Is Purple carrot crackers Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When determining if a cracker is safe for a gluten-free diet, we look for wheat, barley, rye, and hidden gluten sources. For Purple carrot crackers, the verdict is clear. The base flours used are rice flour, cassava, and potato starch. These are naturally gluten-free carbohydrates that provide the structure without the gluten proteins found in wheat.

Another key ingredient is tapioca maltodextrin. While the name can sometimes be confusing, tapioca is derived from the cassava root and is a safe, gluten-free filler and thickener. The vegetable blend, which includes spinach, broccoli, and shiitake mushroom, is naturally free of gluten. The only potential concern in savory snacks is usually hidden wheat flour in flavorings, but here we see natural flavor and specific vegetable powders listed, with no indication of gluten-containing additives.

Finally, the product is explicitly labeled as 'certified non gmo project verified' and mentions a 'gluten-free pass'. In the food industry, this specific phrasing usually indicates the product has been tested to meet the FDA standard of less than 20ppm of gluten, making it compliant for strict diets.

Nutritional Value

Looking at the nutritional profile, these crackers are primarily a carbohydrate-based snack derived from rice and potato. The inclusion of rspo palm oil provides the fat content necessary for that crisp texture, but it does add to the caloric density. The sugar content appears to come from cane sugar and potentially the citric acid used for preservation, though the amounts are likely minimal given the savory flavor profile.

Because the base is starch-heavy (cassava and potato), these crackers digest relatively quickly. They provide a quick energy source but may not offer the high fiber content of a whole-grain wheat cracker. However, the addition of the vegetable blend adds a micronutrient boost, offering vitamins A and C from the carrots, beets, and spinach. For those on a vegan diet, these fit perfectly as they contain no dairy or animal fats.