Is Smoked cherrywood chipotle barbeque sauce Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I scrutinize every component to ensure safety for gluten-free diets. The base of this sauce is tomato puree, which is naturally safe. The sweetness comes from cane sugar and molasses. Unlike brown sugar, which sometimes uses bone char filters that might concern strict vegans but not gluten-free dieters, cane sugar is pure. The acidity is provided by distilled vinegar. A common myth is that vinegar contains gluten, but the distillation process removes all protein molecules, making distilled vinegar safe for celiacs.

The flavor profile relies on mustard and a spice blend. Mustard seeds are gluten-free, and the listed spices (chili pepper, turmeric, paprika, garlic powder) are pure spices without fillers. The heat comes from chipotle pepper and chili pepper. While some spicy sauces use malt vinegar (derived from barley), this recipe uses distilled vinegar, eliminating that risk. Finally, the natural cherrywood smoke flavor is a liquid flavoring that, in this formulation, does not contain gluten carriers.

Nutritional Value

While this sauce is safe for gluten-free diets, it is important to monitor the sugar content. Ingredients like cane sugar and molasses appear high on the list, indicating they are primary components. A standard serving of barbecue sauce can contain 12 to 16 grams of sugar. If you are managing diabetes or following a low-carb diet like Keto, you should use this sauce sparingly. Regarding fat content, this sauce is excellent; it contains virtually zero fat, making it a guilt-free way to add flavor to lean proteins like chicken breast or turkey burgers without adding significant calories from fat.