The Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Condiments: What You Need to Know (+Video)

Celiac.com 02/19/2025 - Navigating the world of condiments can be tricky for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. While many condiments appear gluten-free, hidden ingredients like wheat, barley, or malt can sneak into their formulations, putting individuals with gluten intolerance at risk. This guide will help you understand which condiments are safe, which ones to avoid, and provide a list of reliable gluten-free brands for each category. Armed with this information, you can confidently enjoy your meals without worrying about hidden gluten.

Ketchup: A Safe Staple, but Check the Label

Ketchup is a popular condiment that is generally safe for those avoiding gluten. Its basic ingredients—tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices—are naturally gluten-free. However, some brands may use malt vinegar or thickeners containing gluten, so checking the label is essential.

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Safe Gluten-Free Ketchup Brands

• Heinz Tomato Ketchup (certified gluten-free)
• French's Tomato Ketchup
• Annie’s Organic Ketchup
• Organicville Ketchup
• Walden Farms Ketchup

Brands to Avoid

• Any ketchup containing malt vinegar or unspecified "natural flavors"

Mustard: Simple Ingredients, Hidden Risks

Most mustard varieties, including yellow and Dijon, are gluten-free. However, flavored mustards or those containing malt vinegar can be problematic.

Safe Gluten-Free Brands

• French’s Yellow Mustard
• Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard (naturally gluten-free)
• Annie’s Organic Mustard

Brands to Avoid

• Mustards with beer or malt vinegar as ingredients

Mayonnaise: Watch for Additives

Mayonnaise is another condiment that is typically gluten-free, as it is made from eggs, oil, and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar. However, flavored mayonnaise or those with added thickeners may include gluten.

Safe Gluten-Free Mayonnaise Brands

• Best Foods Mayonnaise are made without gluten ingredients, including:
  • Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
  • Extra Creamy Mayonnaise
  • Avocado Oil Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Best Foods Light Mayonnaise
  • Best Foods Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil
  • Best Foods Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Best Foods Low Fat Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Best Foods Vegan Dressing & Spread
• Blue Marble makes Woodstock Farms Organic mayonnaise, which is gluten-free and certified kosher.
• Blue Plate mayonnaise is made with oil, vinegar and egg yolks.
• Chosen Foods Mayonnaise is made with pure avocado oil, cage-free eggs, organic vinegar and just a pinch of salt.
• Duke's Mayo is gluten-free and certified kosher.
• Earth Balance mayonnaise is made without gluten ingredients, and is vegan, dairy-free, lactose-free, egg-free, soy-free, and non-GMO.
• Goya Mayonnaise is made without gluten ingredients.
• Hain Pure Foods Safflower Mayonnaise is made without gluten ingredients.
• Hellman's mayonnaise products do not contain any gluten ingredients, including:
  • Real Mayonnaise
  • Extra Creamy Mayonnaise
  • Light Mayonnaise  
  • Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil
  • Organic Spicy Chipotle Mayonnaise
  • Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Low Fat Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Homestyle Mayonnaise
  • Relish Sandwich Spread
  • Avocado Oil Mayonnaise Dressing
  • Vegan Dressing & Spread
• Kraft Mayonnaise is made without gluten ingredients, including: 
  • J.L. Kraft Chipotle Aioli with Chipotle Peppers
  • J.L. Kraft Garlic Aioli with Roasted Garlic
  • Kraft Real Mayo Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Real Mayo Creamy & Smooth Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Homestyle Mayo Rich & Creamy Real Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Mayo with Avocado Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Mayonnesa with Lime Juice
  • Kraft Mayo Real Mayonnaise with No Artificial Flavors
  • Kraft Light Mayo ½ the Fat & Calories of Regular Mayonnaise
  • Kraft Extra Heavy Mayonnaise
• McCormick Mayonesa is a traditional mayonnaise, but with the tangy twist of lime juice.
• Miracle Whip contains no gluten ingredients. 
• Sir Kensington Mayonnaise is made with high-quality sunflower oil, citrus and free-range eggs.
• Spectrum Organic Mayonnaise is made without gluten ingredients.
• Stonewall Kitchen's Mayonnaise products are made without gluten.

Brands to Avoid

• Any mayonnaise with added "modified food starch" not specified as gluten-free

Steak Sauce: A Common Hidden Gluten Source

Steak sauces often contain hidden gluten from sources like soy sauce, malt vinegar, or hydrolyzed wheat protein. These ingredients make it important to choose steak sauce carefully.

Safe Gluten-Free Steak Sauce Brands

• A-1 Sauce, is not labeled gluten-free, it is very likely gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. A-1 is made by Kraft Foods, which openly discloses any gluten containing ingredients on their labels. 
• Dale's Steak Seasoning is gluten-free, and comes in two varieties: original (red label) and reduced sodium (green label). Ingredients include: gluten-free soy sauce, sugar, spices, and monosodium glutamate (so steer clear of this product if you're sensitive to MSG).
• Lea & Perrins Original Worcestershire Sauce, made by the Kraft Heinz Company, is labeled "gluten-free" by the company in the United States. A version sold in the United Kingdom and Canada contains malt vinegar, and is not gluten-free, so beware of that fact, and check labels. As Worcestershire sauce doesn't contain tomatoes, it's technically not a steak sauce, but don't let that stop you. 
• Paleochef Steak Sauce is gluten-free and made with no additives, preservatives, or refined sugars. It is sweetened with honey and golden raisins. It contains olive oil, balsamic vinegar and red wine vinegar.
• Primal Kitchen Steak sauce is both certified gluten-free and is also sugar-free, for those who avoid sugar as well.
• Rufus Teague Steak Sauce comes in two varieties: original, with the green wrapper, and spicy, with the orange wrapper. Both are non-GMO, kosher, and certified gluten-free. Ingredients include vinegar, raisin paste, tomato paste, gluten-free tamari, anchovies, and spices.

Brands to Avoid

• Steak sauces with malt vinegar or unspecified soy sauce as an ingredient

Barbecue Sauce: Sweet, Smoky, and Sometimes Risky

Barbecue sauce often contains gluten in the form of malt, soy sauce, or thickeners. Additionally, some recipes include beer, making label-reading critical.

Safe Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce Brands

• Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce (check individual flavors)
• Stubbs Original Bar-B-Q Sauce
• Annie’s Organic BBQ Sauce

Brands to Avoid

Barbecue sauces with malt or beer

Hot Sauce: A Spicy but Usually Safe Choice

Most hot sauces are naturally gluten-free, as they are typically made with simple ingredients like chili peppers, vinegar, and salt. However, flavored or specialty hot sauces may introduce gluten-containing additives.

Safe Gluten-Free Brands

• Frank’s RedHot Original
• Tabasco Sauce (all varieties)
• Cholula Hot Sauce

Brands to Avoid

Hot sauces with gluten-containing thickeners or malt vinegar

Fish and Soy Sauces: Hidden Gluten Traps

Soy sauce and fish sauce are among the most common condiments containing hidden gluten. Traditional soy sauce often uses wheat in its fermentation process, and some fish sauces include additives that may not be gluten-free.

Safe Gluten-Free Soy Sauce Brands

• San-J Tamari Soy Sauce (gluten-free certified)
• Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos (soy-free alternative)
• Red Boat Fish Sauce (gluten-free certified)

Brands to Avoid

• Traditional soy sauces not explicitly labeled as gluten-free
• Fish sauces with unspecified "natural flavors"

Worcestershire and Maggi Sauces: Proceed with Caution

Worcestershire sauce is often gluten-free, but this can vary by brand and region due to the use of malt vinegar. Maggi sauces, on the other hand, frequently contain wheat-derived ingredients.

Safe Gluten-Free Worcestershire Brands

• Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (U.S. version)
• Fody Foods Worcestershire Sauce

Brands to Avoid

• Maggi sauces not labeled as gluten-free
• Worcestershire sauces with malt vinegar

Conclusion: Why This Matters for People with Celiac Disease

For individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, condiments are more than just a flavor enhancer—they can be a hidden source of exposure to gluten. Understanding which brands and types of condiments are safe can make a significant difference in maintaining a strict gluten-free diet and avoiding adverse reactions.

This guide highlights the importance of vigilance when selecting condiments, as even a small amount of gluten can be harmful for those with gluten-related conditions. By choosing trusted gluten-free brands and carefully reading labels, you can enjoy your meals with confidence and peace of mind.

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