Is La costena chipotle peppers diced Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the formulation. La Costena Chipotle Peppers Diced relies on a relatively clean, traditional Mexican recipe. The primary ingredients are Chipotle pepper diced, water, and tomato. These are naturally gluten-free whole foods.

The potential risks for gluten usually hide in processing aids or flavor enhancers. In this case, the smoke flavor and spices are the areas to scrutinize. However, La Costena has formulated this without using wheat-based fillers or malt vinegar. The acidulant used is vinegar, which is derived from corn or similar grains that do not contain gluten proteins.

Furthermore, the inclusion of soybean oil is safe; while soy is a legume, it is distinct from gluten-containing grains. There are no thickeners like wheat starch or modified food starch (unless specified as corn-based) that would trigger a gluten reaction. Therefore, the chemical profile supports the claim that this product is safe for a gluten-free lifestyle.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these peppers are a low-calorie flavor enhancer rather than a primary food source. A standard serving contains a negligible amount of calories, primarily derived from the soybean oil and a small amount of sugar. The fat content is very low, making it an excellent way to add depth to a dish without significantly increasing the caloric load.

The salt content is moderate, which is typical for preserved vegetables. If you are on a strict low-sodium diet, you should monitor your portion size, but for the average person, it fits well within daily limits. The sugar content is minimal and used primarily to balance the acidity of the vinegar and the heat of the peppers. It does not spike blood sugar levels significantly.