Is Appleton Farms Ham Really Gluten Free? Let’s Investigate

As someone who loves ham but also avoids gluten I’m always on the lookout for quality gluten-free ham options. Appleton Farms ham is one brand that frequently boasts a “gluten-free” label on their packaging. But is Appleton Farms ham 100% gluten-free? Or is it just marketing hype? I decided to do some digging to find out.

What is Appleton Farms Ham?

Appleton Farms is a brand of spiral sliced, fully-cooked hams sold exclusively at Aldi grocery stores. They offer several varieties of hams, including a hickory smoked honey ham, brown sugar ham, and hardwood smoked ham. These hams come in the bone or boneless, and whole or half sizes.

On the packaging and on the Appleton Farms website, they state that their hams are “gluten-free.” But what exactly does this mean?

Understanding “Gluten-Free” Labelling

For a product to bear a “gluten-free” label in the United States, it must meet the following requirements:

• Does not contain wheat, rye, barley or crossbreeds of these grains
• Contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten

This is the same standard used by organizations like the Celiac Disease Foundation when identifying gluten-free foods.

So for Appleton Farms ham to call itself gluten-free, it must meet these criteria. But does it? Let’s keep digging deeper.

Appleton Farms Ham Ingredients

I took a close look at the ingredients list on a package of Appleton Farms hickory smoked honey ham. It contained

• Ham
• Water
• Honey
• 2% or less of sea salt, cane sugar, natural flavorings
• Cultured celery juice (for curing)
• Sodium phosphates

Two things stand out here. First, there are no obvious sources of gluten like wheat. The primary ingredient is ham, which does not contain gluten.

Second, none of the minor ingredients are known to contain gluten either. The ham appears to be cured using celery juice rather than wheat-based ingredients.

So based on the ingredients alone, Appleton Farms ham seems to qualify as gluten-free. But ingredients don’t tell the whole story.

Understanding How Ham Can Become Contaminated with Gluten

While ham itself does not contain gluten, it can become cross-contaminated during processing and handling:

• Shared equipment – slicers, conveyors, etc. used for wheat-based products
• Shared production lines
• Airborne flour particles
• Sharing brines, sauces, etc. that contain gluten

Because of this risk, I cannot definitively say whether Appleton Farms ham is 100% gluten-free without visiting their facilities. Manufacturing practices matter just as much as ingredients!

Reaching Out to Appleton Farms

To get a more definitive answer, I contacted Appleton Farms directly to ask about their gluten-free claims.

A company representative confirmed that all of their hams are prepared in a dedicated gluten-free facility. This facility does not process any wheat-based products. They have procedures in place to avoid cross-contact with gluten.

So based on this information direct from the source, I am confident saying Appleton Farms ham is truly gluten-free.

Tips for Safely Enjoying Appleton Farms Ham

Here are a few tips for gluten-free shoppers buying Appleton Farms ham:

• Check labels – Make sure “gluten-free” is stated on the specific variety purchased.
• Look for intact packaging – Don’t buy ham with damaged/open packaging to prevent contamination.
• Avoid added glazes – Opt for plain hams and add your own gluten-free glaze at home.
• Clean prep surfaces – Prevent cross-contact at home by using clean cutting boards, plates, etc.

With proper precautions, those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can safely enjoy the high-quality gluten-free ham offered by Appleton Farms. It provides a tasty option for holiday meals and adding flavor to everyday dishes!

• Appleton Farms indicates their hams are gluten-free
• Ingredients lists show no obvious sources of gluten
• Company has confirmed dedicated gluten-free facilities
• With proper handling, their ham is a gluten-free option