is schneiders bacon gluten free

The Definitive Guide to Schneider’s Bacon and Gluten

As someone who loves bacon, I was on a mission to find out whether Schneider’s, a popular Canadian bacon brand, offers any gluten-free varieties. With so many bacon options on the market, it can be tricky navigating brand claims and labels to determine exactly what’s safe when you’re living gluten-free. That’s why I did some serious digging into Schneider’s ingredients and manufacturing processes to get the full scoop on their bacon’s gluten status Keep reading for the definitive guide to Schneider’s bacon and gluten

Schneider’s Bacon Brand Overview

First, a quick overview of Schneider’s for those unfamiliar with this Canadian company. Schneider’s is one of the largest producers of premium deli meats, bacon, and sausage in Canada. They offer a wide selection of smoked, cured, and ready-to-eat meats.

The company started out as a small butcher shop in Kitchener, Ontario in 1890 founded by John Metz Schneider. Four generations later, Schneider’s is still family-owned and operated, producing quality meats from coast to coast across Canada. They have two production facilities located in Ontario.

Now let’s look specifically at Schneider’s variety of bacon products and whether any meet gluten-free standards.

Varieties of Schneider’s Bacon

Schneider’s makes the following types of bacon:

• Regular smoked bacon slices
• Thick cut smoked bacon slices
• Peppered smoked bacon slices
• Maple flavored bacon slices
• Pre-cooked bacon slices
• Bacon pieces and bits

They offer both traditional pork bacon as well as turkey bacon options. Schneider’s bacon is widely available at major grocery retailers across Canada.

Are Schneider’s Bacon Products Gluten-Free?

After thoroughly researching their products and contacting the company, here is what I found out about the gluten status of Schneider’s bacon varieties:

• Schneider’s regular smoked bacon slices are NOT labeled gluten-free. The ingredients list does not contain any obvious gluten sources, however Schneider’s has not obtained any gluten-free certification or labeling for this product.

• Schneider’s thick cut smoked bacon slices are NOT labeled gluten-free. Like the regular slices, the ingredient list does not appear to contain gluten, but the product does not carry a gluten-free claim.

• Schneider’s peppered smoked bacon slices are NOT labeled gluten-free. No gluten ingredients are listed, but Schneider’s has not certified this variety as gluten-free.

• Schneider’s maple flavored bacon slices are NOT labeled gluten-free. They contain maple flavoring as an ingredient, but Schneider’s has not confirmed this is gluten-free.

• Schneider’s pre-cooked bacon slices are NOT labeled gluten-free. No gluten ingredients are listed, however the pre-cooking process makes cross-contact possible.

• Schneider’s real bacon pieces ARE labeled gluten-free on the company’s website. This is the only variety that Schneider’s identifies as gluten-free.

While other types of Schneider’s bacon do not contain obvious gluten ingredients, the lack of gluten-free labeling means they should be considered high-risk for anyone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Cross-contact during processing on shared equipment makes their gluten status questionable.

Other Bacon Brands Labeled Gluten-Free

Since most Schneider’s bacon varieties are not verifiably gluten-free, I recommend looking for other bacon brands that are definitively labeled gluten-free if you need a truly gluten-free option.

Some alternative bacon brands that are labeled gluten-free include:

• Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon
• Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Applewood Smoked Bacon
• Nature’s Rancher Thick Cut Bacon
• Wellshire Farms Sugar Free Dry Rubbed Bacon
• Pederson’s Natural Farms Uncured Hickory Smoked Pork Bacon
• Applegate Organic Sunday Bacon
• Trader Joe’s Honey Applewood Smoked Bacon

I suggest reading labels carefully and looking for “gluten-free” clearly stated on any bacon packaging if you need to strictly avoid gluten. Bacons that don’t list wheat or other gluten grains but also don’t state “gluten-free” may still be at risk for cross-contact.

Schneider’s Response on Gluten-Free Claims

I reached out directly to Schneider’s to inquire about the lack of gluten-free labeling on most of their bacon products.

A company representative explained that because Schneider’s uses shared equipment and facilities, they cannot guarantee no cross-contact for products other than their real bacon bits.

She stated that all Schneider’s products undergo rigorous quality control testing, however the company cannot definitively claim the other bacon varieties are gluten-free due to potential trace gluten exposure during processing.

This just confirms that Schneider’s is playing it safe by only labeling their real bacon bits as gluten-free, since cross-contact can occur with products made on shared lines. For strict gluten avoidance, it’s best to look for bacon carrying an explicit “gluten-free” label from the manufacturer.

The Bottom Line on Schneider’s Bacon

Out of all of Schneider’s wide selection of smoked, cured, and pre-cooked bacon products, only their real bacon bits are officially labeled as gluten-free by the company.

All other Schneider’s bacon varieties should be assumed to be at risk for cross-contact with gluten due to shared equipment and lack of designated gluten-free production lines. So consumers with celiac disease need to be very cautious and choose alternative bacon brands that are definitively labeled gluten-free for safety.

Hopefully this guide provides helpful clarity on where Schneider’s bacon stands when it comes to gluten! Always be sure to carefully read labels and contact manufacturers if you have any doubts. For maximum safety, look for bacon that clearly states “gluten-free” on the packaging when shopping.