Is PC Bacon Gluten-Free? An In-Depth Look at Loblaws’ Bacon Offerings

Bacon is a beloved breakfast staple for many. The smoky, salty meat adds flavor and crunch to everything from omelets to sandwiches. But is PC bacon gluten-free and safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity?

In this guide, we’ll explore what’s available from Loblaws’ President’s Choice brand when it comes to gluten-free bacon options. Keep reading for the full breakdown on ingredients, manufacturing processes, and how PC bacon compares to other popular brands on the market.

What is PC Brand?

PC stands for President’s Choice, which is the in-house brand for Loblaws grocery stores in Canada. Loblaws is Canada’s largest food retailer with over 2,500 stores nationwide.

The PC brand encompasses thousands of grocery products sold exclusively at Loblaws banner stores like Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs, Fortinos, and more. Product categories range from fresh produce and baked goods to pantry staples and prepared foods.

When it comes to bacon PC offers several varieties like original, maple pre-cooked, turkey, and peameal bacon. But can those with celiac disease trust these products are gluten-free? Let’s find out.

Is Bacon Naturally Gluten-Free?

Before diving into PC specifically, it helps to understand what makes bacon gluten-free or not in general.

Traditional bacon consists of cured and smoked pork belly. Pork is naturally gluten-free, as are basic curing agents like salt, sugar, sodium nitrite, and smoke flavoring.

So unless additional ingredients containing gluten are added during processing, most bacon does not inherently contain gluten.

With that said, there are some factors that can introduce gluten into certain bacon products:

• Flour coatings – Some bacon is coated in flour after curing for texture. This renders it unsafe for celiacs.

• Thickeners – Binders like wheat flour are sometimes used to thicken liquid smoke flavoring.

• Shared equipment – Cross-contact with gluten can occur during slicing and packaging.

So while bacon itself tends to be gluten-free, processing aids and cross-contamination are potential risks to be aware of.

PC Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon – Ingredients & Manufacturing

Now let’s look specifically at the PC gluten-free offering called “Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon” to understand how it’s produced.

According to the product page, the ingredients are:

• Pork
• Water
• Sea salt
• Sugars (sugar, caramelized cane sugar)
• Cultured celery extract
• Maple flavour
• Spice extract
• Smoke

The ingredients list does not call out any gluten sources like wheat, barley, rye or malt. The company also clearly labels this variety as “gluten-free” on the packaging.

Additionally, the President’s Choice website states this bacon is made in a gluten-free production facility. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

So in reviewing both the ingredients and manufacturing practices, PC’s Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon appears to be a safe gluten-free option.

How PC Free From Bacon Compares to Other Brands

To see how PC stacks up against other leading bacon brands, let’s compare it to some of the gluten-free varieties identified in Celiac.com’s recent report on Which Brands of Bacon Are Gluten-Free:

Applegate

• Offers several certified gluten-free bacon products
• Uses simpler ingredient lists than PC
• Does not call out gluten-free production facility

Dietz & Watson

• Provides certified gluten-free bacon varieties
• Indicates gluten-free manufacturing
• More variety compared to PC’s one option

Jones Dairy Farm

• Tests and verifies gluten-free status
• Dedicates equipment for processing
• Higher price point than PC

Wellshire Farms

• Features extensive gluten-free bacon selection
• Includes organic and paleo varieties
• Smaller brand compared to nationwide PC availability

So while other brands edge out PC in certain areas like product range or organic options, PC still holds up as providing safe, widely available gluten-free bacon in Canada.

Other PC Bacon Varieties – What to Look For

While the Free From Maple Flavoured edition is the only variety PC designates as gluten-free, some other types may also be safe based on the ingredients:

PC Maple Bacon

The ingredient list appears gluten-free, but the manufacturing process is unclear. Reach out to Loblaws customer service to inquire about shared equipment.

PC Cherrywood Smoked Bacon

Again, the ingredients look gluten-free, but PC does not indicate if a shared or dedicated facility is used.

PC Peameal Bacon

This one contains modified corn starch, an ingredient commonly made from wheat. Assume this variety contains gluten unless advised otherwise by the company.

PC Precooked Bacon

With ingredients listing wheat flour, this precooked variety is unfortunately not gluten-free.

The takeaway is that unless the packaging clearly states “gluten-free”, PC bacon products should be considered unsafe for celiacs due to cross-contamination risks. Reach out to Loblaw’s customer service for clarification on varieties of interest.

Verdict: Is PC Bacon Gluten-Free?

Here is a summary of key takeaways when it comes to PC bacon and gluten:

• The only certified gluten-free option is PC Free From Maple Flavoured Bacon

• This variety is made in a dedicated facility and contains no gluten sources

• Other PC bacon may have gluten-free ingredients but risks cross-contact during processing

• Precooked PC Bacon contains wheat and is not gluten-free

• Always check labels and contact the company to confirm latest production details

So in conclusion, while Loblaw’s President’s Choice offers limited gluten-free bacon compared to some competing brands, the Free From version provides a widely available option for Canadian shoppers seeking bacon.

For those with celiac disease and gluten intolerances, be sure to closely inspect labels and ingredients on any product, even from trusted brands. When in doubt, reach out to the manufacturer directly for guidance. This extra step helps ensure you can enjoy bacon safely without reaction.