free? 7 Gluten-Free Bacon Brands You Can Trust

If you’ve recently discovered that you are coeliac (celiac) or gluten intolerant, you may be experiencing a number of challenges. One of these might be the realisation that many foods – surprisingly – aren’t gluten free. In fact, it may amaze you how often a food that you’ve never thought about before turns out to contain gluten. Just like bacon, unfortunately.

Is Bacon Gluten Free?

It may surprise you to know that the bacon you eat on a regular basis probably isn’t gluten free.

But how can bacon contain gluten – isn’t it just meat? Well, unfortunately it’s never that simple with food safety and modern testing.

Quinoa is a popular superfood, but is it safe for gluten sensitive people? Read our post, Is Quinoa Gluten Free? Effects Of Eating It And Alternatives for some advice

Is Bacon Gluten Free? 7 Gluten-Free Bacon Brands You Can Trust

In this article we have investigated why bacon isn’t gluten free. In addition, we will provide you with some easy to access gluten free bacon brands you can trust.

Being coeliac or following a gluten free diet can be hard. We hope that our article can help make your life easier and hopefully saves you from any accidental hiccups which could have been avoided.

Are you a keen baker looking for a good Grain Free Pastry Recipe? Click here.

Why Isn’t Bacon Gluten Free?

You would be right to suggest that bacon clearly doesn’t have any direct gluten ingredients in its make up. Bacon is often only pork belly, salt, and sugar, along with spices and flavourings. So how can it not be gluten free?

At first glance, meat can seem like a safe haven for coeliac and gluten free dieters. Unfortunately it is not always as simple as that. And this is actually true of all kinds of foods and sauces that you wouldn’t expect to include gluten (and we are particularly proud of our crowd-favorite gluten free hoisin sauce recipe as a result).

Few bacon manufacturers can actually guarantee a gluten free product, more on these brands in a bit, as most bacon can have quite a high level of gluten traces.

How come?

Well, the bacon is most likely processed in a shared facility and with shared equipment.

Click here for our Best Bacon Pasta Recipes

Often larger meat retailers have their farm and slaughterhouse within the same property. In this situation, you can get contamination with grain-based feed and all sorts.

This isn’t to suggest non gluten free bacon brands are dirty or unsanitary – far from it. They just aren’t focused on providing a gluten free product and, as a result, aren’t regularly checked for contamination.

These small levels of contamination are often the most common cause of gluten related illness. Especially for coeliac sufferers who are particularly sensitive to gluten.

Therefore, it’s worth looking out for gluten free bacon brands. Keep reading to learn of a few.

Here at Eatability we are huge fans of the mid-morning muffin. Here are some of our top Gluten Free Savoury Muffin Recipes

6 Reliably Gluten Free Bacon Brands

Below is a list of gluten free brands of bacon that you can rely on. This means they have gone through the relevant testing to prove they are gluten free and safe.

These products are easily available online but will likely be available elsewhere too. More often than not many of these brands are also organic, GMO free, and refined.

Getting lots of variety in your diet can seem tough when you first become gluten free. Read our article on Achieving Food Variety (Whilst Remaining Gluten-Free)

Applegate Organic Sunday Bacon

Applegate, Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon, 8oz

At Applegate Farms they clearly pride themselves on being a very clean meat brand. Beyond promising a gluten free product they also can guarantee an organic product which is unrefined.

Pleasingly, they claim to treat their pigs with humanity and see that the quality of their product starts on the farm. This means strict procedure is followed from the GO.

The result is bacon that can be proudly USADA approved organic. There are no artificial ingredients, no chemical nitrates or nitrates of any kind.

As well as a product that is dairy and casein free, Applegate Farms do not use hormones or antibiotics on their pigs.

For 8oz its Uncured Sunday Bacon, the price is pretty reasonable. Especially considering the quality of the product and the amount of time that Applegate put into nurturing it

If you want to eat bacon, this is how you do it!

Wondering what to cook with all that delicious gluten-free bacon? Try our Best Bacon Recipes To Make At Home

Applegate, Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon, 8oz
  • Applegate, Organic Uncured Sunday bacon, 8oz
  • No Antibiotics or added hormones
  • No chemical nitrites or nitrates
  • No artificial or GMO Ingredients
  • Humanely raised

Wellshire Farms Organic Uncured Bacon

Wellshire Farms, Organic Uncured Bacon, 8 oz

This is another brand of bacon that takes real pride in how their pigs are raised, along with what goes into their products.

As a proudly organic product, Wellshire make a promise much like Applegate that their pigs are treated with the upmost humanity in order to create a quality product in the supermarket.

For Wellshire this involves feeding their pigs the right kind of food, providing them suitable living conditions, being diligent with what they put into their pigs and also how their facilities are kept.

This means you can guarantee that Wellshire’s organic product is one that is also free from gluten!

Bacon is such a classic breakfast ingredient. For some Healthy Breakfast Bowl ideas, click here.

Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon

Oscar Mayer Gluten Free Turkey Bacon with 58% Less Fat & 57% Less Sodium (12 Oz Pack, 21-23 Slices)

Whilst pork bacon is the norm for some people, not everyone likes to eat it. For example, there are a number of religions who avoid pig products.

Well fortunately, not only is regular pork bacon available as a gluten free product, but you can also get turkey bacon gluten free too.

Turkey bacon can often contain traces of gluten for the same reasons that pork bacon does – but not with Oscar Mayer!

Oscar Mayer’s Turkey bacon is organic and gluten free and comes fully cooked and ready to eat.

Moreover, this natural bacon has no nitrates and no artificial ingredients. It is processed to a minimal degree and results in a product which is proudly gluten free.

If you are gluten free but still want to eat an organic and natural product that is additionally low in calories and sodium content, then turkey bacon is worth a try. Especially if your regular diet restricts you from eating pork bacon.

Oscar Mayer Gluten Free Turkey Bacon with 58% Less Fat & 57% Less Sodium (12 Oz Pack, 21-23 Slices)
  • One 12 oz. package of Oscar Mayer Smoke Cured Fully Cooked Turkey Bacon, 21-23 Slices
  • Oscar Mayer Smoke Cured Fully Cooked Turkey Bacon has 58% less fat and 57% less sodium than pork bacon
  • Oscar Mayer turkey bacon is fully cooked to minimize kitchen prep time
  • Naturally hardwood smoked for great tasting, quality turkey bacon
  • Our turkey bacon slices are perfect for cooking and adding to recipes

Our Creamy Bacon and Spinach Cob Loaf Dip Recipe is a great tear and share appetiser

Fresh Brand Thick Sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon

Amazon Fresh Brand, Thick Sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon, 16 Oz

If smoked bacon or thick bacon is your preference, then Amazon’s own food brand ‘Fresh Brand’ might be right for you.

For one, if you are a fan of online shopping, then buying Amazon’s own brand couldn’t be easier. Of course, as leaders in e-commerce, Amazon are very experienced when it comes to shipping goods globally. So you can rest assured you are in good hands with your delivery.

Furthermore, with the resources of a major player like Amazon behind it, you can be sure that this bacon is gluten free.

Amazon Fresh Brand, Thick Sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon, 16 Oz
  • 16-ounce package of thick sliced applewood smoked bacon
  • Naturally applewood smoked
  • Gluten Free
  • No MSG Added
  • Our Fresh brand products are all about high-quality food that fits every budget, every day.

Gourmet Kitchen Kirkland Center Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon

Gourmet Kitchn Kirkland Signature Thick Sliced Bacon - Center Cut - Hickory Smoked - Pack of 3 (Six 1.5 Lb Packages, 9 Lbs Total) - Gluten-Free

As a coeliac or gluten free dieter one of the annoying things is that sometimes, while we love them, gluten free products can be quite small rather than a bulk product.

Sometimes, gluten free or not, you want to bulk buy stuff, freeze it down and use as you see fit.

If this is the sort of thing you are into and you want some high quality bacon that you can order in bulk, then Gourmet Kitchen has your back.

Made from European pigs, these family size packs of bacon are completely allergen free – peanuts, soy, gluten and all.

This bacon is also centre cut so it’s really high quality too.

Do you have a late morning gathering to organise for a lot of people? See our Brunch Catering Food Ideas

Jerky’s Gourmet Maple Bacon Grass Fed Pork Jerky

Maple Bacon Grass Fed Pork Jerky - 100 Calorie Snacks - Gourmet, Healthy, High Protein, Soy Free & Gluten Free (3 Packs)

Is there a better flavour combination than maple syrup and bacon? We doubt it!

This Gourmet Maple Bacon Grass Fed Pork Jerky ticks all the right boxes.

Obviously this product is gluten free as well as being free from hormones, antibiotics and additives.

But importantly this product is also low calories – coming in at only 120 calories along with 8 grams of protein per serving.

Better still, there are 8 flavours to choose from, including a fun IPA flavour.

Maple Bacon Grass Fed Pork Jerky - 100 Calorie Snacks - Gourmet, Healthy, High Protein, Soy Free & Gluten Free (3 Packs)
  • PACKED WITH FLAVOR - This sweet and savory combination of maple syrup and bacon takes snacking to the next level. Tender strips of pork are marinated for 48 hours to create jerky that is bursting with flavor.
  • PURE, CLEAN BURNING FUEL: Our 100% grass fed USA beef jerky is handcrafted and made with no artificial preservatives, nitrates, hormones or antibiotics. The perfect all-natural high protein food to fuel your day!
  • AS GOURMET AS IT GETS: By marinating strips of bacon for 48 hours, then finishing it in our premium dehydrator until it’s tender, we create the best pork jerky you've ever tasted. Hands down.
  • HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR ALL: We offer a variety of jerky that is low calorie, low fat, low sodium and low sugar - but HIGH in healthy protein and flavor! Whether looking for a lunch item for kids, a keto or gluten free treat, a go-to hiking snack or a low carb snack for when you’re hungry, we have a flavor for you.
  • BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE: If you’re not 100% satisfied with our gourmet beef jerky, contact us and we'll make things right! 🙂

Final Thoughts

As you can see, if you suffer from coeliac disease or follow a gluten free diet, your choices don’t have to be constrained. You can still put bacon on your table whether that is turkey bacon, classic bacon, smoked bacon, or even bacon jerky.

Another great thing about these products is that not only are they gluten free but also free from other unpleasant additives. After all, organic food is much better for us that highly processed items.

More importantly, when you are buying these products you can also be sure you are supporting humane animal conditions and sustainable agricultural practices, as well as organic cultivation of meat and vegetables.

With climate change being such a hot topic these days you can rest easy with these products which proudly support our environment and USA agriculture in general, as well as being proudly gluten free.

We hope this article has shown you that a coeliac diagnosis or simply a gluten free diet is not the end of the world and there are many choices out there.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *