Is Savanna orchards country club nut mix Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing and straight at the formulation. The reason this mix isn't gluten-free isn't subtle—it's baked right into the coating. The primary culprit is enriched wheat flour. This is a standard wheat product used here to create a crunchy, breading-like texture on the nuts. It contains gluten and is a strict no-go for anyone on a gluten-free diet.

It gets worse. The ingredient list also specifies malted barley flour. Barley is one of the three major gluten-containing grains (along with wheat and rye). Malted barley is often used as a flavor enhancer or natural sweetener, but it is a hidden source of gluten that can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals. Finally, the inclusion of bulgur wheat is a definitive flag. Bulgur is a cracked whole wheat product. Having actual wheat grains mixed into a snack makes it impossible to label as gluten-free.

While the mix contains nuts like cashews, almonds, and pistachios, the processing environment and the heavy use of wheat-based thickeners like xanthan gum (often derived from wheat fermentation) and maltodextrin (sometimes wheat-derived) suggest a high risk of cross-contamination if the gluten ingredients weren't enough to disqualify it.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this Country Club mix is a calorie-dense snack typical of coated nut blends. The soybean oil and vegetable oil contribute to the fat content, while the sucrose and honey coating add significant simple sugars. While nuts provide healthy fats and protein, the added sugars and refined carbohydrates from the wheat coating push the glycemic load higher.

If you are managing your weight, portion control is essential here. A single serving packs a lot of energy in a small volume due to the oil and sugar. It fits a 'sometimes' snack category rather than a daily health food, particularly because of the enriched flour and added sugars.