Is Cherry Mixed Fruit with Cherry Flavor in 100% Juice Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When determining if a product is safe for a gluten-free diet, we have to look beyond the marketing and dive into the source code—the ingredients. For this Cherry Mixed Fruit product, the profile is surprisingly clean regarding gluten risks.

The bulk of the product consists of whole fruits: Peaches, Pears, and Cherries. Fruits, in their natural state, are inherently gluten-free. The same applies to the liquid base: White Grape Juice (made from water and concentrate). There is no wheat flour or malt vinegar here.

Where gluten often hides is in flavorings or thickeners. However, the Natural Flavor and Lemon Juice Concentrate listed here are standard fruit preservatives and flavor enhancers. While "Natural Flavor" can be a vague term, in the context of a fruit product, it almost exclusively refers to fruit or plant derivatives, not gluten extracts.

Finally, Ascorbic Acid is simply Vitamin C, used to prevent browning, and Red 3 is a food coloring. Neither contains gluten. Therefore, the verdict is a definitive YES.

Nutritional Value

While this product is safe from gluten, it is important to view it through a nutritional lens as well. Because the fruit is suspended in 100% juice rather than water or syrup, the sugar content will be naturally high. This is primarily fructose (fruit sugar) from the grapes and the fruits themselves.

For those monitoring their glycemic index, this is a high-carb snack. However, you are getting a dose of vitamins from the cherries and peaches, specifically Vitamin A and C. It is a low-fat, low-sodium option, which fits well into heart-healthy diets. If you are strictly counting calories, remember that the juice adds liquid calories without providing the same satiety as eating the whole fruit (due to the lack of fiber).