Is Red Hot Blues Corn Tortilla Chips Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look for specific red flags when analyzing snacks for gluten content. The primary ingredient in Red Hot Blues is organic blue corn, which is naturally gluten-free. This is the foundation of the chip and poses no risk.

Next, we look at the coating and flavoring. The ingredients list includes tomato powder, rice flour, spices, onion, and torula yeast. Rice flour is a common gluten-free thickener and binder, so it is safe here. Torula yeast is a form of yeast often used to add a savory, meat-like flavor, and it is not related to gluten grains.

Finally, the natural flavor and expeller pressed oils are standard in the industry. While 'natural flavor' can sometimes be a gray area, in the context of a certified gluten-free product like this, it typically refers to flavor extracts derived from spices or vegetables. There are no malt-based ingredients or hydrolyzed wheat protein present.

Nutritional Value

When evaluating the health profile of Red Hot Blues, the first thing to note is that they are a calorie-dense snack, which is standard for fried corn chips. The expeller pressed canola oil, safflower oil, or sunflower oil provides the fat content necessary for that crunch, but it also contributes to the overall calorie count.

Regarding sugar, these chips do contain a small amount, likely from the tomato powder and natural flavor. However, the sugar content is generally low compared to sweet snacks. They fit well into a savory snacking routine, but portion control is key if you are strictly monitoring fat intake.