Is frozen greek yogurt chocolate chip cookie dough Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing buzzwords to the actual composition of the product. The primary reason this product is not gluten-free lies in the cookie dough ingredient statement. The very first ingredient listed within that dough matrix is wheat flour. Wheat is one of the primary sources of gluten, a protein that gives baked goods their elasticity but causes health issues for those with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Furthermore, we must look at the chocolate flavored flake. While the base of this component uses sugar, corn starch, and cocoa, it also contains milk protein concentrate. This confirms the presence of dairy. Additionally, the nonfat Greek yogurt base is derived from milk. While corn starch is naturally gluten-free, the manufacturing environment poses a risk. However, the definitive dealbreaker here is the explicit inclusion of wheat flour in the cookie dough pieces.

Another subtle ingredient to note is molasses found in the cookie dough. While molasses is a gluten-free sweetener in its pure form, in a complex product like this, it is part of a pre-mixed dough that has already introduced wheat. Therefore, the product is unsafe for a gluten-free diet.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this product is designed as a 'better-for-you' indulgence. It utilizes nonfat milk and nonfat Greek yogurt to boost the protein content while keeping the fat profile relatively low compared to traditional ice cream. However, the sugar content is significant, derived from added sugars in the base, the cookie dough, and the chocolate flake.

The texture relies on gums like locust bean gum and guar gum to mimic the mouthfeel of higher-fat dairy products. For the average consumer, this fits into a diet as a controlled treat rather than a health food staple, primarily due to the caloric density coming from sugars and carbohydrates rather than fats.