Is Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and straight at the formulation. Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce is built on a foundation of tomatoes, carrots, and white wine vinegar. These are naturally gluten-free ingredients. The heat comes from habanero chili pepper, and the savory depth is added by yellow onion, garlic, and a proprietary blend of herbs and spices. On paper, this looks like a safe bet for anyone avoiding gluten.

However, the ingredient that raises a flag is modified food starch. In the United States, food manufacturers are not required to disclose the source of the starch (e.g., corn, potato, or wheat) on the label unless it contains more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. While most modified food starch in the US is derived from corn, it can technically be made from wheat. Without a specific 'gluten-free' certification on the bottle, we cannot guarantee the starch source is not wheat-based.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Aardvark Habanero is quite reasonable for a condiment. It is low in calories and fat, relying on sunflower oil for a touch of richness rather than heavy dairy or animal fats. The sweetness you taste comes from organic cane sugar, so it does contain added sugars, but typically in amounts small enough that a serving size of one tablespoon won't derail a balanced diet. It fits well within the limits of most healthy eating plans, provided you monitor your total sodium intake, as salt is used to preserve the sauce and enhance flavor.